Direct Method Lecture 5

Preview/Road Map of today’s lecture Review of lecture 4 Flaws of GTM: Deductive method of grammar teaching, speaking and listening and pronunciation are ignored. No interaction among students. Teacher centered class. Focus on accuracy Introduction to Direct Method: Natural Method of language teaching. Principles of DM Techniques of DM

Principles of Direct Method

What are the Goals of Teachers using DM? To teach learners to think in target language without translating into L1 Teaching learners to communicate in target language. Speak in target language Listen to target language Read in target language Write in target language Every day/ situational interaction

What is the role of the teacher? To teach and make learners understand the passage by reading the passage To illustrate and demonstrate the meaning in target language By body language, pointing to items such as board and map By drawing on the board To direct classroom activities e.g. labeling the items, written exerises, oral choral practice, To involve students in classroom activities

Cont… To invite students to repeat after him To ensure interaction and communication with students To ensure students interact with each other To be more democratic rather than autocratic Give more time and space to students To withdraw himself and let students participate

What are the characteristics of teaching/ learning process Direct Association between target language and meaning Demonstration of meaning use of realia, pictures, pantomime Avoidance of translation in class Realistic situational communication real life situations e.g. language used in banks, hospitals, grocery stores Syllabus based on situations

Cont… Inductive teaching of grammar Vocabulary practice by using words in full sentences

What is the nature of interaction? Teacher-student interaction Student-student interaction Learner oriented class Teacher as facilitator rather than provider of knowledge Enhanced and diverse communication with the involvement of more participants. A better model of real life communication More participants, diverse views, situation based

How are the feelings of the students dealt with? No principle to relate to the learner’s psychology Learners at ease because teacher less authoritative Learners comfort level high because of student- student interaction Self correction saves students from sense of embarrassment

How is language viewed? Oral communication is primary communication Language consists of multiple skills Listening comprehension Speaking/pronunciation/fluency Reading Writing/ sentence formation/ paragraph writing Grammar Vocabulary building

Cont… Language is meant for communication Exchange of ideas, opinions Exchange of knowledge/ information Questioning, answering Language learning is meaningful because of realistic and situational teaching Common everyday speech is essential to learn

How is culture viewed? Knowledge of target language culture can be learnt through art literature geography history information of community life knowledge of value system

What language skills are emphasized? Vocabulary Learning new words through sentence formation Grammar Practicing structures rather than learning rules Speaking/ Pronunciation Asking questions, answering questions, practicing modeled pronunciation Listening To diverse speakers ( teacher/ other students) Reading Loud reading of the passage Writing

What is the role of student’s native language/ mother tongue? Avoidance of MT MT as an interference in learning target language Positive transfer: when MT and target language have similarities and MT can facilitate learning Negative transfer: when MT and target language differ in sound system, spelling system, grammar, etc. and MT becomes a barrier in learning

How is evaluation accomplished? Objectives- teaching-evaluation Purpose of evaluation: to check if objectives are achieved Direct Method objectives: teaching both oral and written communication

Cont… Direct Method evaluation strategy: Oral exam: conversation, question answer, interview, speaking skill, listen and follow instructions such as label maps pronunciation test, discussion on a topic, Read aloud

Cont… Written exam: sentence formation comprehension questions paragraph writing, dictation (listen and write) fill in the blanks grammar exercises

How does teacher respond to students’ errors? Teacher ensures Self correction by students An opportunity to review and reconsider response Sense of liberation from teacher control Avoidance of negative feelings like embarrassment, humiliation at being pointed, low self confidence, fear of being singled out, fear of being laughed at.

Summary Principles of Direct Method