What is the relevance of the history of language teaching for a volume that
contains state-of-the-art perspectives on issues facing the profession? Cutting
edge research does not require it. Modern theories need not consider it. Yet none
of the topics addressed in this volume is novel. Each has been considered at an
earlier – sometimes much earlier – point in the history of language teaching.
Most have been part of the disciplinary discourse for centuries. Notwithstanding,
the field of applied linguistics devotes scant attention to its history. In his 1983
volume entitled Fundamental Concepts of Language Teaching, H. H. Stern lamented
the fact that “language teaching theory has a short memory” and lacks “historical
depth” (pp. 76–7). Brumfit and Mitchell (1990), Musumeci (1997), as well as
Thomas (2004), also argue for an historical perspective. Mitchell and Myles (2004)
address the problem of ahistoricity by grounding their excellent introduction to
current second-language learning theories within the “recent history” of the post-
WWII period. Aside from the intrinsic merit of historical research, even a passing
acquaintance with the people, philosophies, and events that have shaped the
history of second-language teaching provides the possibility of contextualizing
current trends, practices, and debates.
Given the long and varied history of second-language teaching, a strictly chronological
account of that tradition would be necessarily superficial at best in the
space of a single essay. Instead, this chapter will outline the teaching of one
particular language over the course of several centuries. In doing so, the topics
presented in their contemporary context elsewhere in this volume will be treated
here within a broader historical perspective. It is hoped that in this manner the
reader may be exposed to the complexity that has characterized the history of
language teaching and to the recurring issues that form the core of that tradition,
as well as encountering relevant, at times perhaps surprising, insights that such a
perspective offers.
What is the relevance of the history of language teaching for a volume thatcontains state-of-the-art perspectives on issues facing the profession? Cuttingedge research does not require it. Modern theories need not consider it. Yet noneof the topics addressed in this volume is novel. Each has been considered at anearlier – sometimes much earlier – point in the history of language teaching.Most have been part of the disciplinary discourse for centuries. Notwithstanding,the field of applied linguistics devotes scant attention to its history. In his 1983volume entitled Fundamental Concepts of Language Teaching, H. H. Stern lamentedthe fact that “language teaching theory has a short memory” and lacks “historicaldepth” (pp. 76–7). Brumfit and Mitchell (1990), Musumeci (1997), as well asThomas (2004), also argue for an historical perspective. Mitchell and Myles (2004)address the problem of ahistoricity by grounding their excellent introduction tocurrent second-language learning theories within the “recent history” of the post-WWII period. Aside from the intrinsic merit of historical research, even a passingacquaintance with the people, philosophies, and events that have shaped thehistory of second-language teaching provides the possibility of contextualizingcurrent trends, practices, and debates.Given the long and varied history of second-language teaching, a strictly chronologicalaccount of that tradition would be necessarily superficial at best in thespace of a single essay. Instead, this chapter will outline the teaching of oneparticular language over the course of several centuries. In doing so, the topicspresented in their contemporary context elsewhere in this volume will be treatedhere within a broader historical perspective. It is hoped that in this manner thereader may be exposed to the complexity that has characterized the history oflanguage teaching and to the recurring issues that form the core of that tradition,as well as encountering relevant, at times perhaps surprising, insights that such aperspective offers.
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