What are the

potential
weaknesses
of TPR?
Group
members:
Tan Yi Xin
Ooi Wei
Zhuang
Mardhiyatun

Disadvantages of
TPR
It is only really suitable for beginner
levels. Whilst it can be used at higher
levels TPR is most useful for
beginners. It is also at the higher
levels where preparation becomes an
issue for the teacher.
The teacher may find that it is limited
in terms of language scope because it
is fairly difficult to give instructions
without using imperatives, so the
language input is basically restricted
to this single form.

 Students who are not used to

such things might find it
embarrassing. But if the
teacher is prepared to perform
the actions, the students feel
happier about copying. Also
the students are in groups and
don't have to perform for the
whole class. This pleasure is
reserved for the teacher.

 A lesson stage of TPR involving

commands and physical responses is
hard to sustain let alone more than a
few minutes before the activity
became repetitious for the learners.

 It is easy to overuse TPR. "Any

novelty, if carried on too long,
will trigger adaptation." Asher
writes, "No matter how exciting
and productive the innovation,
people will tire of it. If the
teachers use TPR for a long
time without switching to other
activities, they can be very
ineffective.

 TPR listening activities dont seem to

cultivate listeners advanced listening skills
such as drawing inference, predicting and
listening for the main ideas, neither are
they good for integrated teaching such
listening and speaking, listening and
writing.
This is due to the flaws of TPR method itself.
It is difficult for ordinary people to express
abstract ideas with actions and drawings.

 Students who are not used to such

things might find it embarrassing.
But if the teacher is prepared to
perform the actions, the students
feel happier about copying. Also the
students are in groups and don't
have to perform for the whole class.
This pleasure is reserved for the
teacher.

 Students who are not used to such

things might find it embarrassing.
But if the teacher is prepared to
perform the actions, the students
feel happier about copying. Also the
students are in groups and don't
have to perform for the whole class.
This pleasure is reserved for the
teacher.

Conclusion
It should be emphasized that it was
never intended by its early
proponents that it should extend
beyond beginner level.
TPR should be used in association
with other methods and techniques
because..
Short TPR activities, used judiciously
and integrated with other activities can
be both highly motivating and