Direct Method

Question 1

Direct Method

Answer 1

Francois Gouin’s premise was that it was best to learn another language by listening to it and speaking it just as children do. The goal of this method is to teach students, how to converse in everyday situations in another language.
Other aspects of the direct method include classroom instruction exclusively in the target language, only everyday language is taught, and grammar being learned inductively. Although this method’s initial insistence on using only the second language in the classroom as well as its lack of activities to develop reading and writing prevented it from being accepted in public education.

Question 2

Direct Method’s Strategy

Answer 2

1. The teacher shows a set of pictures that often portray life in the country of the target language.
2. The teacher describes the picture in the target language.
3. The teacher asks questions in the target language about the picture.
4. Students answer the questions as best they can using the target language. Pronunciation is corrected, but grammatical structure is not.
5. Students may also read a passage in the target language.
6. The teacher asks questions in the target language about the reading.
7. Students answer questions as best they can using the target language.

Question 3

Direct Method’s Strengths

Answer 3

• This is a quick way for students to learn basic conversation skills.
• This teaching method is helpful to teachers who do not know their students’ first language (L1).

Question 4

Direct Method’s Weaknesses

Answer 4

• Some students may be overwhelmed without access to their first language.
• Higher-order discourse is not likely to be learned through this method.
• Not appropriate for learning academic literacy skills.