Stevick, Earl W. Teaching Languages. A Way and Ways. Boston: Heinle and Heinle, 1980.
Reviewed by: Brett Jolly
Language teaching is more than a job for Earl W. Stevick; it is a way of life. This is obvious from the tone and sobriety of his text, Teaching Languages. A Way and Ways. Winner of the First Annual Kenneth W. Mildenberger Medal (conferred by the Modern Language Association), this text has been highly praised for over twenty years because it contemplates several of the most innovate language teaching approaches. After a look at the learner and the teacher, Stevick begins his in depth analyses of the Silent Way, Counseling-Learning, and Suggestopedia. At the end of the book he gives his view of the three "ways" he assessed, talks about the monitor model, and creates and interesting analogy with Dostoyevsky.
Analyzing the Silent Way, Stevick talks about the philosophical background of the approach. He also writes about his own experience with the Silent way, an its use in Honolulu. His ideas are useful for the teacher ho would understand the ideas behind the approach and thus fashion techniques.
When discussing Counseling-Learning, Stevick uses his own firsthand experience and that of others. Going from one language to another is addressed, as well as counseling and its relation to acquisition. This section of the book is quite useful for those who are teaching in an environment where group and individual needs are to be assessed.
Stevick treatment of Suggestopedia is fair and multifaceted. Many people never give this approach enough credit. Stevick talks not about the approach, but also about the work of Lozanov in general. Then he gives useful suggestions for utilizing this "way" in a more traditional classroom. |
