Method: Approach, Design, and Procedure

This paper presents a framework for the systematic description and comparison of methods. The proliferation of new methods in recent years suggests the need for such a model. A method is defined in terms of three levels: approach, design , and procedure . Approach is a theory of language and of language learning. Design is a definition of linguistic content, a specification for the selection and organization of content, and a description of the role of teacher, learner, and teaching materials. Procedure is concerned with techniques and practices in a method. The model is discussed with reference to recent proposals in methodology, and the application of the model is demonstrated.