The Thematic Approach to Language Teaching

Abstract

The thematic or topic approach to language teaching has two main advantages: firstly, the teacher and learner can readily identify specific learning targets for specific periods; secondly, a wide range of learning activities suggests themselves to both teacher and pupils. The ‘thematic approach’ simply means that the teacher of English in the primary or lower secondary class selects a few themes or topics for her English lessons each week, month or term as she sees fit. For example, the teacher in a Std. 4 class may select three themes or topics for the second school term: ‘The jobs we do’, or ‘Music and Musical Instruments’, or ‘Communication’.