Direct Method“Teach the language not about the language”

Direct Method

• What is the structure of the class?• What sort of activities are included in this

method?• How is grammar addressed?• What is the theory of language and language

learning?

Direct Method

is also known as:

Natural Method Phonetical Method

Anti-Grammatical Method

Reform Method

Background

• Mid and late 19 century -increasing opportunities of communication, due to industrialization and international trade and travel.

• A need was felt to develop oral proficiency in foreign languages.

• Pendergast – Sauveur - Language teachers had already found Grammar-translation methodinadequate and ineffective in developing 'communicative ability' in learners.

Direct MethodThe Direct Method is named “direct” because

meaning should be connected directly with the target language without translation into the native language.

Concept/ Target Meaning language

concept L1 Target language

Theoretical Assumption:

• Language can be learnt only through demonstration. Instead of analytical procedures of explaining grammar rules, students must be encourage to uselanguage naturally and spontaneously so that they induce grammar.

Theoretical Assumption:

• The learning of L2 - the acquisition of the child's first language.

• This method therefore emphasize the importance of sounds , simple sentencesand direct association of language with object and person of immediate environment- the classroom, the home, the garden, etc.

Basic Principles

• 1. Classroom instruction is conducted exclusively in the target language. The teacher should demonstrate, not explain or translate.

• NEVER TRANSLATE: • DEMONSTRATE

Basic Principles

2. Only everyday vocabulary and sentences are taught.

• BASIC VOCABULARY IS GIVEN FIRST

3. Vocabulary is taught through known words, demonstration, authentic objects (realia), pictures, and miming.

Basic Principles4.Grammar is taught

inductively. There may never be an explicit grammar rule given.

• DO NOT GIVE RULES: MAKE THEM FIGURE OUT THE RULE.

Basic Principles5. New teaching points

are introduced orally.• ORAL

TRANSMISSION

6. Both speech and listening comprehension are taught.

Basic Principles7. The teacher, by asking the

student to make a choice, gets him to correct his own error.

• LEARNING BY SELF-CORRECTION

8. The syllabus is based on situations or topics, not usually on linguistic structures.

• CONTEXTUAL/TOPICAL TEACHING

Basic Principles

9. Correct pronunciation is emphasized.

• 10. Students should learn to think in the target language as soon as possible

Basic Principles

11.The purpose of language learning is communication; therefore students need to learn how to ask questions as well as answer them.

• COMMUNICATION-FIRST PREFERENCE

Techniques

• Q & A: The teacher asks questions of any nature and the students answer.

• Dictation: The teacher chooses a grade appropriate passage and reads the text aloud. Teacher reads the passage three times

Techniques

• Reading Aloud:Students take turn

reading sections of a passage, play or dialogue out loud.

Techniques

• Map Drawing: Students are given a map without labeled then the students label it by using the directions the teacher gives.

• Paragraph Writing : The students are asked to write a passage in their own words (later satges).

Advantages

• Teach the language and Not about the language.

• It is a natural method which teaches language in the same way the mother tongue is acquired. Only the target language is used and the learning is contextualized..

• Attractive for those who have needs of real communication in the target language. It is one of the first methods to introduce the teaching of vocabulary through realias.

Criticism

• As R. Brown (1994:56) points out, the Direct Method “did not take well in public schools where the constraints of budget, classroom size, time, and teacher background (native speakers or native like fluency) made such a method difficult to use.”

• After a short popularity in the beginning of the 20th century, it soon began to lose its appeal because of these constraints. It then paved the way to the Audio-lingual Method.