Language Teaching Methodology: Historical Development and Contemporary Issues

Abstract

This paper captures the historical development of language teaching methods over the years. It analyses the different language teaching methods and discuses their strengths and weaknesses.  This paper also touches on the different approaches that gave rise to various methods of language teaching. This paper adopts a descriptive approach. The paper finds that in Nigeria, those involved in making language education policies are still struggling to keep abreast with latest developments in language teaching methods.  The paper also finds that adopting just one particular method of language teaching may not suffice for modern language teaching given the dynamic nature of language itself and the teaching methods that are evolving in tune with advancements in the contemporary times.  New trends in language teaching methods are discussed. There are many contemporary issues on language teaching methods that are yearning for the attention of education policy makers, those that ensure implementation of these policies and the language teachers as well. This paper advocates that Nigeria should keep abreast with contemporary developments in language teaching which emphasis communicative competence and carry out a gradual overhaul of the system which may entail improving upon or dropping some methods if necessary.

Keywords: Language Teaching, Theories, Methods, Applied Linguistics, Second Language Teaching (SLT)