METHODS OF LANGUAGE LEARNING: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF CONTEMPORARY PEDAGOGICAL APPROACHES

Abstract

   The acquisition of a second or foreign language represents one of the most complex cognitive undertakings an individual may pursue, necessitating the employment of carefully designed pedagogical methods. This article examines the principal methods of language learning — namely Communicative Language Teaching (CLT), cognitive and grammar-based approaches, Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT), and Technology-Enhanced Language Learning (TELL) — with a view to evaluating their theoretical foundations, practical applications, and relative effectiveness. Drawing upon established scholarship in applied linguistics and second language acquisition, the study argues that no single method may be deemed universally superior; rather, an eclectic, learner-centred integration of multiple approaches seems to yield the most sustainable outcomes. The article further contends that the ongoing advancement of digital technologies is fundamentally reshaping the landscape of language pedagogy, offering unprecedented opportunities for authentic and personalised learning experiences.