PeopleEnglish follows the Cambridge ELT approach to language teaching. Briefly, English Language Teaching (ELT) is a widely used teacher-centric term in the world of English language training, especially in the English language teaching divisions of large publishing houses. To teach second-language learners English successfully, ELT identifies students’ level of language fluency and language needs, organises a curriculum addressing those requirements, and follows through with flexibility in teaching methodology as needed.

ELT emphasizes all the four language skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. In this way students communicate effectively using the target language. Some of the ELT features are:

Some of major ELT methods PeopleEnglish uses are described below. When PeopleEnglish designs a course for a particular kind of learner, a lot of thought goes into deciding the most effective teaching methodology. Any of the following may be used singly or in complement to one other.

The direct method, sometimes also called natural method, is a method that refrains from using the learners’ native language and just uses the target language. It was established in Germany and France around 1900.

The direct method operates on the idea that second language learning must be an imitation of first language learning, as this is the natural way humans learn any language. This method places great stress on correct pronunciation and the target language from outset. According to this method, printed language and text must be kept away from the second language learner for as long as possible, just as a first language learner does not use printed word until he has good grasp of speech. Learning of writing and spelling should be delayed until after the printed word has been introduced, and grammar and translation should also be avoided because this would involve the application of the learner’s first language. Anything that hinders the acquisition of a good oral proficiency needs to be avoided.

Communicative language teaching (CLT) is an approach to the teaching of languages that emphasises interaction as both the means and the ultimate goal of learning a language.

In recent years, Task-based Language Learning (TBLL), also known as Task-based Language Teaching (TBLT) or Task-based Instruction (TBI), has grown steadily in popularity. TBLL is a further refinement of the CLT approach, emphasising the successful completion of tasks as both the organising feature and the basis for assessment of language instruction.

Language immersion puts students in a situation where they must use a foreign language, whether or not they know it. This creates fluency, but not accuracy of usage.