Grammar Translation Method & Communicative Approach

This issue seems to be some kind of ambition pursued by most of the second-language-teaching teacher. However, I think that we should, firstly, clarify what the main purpose of these two kind methods. In Communicative Approach teachers believe sufficient exposure of L2 to learners might, deservedly, make them acquire the rules of L2. On the contrary, the adherents of Grammar Translation Method believe that the complete grammatical rules provided to learners beforehand might benefit the learners the most in L2 learning. Back to the issue, I do believe that there is universal grammar within all human being’s language system. And individual languages are variations on the basic design provided by UG. All languages are parameters in which there are basic rules shared by every language and different rules belonging to each language. If the learners are in the sufficient exposure of other language with enough time, they, of course, might gain the rules that are different from their own language. However, in Taiwan English teachers in school are limited in time to teach. And I don’t believe that there would be a good English learning environment and enough time for English learners. Therefore, Grammar Translation Method does save lots of time. And when teachers transmit the grammar rules, mother tongue would be necessary for students to understand the rules as clear as possible. But I also agree that only-English-allowed class will benefit higher level learners.