Chapter I communicative Competence as a skill needed for communication

Total Physical Response (TPR)

The total physical response (TPR) method was de­veloped by psychologist James Asher in 1974. This method is based on the principle that people learn better when they are involved physically as well as mentally. In TPR, students are required to respond nonverbally physically to a series of commands. As the teacher gives a command and the students respond physically, the teacher ascertains students' comprehension of the command. Initially, the teach­er begins with simple commands such as:

Teacher: Stand up! (teacher models)

Students: Respond by standing up. (physical re­sponse, not verbal)

Teacher: Walk to the front of the room.

Students: Respond by walking to the front of the room.

I think this method works well with primary school children, especially nowadays when it is required to teach English from the first form when the children unable to learn by writing or reading. Teachers teach them verbs by commanding:

Teacher: Jump!(teacher shows the action)

Children : Children respond by acting. They also jump this way they learn this word easily.