Direct method by m.hasnnain

Direct MethodWhat is Direct Method?

Direct Method

The Direct Method has one very basic rule: No

translation is allowed.

What is Direct Method? “The method of teaching foreign language

without the use of mother tongue.” It only uses target language to teach target

language. It is also called “Natural language” because

of its learners do not use native language.

Background Founded by Francois Gouin, in 1860, he

observed hundreds of French students learning a foreign language and concluded that learning a foreign language should be in the same way by which people learn their L1.

It aims to use the target language to communicate with daily words. Grammar is taught inductively, in which students discover the rules.

Background It’s to make up with the Grammar-Translation

Meth0od, which emphasizes reading and writing, fixed rules for sentences patterns, and grammar and translation skills.

So, in DM, no translation, no native language but with meaningful context, realia, pictures, visual aids, demonstration and dramatization to help students learn words, preposition, grammar of the target language.

Principles

No translate but demonstrateNever explain but actNever make a speech but ask questions Native speaker to deliver teaching for

correct pronunciation, and better oral skills.

Four Major Principles No Translation under any circumstances. A strong emphasize on oral work. Avoidance of grammatical expression. Maximum use of question answer

techniques.

Role of the students Student are less passive as compared to

GTM. They think and speak in the target language. They try to speak as much as possible. They learn how to ask a question as well as

answer them.

Role of the Teacher The teacher role is quite active. He /She directs all the classroom activities. Asks minimum Questions and Answers. He /She uses sentences instead of words

and makes student speak much.

Techniques Reading loud Question and answer exercise Getting students to self-correct Conversation practice Fill-in-the-blank exercise Dictation Map drawing Paragraph writing

Techniques Reading aloud: Student take turns reading sections of a passage,

play, or whatever teaching materials. The teacher uses gestures, pictures, examples, or other means to make the meaning of the section clear.

Question and answer exercise Students ask answer Questions in full sentences

and practice new words and grammatical rules.

Getting student to Self-correct

A teacher might supply repeat what a student has

just said, using a questioning. A teacher must repeat what the student said,

stopping before the error. The student knows that the next word was

wrong.

Conversation practice

For communication purpose, teaching contains conversational activities: starting with questions in the target language which contained a certain grammar structure, then let students ask Questions with each other with the same sentence patterns. Finally, let student have free talk.

Students are given series of sentence with words missing.

They fill in the blanks with new vocabulary items only from the target language.

Fill in the blanks exercise

Dictation The teacher reads the passage three times. The first time the teacher read it at a normal

speed, while the student only listen. The second time he reads it phrase by

phrase, to allow students write down what they heard.

The last time the teacher again reads at a normal speed and check student’s work.

Map drawing The student are given a map with the

geographical features unnamed. The teacher gives directions to the students. The student can have a completely labeled

map if they follow his instruction correct.

Paragraph writing The teacher asks students to write a

paragraph in their own words. The student can do this from their memory. They can use the reading passage in the

lesson as a model. The same techniques of paragraph can be

applied to any other topics.

Let students learn the correct pronunciation and better oral skills because no native language is used and communication is main activity in the class. Whereas, students’ enterprising spirits and the teacher speaking the target language fluently are required.

Advantages

DisadvantagesStudents may be afraid of asking Qs. It’s hard to practice the methods in a class

with more than 20 students. It needs a great amount of teachers

It’s hard to explain abstract words.It takes much time for teacher to explain

the words that might be trivial.

The Role of DM in Pakistan Direct method is not used in Govt. schools

because students are not taught the foreign languages from their beginning stages.

In private schools DM is being used with some amendments.

The Role of mother tongue is not ignored. Grammar and other rules are also taught

according to the principal of DM.

The principles are still followed in contemporary schools:

Never translate: demonstrate, Never explain: act, Never make a speech: ask questions, Never imitate mistakes: correct, Never speak with single words: use sentences, Never speak too much: make students speak much, Never use the book: use your lesson plan, Never jump around: follow your plan, Never go too fast: keep the pace of the student, Never speak too slowly: speak normally, Never speak too quickly: speak naturally, Never speak too loudly: speak naturally, Never be impatient: take it easy.

Summary No method of teaching a target language is

absolute rather contextual. A good teacher can reap maximum advantages

from carefully handling the Direct Method. The complete detachment from mother tongue

is almost impossible.

Conclusion Language learning should be of use. Good for the class of small size. Culture should be taught about people’s daily

lives.

Thanks for attention!

Good bye!…