Techniques &Principles in Language Teaching by Larsen_ Freeman and Anderson
The Direct Method:
The Direct Method is not new.
Most recently, it was revived as a method when the goal of instruction became learning how to use the target language to communicate.
Why Direct Method became popular?
Since the G.T.M was not very effective in preparing students to use the target language communicatively.
No Translation
The Direct Method has very basic rule: No
translation is allowed.
Meaning is conveyed directly in the target language through the use of demonstration and visual aids.
Observations and their underlying principles:
Observation: the students read aloud a passage about U.S geography.
Principle: reading should be taught from the beginning of language instruction.
Observation: the teacher points to a part of the map after each sentence is read.
Principle: objects (e.g. realia or pictures) should be used to help students understand the meaning.
Observation: the teacher uses the target language to ask the students if they have a question. The students use the target language to ask question.
Principle: the native language should not be used in the classroom.
Observation: the teacher answers the students questions by drawing on the blackboard or giving examples.
Principle: the teacher should demonstrate, not explain or translate.
Observation: the teacher asks question about the map in the target language.
Principle: students should learn to think in the target language as soon as possible.
Observation: students ask questions about the map .
Principle: the purpose of language learning is communication( therefore, students need to learn how to ask questions as well as answer them).
Observation: the teacher works with the
students on the pronunciation of
”Appalachian”
Principle: pronunciation should be worked on right from the beginning of language instruction.
Observation: The teacher corrects a grammar error by asking the students to
make a choice.
Principle: self correction facilitates language learning.
Observation: the teacher asks question about the students. Students ask each other questions.
Principle: lessons should contain some conversational activity_ some opportunity for students to use language in real context.
Observation: the students fill in the blanks with prepositions practiced in the lesson.
principle: grammar should be taught inductively. there may never be an explicit grammar rule given.
Observation: the teacher dictates a paragraph about U.S geography.
Principle: writing is an important skill, to be developed from the beginning of language instruction.
Observation: all of the lessons of the week involve united states geography.
Principle: the syllabus is based on situation or topics, not usually on linguistic structures.
Observation: a proverb is used to discuss how Americans view punctuality.
Principle: learning an other language also involves learning how speakers of that language live.
The Teacher Goals:
Teacher who use the direct method intend that students learn how to communicate in the target language . In order to this successfully, students should learn to think in the target language.
The roles of teachers & the students
Although the teacher directs the class activities, the students role is less passive than in the G.T.M.
Characteristics of the teaching/ learning process
in this method, students need to associate meaning and the target language directly.
Students speak in the target language a .great deal
Some other characteristics
The D.M, is based upon situation and topics.
Grammar is taught inductively.
An explicit grammar rule may never be given.
Inductive grammar teaching
In D.M grammar is taught inductively; that is, the students are presented with examples and they figure out the rule or generalization from the example.
Interaction
in the D.M the initiation of the interaction goes both ways, from teacher to the students and from students to teacher, although the latter is often teacher directed.
What about the students feelings?
There are no principles of the method which relates to this area.
View on language
Language is primarily spoken, not written. Therefore, students study common, every day speech in the target language.
The end