The Silent

Way

.
 BACKGROUND
Caleb Gattegno
(1911-1988)
The Silent Way (1963) is based on
premise that the teacher should be
silent as much as possible so that
learners feel encouraged to
produce as much language as possible.
OBJECTIVES
Become autonomous learners.
Use the language for self-expression.
Develop independence from the teacher.
Develop self exploration by
discovering their own mistakes.
Interact with one another.
 THEORY OF LEARNING
A successful learning involves commitment of
the self to language acquisition through the use

of silent awareness and then active trial .

Silence as avoidance repetition is an aid to
alertness, concentration and mental organization .
Silent Way learners acquire inner criteria.
Gattegno sees language learning through the
Silent Way as a recovery of innocence a return
to our powers and potentials.
MATERIALS
Cuisenaire rods
Fidel charts
Vocabulary chart Sound-color chart
Pointer
CHARACTERISTICS

Silence is considered
the main vehicle for learning.
The SW views learning as a problem-
solving, creative, discovery activity, in
which the learner is a principal actor.
TECHNIQUES

Extensive use of silence

 TEACHERS ROLE

Silently monitors learners interaction

with each other.
Responsible for creating an environment that
encourages student risk
taking and that facilitates learning.
Use gestures and AVA and tools.

Gives just as much help as it is necessary and then just silent.

STUDENTS ROLE

Participate actively.
Become independent and use
what they already know.
Interact with each other
and suggest alternatives to each other.
Learn to work cooperatively.
Individual and Language separated
cooperative work. from its social
context.
Self-correction and
Only useful in
peer correction.
Small groups.
Reduced TTT. Lack of teachers
guidance.(Pronunciation)
REFERENCES