(7) Spoken language is a learnable system of sounds, and sounds are best described by phonetic transcription. Therefore we should attach great importance to phonetic teaching.
② Association lays the foundation for memory. “Teaching a foreign language in that language” tends to re-organize those materials and makes the old and new traces interrelated in many ways. Use of ‘direct” means can arouse more associations. The more associations are, the more firmly materials will be remembered.
(3)“Teaching a foreign language in that language” has wide theoretical base of memorial psychology.
① Review is an effective method to prevent forgetting. “Teaching a foreign language in that language” must rely on materials students have learned as much as possible. The more frequently they appear, the longer they stay in the memory.
enius ‘s idea ① education should be in line with nature, which justified the views on language teaching with the Direct Method. ②His “direct” principle , the principles of “from concrete to abstract, from near to far, from known to unknown, from simple to complex, from fact to conclusion” are put into practice in the Direct Method.
(3 ) Rise and decline:
This method came about as a much needed replacement for the grammar-translation method (classic method) in the late 1800s. It faded in the early 1900s as it was not practical in classroom settings, and then saw a comeback under the name of the audio-lingual method after World War II.
Some important researchers and their basic ideas
Hermann Paul formed the main linguistic base. He proposed the great importance of ‘analogy” in language, which led to the principles of imitation and repetition of the Direct Method.
Direct Method
Group members: 秦丹凤 罗茜 尚宇 杨琨 蔡凤梅
1. Brief introduction of Direct Method
(1) 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 meanings should be communicated “directly” by associating speech forms with actions, objects, mime, gestures, and situations.
(3) Language is proficiency, skills or habits. The formation of habits derives from continuous imitation and repetition.
(4) Language is an art., not science. Learning a language largely lies in practice , not the knowledge of a language.
2. Historical and social backgd social background
2.1 Necessity:
In the late 19th century, with the development of capitalism, all European countries increased communication with each other. It gave rise to a social need for oral proficiency.
However, Grammar-Translation Method could not meet the need. Thus, language teaching innovations were inevitable.
The Direct Method, as a reaction against the GrammarTranslation Method, emerges as a result of the innovations.
(2) Meanings are to be connected with the target language, without going through the process of translating into the students’ native language. They should be communicated “directly” by associating speech forms with actions, objects, gestures, and situations.
W.M.Wundt laid the psychological foundation. He claimed that feeling, not thought, played the main role in language psychology, so concepts and stimulus should take feeling into account, which had great influence on the Direct Method.
F. Gouin’s linguistic and psychological theories based on his observation of children’s use of language were directly applied to the practice of the Direct Method.
(6) Historically speaking, spoken language came into being before written language. So speech patterns are fundamental while written language derivational. This view accounts for the emphasis on the priority for spoken language teaching in the Direct Method.
2.2 Possibility:
The rapid development of linguistics, psychology and education provided the theoretical basis for the establishment of the Direct Method.
(5) Sentence is the minimum unit of speech communication. According to Gouin, verbal expression is closely linked with thought about real events. Thought and corresponding utterances do not occur randomly or singly; they come in sequences and end-means series. In addition, concrete meaning and usage of words can only be learned in sentences.
3. Linguistic and psychological theories behind Direct Method
3.1 Theory of language 3.2 Theory of learning