1. The Direct Method

2. Contents 1. Definition 2. Background 3. Main features 4. Objectives
5.Procedures
6. Techniques
7. Theoretical basis
8. Comments

3. Questions
1.What is the Direct Method?
2. What’s your understanding of the word “Direct”?
3. How did it come into being?
4. What are its main features, objectives, classroom teaching procedures and techniques, and its theoretical basis?
5. What are your comments on this method?

4. Definition
The Direct Method is a method of foreign or second language teaching which insists that only the target language should be used in class and meaning should be communicated “directly” by associating speech forms with actions, objects, mime, gestures and situations.

5. It emphasizes the importance of spoken language
It emphasizes the importance of spoken language. Therefore holds that reading and writing should be taught only after speaking .The Direct Method believes in the natural process of language learning and in the inductive teaching of grammar.

6. Background
The Direct Method got its name from the assumption that meanings are to be connected directly with the target language, without going through the process of translating into the students’ native language.

7. It was developed in the late 19th century as a reaction against the Grammar-Translation Method and out of the need for better language learning in a new world of industry and international trade and travel.

8. In the mid and late 19th century, international exchanges increased very fast because of political and economical reasons. But the different languages used in different countries created a barrier in such exchanges.

9. Increased opportunities for communication in spoken language among Europeans created a demand for oral proficiency in foreign languages. Therefore, language teaching innovations in the 19th century were inevitable. The Direct Method emerges as a result of the innovations.

10. The new world in the late 19th century made the Direct Method not only a necessary but also a possibility. The rapid development of linguistics, psychology and education greatly stimulated the establishment of the Direct Method.

11. Main features a. Students learn to think in the target language.
b. Meaning is presented by relating directly to the physical world.
c. Target language is the language of instruction and communication in the classroom.
d. Grammar is learned inductively through listening and speaking activities.

12. e. Correct pronunciation is emphasized.
f. The syllabus（教学大纲） is arranged semantically (语义地) according to situations or topics.
g. Spoken language is preferred to written language.
h. The basic unit of language is the sentence.

13. Objectives
a. to foster the students’ ability to communicate in the target language;
b. to enable the students to think in the target language ;
c. to train the four skills;
d. to achieve correct pronunciation.

14. Procedures
Classroom procedures in the Direct Method can be roughly divided into three phases: Presentation by direct association;
oral practice in the target language
and consolidation with written work

15. Techniques
In order to realize the goal of teaching , a Direct Method teacher is usually found using the following techniques:
a. Direct association. New language items are presented by associating meaning with the target language directly.

16. b. Question and answer exercises
b. Question and answer exercises. In order to have the newly-introduced language items fully understood by students, the teacher answers students’ questions and asks students to answer her questions in full sentences.
c. Conversation practice. Students are encouraged to ask other questions using the same grammatical structures they have practiced.

17. d. Error correction. Students are not allowed to make mistakes
d. Error correction. Students are not allowed to make mistakes. Their mistakes are immediately corrected by the teacher or by students themselves.
e. Dictation. Dictation is used as a means to reinforce and test what the students have learned. f. Inductive teaching of grammar. Grammar is learned inductively through listening and speaking activities.

18. g. Listening comprehension tasks
g. Listening comprehension tasks. Designing listening comprehension tasks is one of the ways to establish a favorable classroom climate in the Direct Method.
h. Graded composition. Writing can be introduced as a means of consolidation and evaluation in the Direct Method. Written work should be graded in the following sequence: first, reproduction of familiar reading texts; second, reproduction of narratives orally presented by the teacher; third, free composition.

19. Theoretical basis

20. Theory of language
The theory of language underlying the Direct Method was mainly derived from the following views by the innovators and reformers of the 19th century:
a. Every language has its own structure. Every language has its own structure and cannot be forced into the straitjacket （约束）of Latin grammar.

21. b. Spoken language comes before written language
b. Spoken language comes before written language. Since the Spoken language comes into being before written language, speech patterns rather than grammar should be fundamental elements of language.

22. c. Spoken language is a learnable system of sounds
c. Spoken language is a learnable system of sounds. Spoken language is a learnable system of sounds ,and sounds are best described by phonetic transcription（音标）. Training in phonetics will enable teachers and learners to pronounce the language accurately.

23. d. Language and thought are closely linked
d. Language and thought are closely linked. According to Gouin, verbal expression is intimately linked with thought about real events. Thoughts and corresponding utterances do not occur randomly or singly（单独地） ; they came in sequences and ends-means（目的手段） series.

24. Theory of learning
a Foreign language learning is analogous（相似的） to first language acquisition . The learning of a foreign language is analogous to first language acquisition, so a direct association between forms and meanings in the target language should be established.

25. b. Language and the physical world are directly associated
b. Language and the physical world are directly associated. Direct association of language with objects and persons of the immediate environment is emphasized in the Direct Method.

26. c. Learners acquire rules of grammar inductively
c. Learners acquire rules of grammar inductively. Rather than teaching grammar deductively, teachers encourage learners to induce rules of grammar through active use of the target language in the classroom.

27. d. Language meaning is taught by using learners’ sensory（感觉的） experience . The best method of teaching language meaning is the one using learners’ sensory experience, generally visual perception（视觉）.

28. Comments

29. Advantages 1. Students’ participation.
2. Interests for teachers & students.
3. Good pronunciation & intonation.
4. Communicative use of language.
5. Success in non-classroom settings.
6. Exciting and interesting.
7. Speaking FL in the early stages

30. Disadvantages
1. Lack systematic learning of structures and vocabulary.
2. Too soon express only in FL.
3. Glib(口齿伶俐) but inaccurate fluency with foreign words in NL structure.
4. Good for the smart, not for the slow.
5. high demand on the teacher.

31. Modern Tendencies
1. Add a strictly functional explanation of grammar in the NL.
2. Add more practice of grammatical structures.
3. When difficult to explain meanings of words and phrases, give a short NL explanation.
4. The method of translation of words and phrases as a check.

32. Homework
Read your books and try to find the following about the aural approach:
Its main features and procedures.