The differences between an approach, method, and technique are:
- Approach: The broadest level, referring to the underlying beliefs and theories about language and language learning. It addresses what language is, how it is acquired, and the conditions that facilitate its acquisition.
- Method: A practical implementation of an approach, involving a specific plan for teaching language. It includes decisions about the skills to be taught, roles of teachers and learners, procedures, techniques, content, syllabus organization, materials, and assessment.
- Technique: The most specific level, referring to the actual steps or activities used in the classroom to accomplish a task or reach an outcome. Techniques are the practical actions taken to execute the procedures outlined in a method.
in other words
- Method: A practical implementation of an approach, involving decisions about:
- Skills to be taught
- Roles of teacher and learner
- Procedures and techniques
- Content and its sequence
- Syllabus organization
- Learning materials
- Assessment and evaluation
- Approach: General assumptions about language and language learning, encompassing:
- Nature of language
- Language acquisition process
- Conditions for language acquisition
- Technique: Specific classroom steps to achieve an outcome, forming part of procedures, like "silent viewing" in video use.