The effects of grammar translation method and communicative language teaching on vocabulary teaching

The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a significant difference in learners? vocabulary development and retention depending on the teaching method, Grammar-Translation Method and Communicative Language Teaching, at tenth grade. The quasi-experimental research, which was done for this investigation, took place in 2011-2012 academic year by the attendance of 50 learners at tenth grade in Şanlıurfa Vocational High School. One control group and one experimental group were determined for this study and both groups took pre-test before treatment process in which learners were taught vocabulary through teaching methods previously clarified. In treatment process, one group studied on activities based on translation, definition, fill in the blanks, antonym and synonym according to Grammar-Translation Method; while other group was busy with more communicative activities based on information gap activities, games, role-plays suitable to Communicative Language Teaching Method. At the end of four-week treatment process, learners were presented post-test and delayed-post-test one month after the post-test to measure the development and retention levels of vocabulary. It was aimed with these applications to find out whether Grammar-Translation Method or Communicative Language Teaching was more effective teaching method for vocabulary teaching. The results, analyzed in SPSS program on computer, let us present Communicative Language Teaching Method as more effective when compared to Grammar-Translation Method and no significant difference was found between genders in terms of vocabulary development and retention. According to the data and analysis of this research, it is possible to claim that foreign language teaching programs should be shaped according to the principles of Communicative Language Teaching especially at tenth grade.