History of English Language Teaching (ELT) – MCQ
1. The term “English Language Teaching (ELT)” is generally used to refer to: (UGC NET 2017)
A) Teaching any language
B) Teaching English as a second/foreign language
C) Teaching English literature only
D) Teaching translation
Ans: B) Teaching English as a second/foreign language
2. The earliest widely used method for teaching foreign languages in Europe was: (PGTRB 2018)
A) Audio-lingual method
B) Grammar-Translation method
C) Direct method
D) Communicative approach
Ans: B) Grammar-Translation method
3. The Grammar-Translation method mainly emphasised: (SET 2018)
A) Oral communication
B) Listening skills
C) Reading and translating classical texts
D) Task-based activities
Ans: C) Reading and translating classical texts
4. In the Grammar-Translation method, the mother tongue is: (UGC NET 2016)
A) Completely banned
B) Used as the main medium of explanation
C) Used only for listening
D) Used only for speaking practice
Ans: B) Used as the main medium of explanation
5. The Direct Method arose as a reaction against: (PGTRB 2019)
A) Communicative approach
B) Structural approach
C) Grammar-Translation method
D) Task-based teaching
Ans: C) Grammar-Translation method
6. A key principle of the Direct Method is: (UGC NET 2015)
A) Heavy use of L1
B) Exclusive use of target language in the classroom
C) Use of translation exercises
D) Focus on written literature only
Ans: B) Exclusive use of target language in the classroom
7. The Direct Method is historically associated with language schools such as: (SET 2019)
A) Montessori schools
B) Berlitz schools
C) Military academies
D) Business colleges
Ans: B) Berlitz schools
8. The “Reform Movement” in language teaching emerged in: (UGC NET 2018)
A) Early 19th century
B) Late 19th century
C) Mid 20th century
D) Early 21st century
Ans: B) Late 19th century
9. The Reform Movement in ELT stressed the importance of: (PGTRB 2017)
A) Translation exercises
B) Phonetics, spoken language, and scientific principles
C) Classical literature
D) Grammar memorisation
Ans: B) Phonetics, spoken language, and scientific principles
10. Henry Sweet, Otto Jespersen and Harold Palmer are associated with: (SET 2017)
A) Reform Movement in modern language teaching
B) Grammar-Translation method
C) Critical pedagogy
D) Lexical approach
Ans: A) Reform Movement in modern language teaching
11. Michael West is mainly associated with promoting: (UGC NET 2016)
A) Situational approach
B) Extensive reading and the reading method in India
C) Audio-lingual drills
D) Task-based learning
Ans: B) Extensive reading and the reading method in India
12. The Structural Approach in India emphasised: (PGTRB 2018)
A) Translation skills
B) Teaching language through graded structures and patterns
C) Only literature
D) Project work
Ans: B) Teaching language through graded structures and patterns
13. The Audio-Lingual Method was strongly influenced by: (UGC NET 2015)
A) Structural linguistics and behaviourist psychology
B) Generative grammar
C) Sociolinguistics
D) Pragmatics
Ans: A) Structural linguistics and behaviourist psychology
14. A typical feature of the Audio-Lingual Method is: (SET 2018)
A) Silent reading
B) Pattern drills and dialogue repetition
C) Translation into L1
D) Free composition
Ans: B) Pattern drills and dialogue repetition
15. The Audio-Lingual Method became prominent during: (PGTRB 2019)
A) 1920s
B) 1940s–1950s
C) 1970s
D) 1990s
Ans: B) 1940s–1950s
16. The “Situational Language Teaching” approach is mainly associated with: (UGC NET 2017)
A) British ELT tradition
B) American structuralism
C) French schools
D) German universities
Ans: A) British ELT tradition
17. One key principle of Situational Language Teaching is: (SET 2019)
A) Teaching through real or imagined situations
B) Teaching only grammar rules
C) Silent reading only
D) Translation-centred tasks
Ans: A) Teaching through real or imagined situations
18. The PPP model (Presentation–Practice–Production) is commonly linked with: (PGTRB 2020)
A) Grammar-Translation
B) Situational and structural approaches
C) Total Physical Response
D) Task-based learning
Ans: B) Situational and structural approaches
19. Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) became prominent in: (UGC NET 2018)
A) 1950s
B) 1960s
C) 1970s
D) 1990s
Ans: C) 1970s
20. The concept of “communicative competence” was proposed by: (SET 2017)
A) Noam Chomsky
B) Dell Hymes
C) Stephen Krashen
D) Henry Sweet
Ans: B) Dell Hymes
21. In CLT, the primary goal of language teaching is: (PGTRB 2021)
A) Mastery of translation
B) Ability to communicate meaningfully in real situations
C) Memorisation of rules
D) Recitation of literature
Ans: B) Ability to communicate meaningfully in real situations
22. The functional-notional syllabus, influential in CLT, is associated with: (UGC NET 2016)
A) Wilkins
B) Skinner
C) Jespersen
D) Cummins
Ans: A) Wilkins
23. Which of the following is not typically associated with Communicative Language Teaching? (SET 2020)
A) Information-gap activities
B) Role-plays and group work
C) Mechanic pattern drills only
D) Authentic materials
Ans: C) Mechanic pattern drills only
24. The “Silent Way” approach was introduced by: (UGC NET 2015)
A) Caleb Gattegno
B) Charles Curran
C) James Asher
D) Georgi Lozanov
Ans: A) Caleb Gattegno
25. Suggestopedia was developed by: (PGTRB 2017)
A) Krashen
B) Chomsky
C) Georgi Lozanov
D) David Nunan
Ans: C) Georgi Lozanov
26. Total Physical Response (TPR) is associated with: (SET 2018)
A) James Asher
B) Henry Sweet
C) Wilkins
D) Kumaravadivelu
Ans: A) James Asher
27. Community Language Learning (CLL) was proposed by: (UGC NET 2017)
A) Charles Curran
B) Stephen Krashen
C) Noam Chomsky
D) Michael West
Ans: A) Charles Curran
28. The Natural Approach was developed by: (PGTRB 2019)
A) Krashen and Terrell
B) Hymes and Halliday
C) Sweet and Palmer
D) West and Jespersen
Ans: A) Krashen and Terrell
29. The Bangalore Project in India, led by Prabhu, is closely linked to: (UGC NET 2018)
A) Structural approach
B) Task-based Language Teaching
C) Grammar-Translation
D) Audio-lingual method
Ans: B) Task-based Language Teaching
30. The Lexical Approach, stressing “chunks” and collocations, is associated with: (SET 2019)
A) David Nunan
B) Michael Lewis
C) Jack Richards
D) Henry Sweet
Ans: B) Michael Lewis
31. “Dogme ELT”, a materials-light approach, was popularised by: (UGC NET 2020)
A) Scott Thornbury
B) Wilkins
C) Asher
D) Palmer
Ans: A) Scott Thornbury
32. CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) involves: (PGTRB 2021)
A) Teaching only grammar through L1
B) Teaching subject content through the target language
C) Teaching only pronunciation
D) Literature-only classes
Ans: B) Teaching subject content through the target language
33. In the history of ELT in India, English first entered the curriculum strongly during: (SET 2016)
A) Mughal period
B) British colonial period
C) Post-independence only
D) Globalisation era
Ans: B) British colonial period
34. One major criticism of the Grammar-Translation method historically has been: (UGC NET 2019)
A) Too much speaking practice
B) Neglect of oral communication
C) Overuse of authentic materials
D) Over-emphasis on listening
Ans: B) Neglect of oral communication
35. Audio-Lingual Method started losing influence after: (PGTRB 2018)
A) Behaviourist psychology was strongly challenged
B) Grammar-Translation came back
C) Direct Method disappeared
D) Exams were cancelled
Ans: A) Behaviourist psychology was strongly challenged
36. “Approach, method, technique” as a hierarchy was clearly described by: (SET 2017)
A) Jack Richards and Rodgers
B) Krashen and Terrell
C) Asher and Curran
D) West and Palmer
Ans: A) Jack Richards and Rodgers
37. In the history of ELT, “post-method pedagogy” is associated with: (UGC NET 2020)
A) Piaget
B) Macaulay
C) B. Kumaravadivelu
D) Georgi Lozanov
Ans: C) B. Kumaravadivelu
38. Post-method pedagogy in ELT emphasises: (PGTRB 2019)
A) Blindly following one fixed method
B) Strategic, context-sensitive and teacher-generated principles
C) Only translation
D) Only grammar
Ans: B) Strategic, context-sensitive and teacher-generated principles
39. The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), important for ELT, was first published in: (SET 2020)
A) 1961
B) 1975
C) 2001
D) 2015
Ans: C) 2001
40. Historically, ESP (English for Specific Purposes) gained momentum particularly after: (UGC NET 2016)
A) Industrial Revolution
B) Second World War and scientific-technical expansion
C) Romantic period
D) Medieval period
Ans: B) Second World War and scientific-technical expansion
41. A major shift in ELT history in the late 20th century was from: (PGTRB 2020)
A) Communicative to grammar-translation
B) Method-centred to learner-centred and communicative approaches
C) Listening to writing only
D) Group work to lecturing
Ans: B) Method-centred to learner-centred and communicative approaches
42. The early 21st century history of ELT is marked by: (UGC NET 2021)
A) Exclusive use of chalkboard
B) Growing use of technology, online learning and blended approaches
C) Ban on authentic materials
D) Return to Latin texts
Ans: B) Growing use of technology, online learning and blended approaches
43. Historically, which method viewed errors as “bad habits” to be avoided? (SET 2018)
A) Communicative approach
B) Audio-Lingual Method
C) Task-based teaching
D) Dogme ELT
Ans: B) Audio-Lingual Method
44. Historically, which approach considered errors as a natural sign of development? (UGC NET 2019)
A) Behaviourist
B) Communicative and cognitive approaches
C) Grammar-Translation
D) Audio-lingual
Ans: B) Communicative and cognitive approaches
45. A historical feature of many early ELT methods is that they were: (PGTRB 2017)
A) Designed without any theory
B) Strongly method-centred and prescriptive
C) Entirely learner-generated
D) Always technology-based
Ans: B) Strongly method-centred and prescriptive
46. In the history of ELT, “eclecticism” means: (SET 2021)
A) Rejecting all methods
B) Selecting techniques from various methods according to context
C) Using only grammar
D) Ban on innovation
Ans: B) Selecting techniques from various methods according to context
47. The history of ELT has moved from viewing learners as passive recipients to: (UGC NET 2022)
A) Passive listeners
B) Memorising machines
C) Active participants and co-constructors of meaning
D) Only exam takers
Ans: C) Active participants and co-constructors of meaning
48. Historically, English taught as a subject in schools in many countries has shifted from literature-heavy syllabuses to: (PGTRB 2021)
A) Pure translation
B) Communicative and skills-based syllabuses
C) Classical Latin-based courses
D) Dictation-only courses
Ans: B) Communicative and skills-based syllabuses
49. The overall lesson from the history of ELT methods is that: (UGC NET 2020)
A) One single perfect method suits all contexts
B) Methods emerge, dominate, are criticised, and adapted over time
C) Old methods are always bad
D) New methods never fail
Ans: B) Methods emerge, dominate, are criticised, and adapted over time
50. Modern ELT thinking, after reviewing its history, generally supports: (SET 2020)
A) Rigid method adoption
B) Context-sensitive, learner-centred, and flexible pedagogy
C) Only exam-driven teaching
D) Exclusive focus on translation
Ans: B) Context-sensitive, learner-centred, and flexible pedagogy
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