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Total Physical Response Summary

Total Physical Response summary Total Physical Response summary Total Physical Response summaryT otal Physical Response summaryTotal Physical Response summary Total Physical Response summary Total Physical Response summary

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59 views1 page

Total Physical Response Summary

Total Physical Response summary Total Physical Response summary Total Physical Response summaryT otal Physical Response summaryTotal Physical Response summary Total Physical Response summary Total Physical Response summary

Uploaded by

Zida Kamal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Total Physical Response (TPR)

Total Physical Response (TPR) is a methodology for teaching language by involving


students in physical activity. The method was developed by James Asher, a professor of
psychology at San Jose State University, whose first publication on this topic appeared in
1965 (Knight, 2001, p.154).

The first goal of a teacher using TPR is to help the students develop listening fluency (Asher:
1969, p. 5). The other language skills, speaking and writing, are supposed to be learned in a
later stage as Asher believes that the ability to understand a language by listening to it would
later have a positive effect on building the other skills (Asher, 1969, p. 5).

TPR is based on behaviourism, a theory developed by B.F. Skinner. This theory sees learning
merely as a result of imitation, practice, reinforcement and habit formation (Lightbown and
Spada, 2006, p.34). According to behaviourism, an individual will show a certain behaviour
due to imitation.

• Typical features/characteristics of a TPR lesson:

 target language

 teacher-centred

 motor activity elicited by spoken commands

 no requirement for any learner to speak until ready

 commands (spoken and initially demonstrated by teacher) elicit physical response


(stand up, pick up the book, close your eyes)

 more advanced vocab and grammar structures possible: If somebody just knocked at
the door, stand up.

• Advantages :

 It is fun and easy

 It does not require a great deal of preparation on the part of the teacher.

 It is a good tool for learning vocabulary.

• Disadvantages :

 It is not a very creative method. Students are not given the opportunity to express their
own views and thoughts in a creative way.

 It is easy to overuse TPR.

 It is limited, since everything cannot be explained with this method. It must be


combined with other approaches.

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