Many adult learners, especially those with good metalinguistic knowledge of their own language, express a preference for structure-based approaches.The grammar translation approach is useful for the intensive study of grammar and vocabulary and is valuable for understanding important cultural texts. The audio-lingual approach with its emphasis on speaking and listening was used successfully with highly motivated adult learners in training programmes for government personnel in the United States. However, there is little classroom research to support such approaches for students in ordinary school programmes that must serve the needs of students who bring different levels of motivation and aptitude to the classroom. In fact, it was the frequent failure of traditional grammar translation and audiolingual methods to produce fluency and accuracy in second language learners that led to the development of more communicative approaches to teaching in the first place.