Total Physical Response

History lying behind TPR 

Originally developed by Dr. James J. Asher, an American professor of psychology, in the 1960s,

• Trace theory of memory 
• Theories of mother tongue language acquisition in very young children

Definition of TPR

·         James Asher (1960) said that TPR is a language learning method which is based on the coordination of speech and action

·         Richard and Rodgers (1986) state that TPR is a language teaching method built around the coordination of speech and action; it attempts to teach language through physical (motor) activity

The Aims of TPR

• To review and reinforce vocabulary you have already taught using non-TPR method
• As a “catch-up” at the beginning of a lesson for the benefit of learners who have missed previous lessons in which new material was introduced
• To provide learners with an enjoyable, relaxing during lesson
• To encourage students to persist in studying the language

The Application Of Tpr In The Classroom

TPR can be used to teach :

• Vocabulary
• Listening
•  Speaking

The Role of Teachers and Students in TPR

• The teacher is the director;
• Students follow the directions but later there will be a role reversal

 Step for the TPR instructional process

• Pre teaching
• While teaching
•  Post Teaching

Advantages of TPR

• It is a lot of fun.
• It is very memorable
• It is good for kinesthetic learners who are required to be active in the class;
• It can be used both in large or small classes.
• It works well with mixed-ability classes.
• It is no need to have a lot of preparation or materials using the TPR.
• It is very effective with teenagers and young learners;

Disadvantages of TPR

• Students who are not used to such things might find it embarrassing
• It is only really suitable for beginner levels
• It is not flexibly used to teach everything, and if used a lot, it would become repetitive
• Although the use of TPR in the classroom has often been effective, it does have its flaws

Conclusions

• When TPR is applied in the classroom, a teacher is required to provide a model. The model has three vital features: 1) grasping the spoken language must come prior to speaking, 2) comprehension is developed through body movement, and 3) the period of listening period helps a learner to be ready to speak. Such a model does not force the learner to speak. It is also recommended that TPR be applied for only short periods of time because the learner will get tired of doing it.
• The TPR method also emphasizes two crucial elements: the use of movement as a memory enhancer and imperatives as the only method of instruction the teacher uses commands to direct the learners.
• Most importantly, when applying such a method, the use of mother tongue is deemphasized. If there are abstract words, a teacher is required to write down them on the white/black boards without expressing those words. The meaning of words is comprehended generally through an action