The Pendular Swing of ESL History

In the world of language teaching, as in many other fields, theories and approaches often evolve through a fascinating process known as the “pendular swing.” This concept, which is prevalent in various disciplines such as economics, art, science, music, and literature, refers to the tendency for new movements to emerge as a reaction to the perceived shortcomings of their predecessors. Let’s explore this phenomenon and its implications for language education.

Understanding the Pendular Swing

The pendular swing in language teaching describes how methodologies often swing from one extreme to another over time. This pattern has been particularly noticeable in the field of language education over the past 130 years, with the most dramatic shifts occurring between 1880 and 1980.

Key points about the pendular swing:

  1. New theories often arise from doubting previous approaches
  2. Movements tend to demonstrate sharp contrasts from one another
  3. The field moves from one extreme to another relatively quickly

An Artistic Analogy

To better understand this concept, we can look at an example from the art world:

  1. Abstract Expressionism (1940s-1950s):
    • Focused on shapes and colors representing emotions
    • Examples: Jackson Pollock’s “Number 1, Lavender Mist” (1950) and Willem de Kooning’s “Door to the River” (1960)
  2. Photorealism (1960s-1970s):
    • Emerged as a direct contrast to Abstract Expressionism
    • Focused on creating hyper-realistic scenes, often based on photographs
    • Examples: Chuck Close’s “Self-Portrait” (1969) and Ralph Goings’ “McDonald’s Pick-up” (1970)

These two movements represent opposite ends of the artistic spectrum, illustrating how quickly the pendulum can swing from one extreme to another.

Implications for Language Teachers

As aspiring or current language educators, it’s crucial to:

  1. Pay close attention to these historical shifts
  2. Suspend judgment and gather as much information as possible
  3. Make educated decisions about your beliefs and teaching philosophy
  4. Aim for a balanced approach rather than swinging to extremes

Moving Forward

Instead of completely discarding previous methods, modern language teachers are encouraged to:

  1. Examine each period in language teaching history
  2. Identify the valuable contributions of each approach
  3. Incorporate best practices based on research studies from various theories

By doing so, educators can develop a more nuanced and effective approach to language teaching that builds upon the strengths of multiple methodologies.

As we continue to explore the history of language teaching, we’ll delve into specific approaches, starting with the Grammar Translation method that dominated the 1880s. By understanding these historical shifts, we can better shape the future of language education.

You’re a smart Banana! *sticks gold star on your forehead*

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