On teaching approaches

[William J Poser]

Perhaps the general point that should be made about teaching techniques
is that what needs to be taught is determined by the nature of the
language, not by what teaching methods may be felt to be effective
or culturally preferred. If a language has a complex verbal system
and you don't provide that content your students will not learn the
language, regardless of what the fad is in language teaching methods
or what politicians claim about traditions. The content has to come
first. Once you know what you have to teach you can try to find the
best way to do it. 

Bill