The direct method
The Direct Method is not new. It’s have been applied by language teachers
for many years. The goal of instruction became learning how to use
another language to communicate. This method became popular since
Grammar-Translation Method was not very effective in preparing students
to use the target language communicatively.
The D.M has one rule: No translation is allowed. In fact, the Direct Method
receives its name from the fact that meaning is to be conveyed directly in the
target language Teacher uses demonstration and visual aids (realia, pictures,
gestures) instead of the students’ native language
The Principles of Direct Method
The teachers ´goal: students learn how to communicate and think in the
target language.
Teacher’s role: directs class activities and provides input/models.
Students’ role: participate mainly in the target language; interaction is often
teacher-directed, but students also converse with each other.
Characteristics of the teaching/learning process: students associate
meaning with the target language directly, when the teacher introduced a new
vocabulary, he demonstrates its meaning using real objects, pictures or
pantomime. Students speak a great deal practice to communicative as if they
were in real situation. Grammar is taught inductively; students infer rules from
examples. Students practise vocabulary by using new words in completely
sentences.
How is language viewed? Language is primarily spoken, (everyday speech)
before written.
How is culture viewed? They also study culture it includes history of the
people who speak the target language.
Skills emphasized: Vocabulary over grammar. Although work on all four skills
(reading, writing, speaking and listening) the start with oral communication as
base. Pronunciation addressed from the beginning.
How is evaluation accomplished? mainly performance-based (use of the
language), often using both oral and writing skills. For example, the student
might be interviewed orally by the teacher.
How does the teacher respond to student errors? The teacher, employing
various techniques. Tries to get students to self-correct whenever possible.
Common techniques used in the Direct Method:
◆ Reading Aloud: Students take turns reading a section of a text and the
teacher uses gestures, pictures or other examples to make the meaning
section clear.
◆ Question and Answer Exercise: It is conducted only in the target
language. Students are asked question and answer in a full sentence so that
they practise new words and grammatical structures.
◆ Getting Students to Self-correct: The teacher prompts students to
correct their own errors. The teacher might simply repeat what a student has
just said, using a questioning voice to signal that something was wrong or
stopping just before the error, so the student knows that the next word was
wrong.
◆ Conversation Practice: The teacher asks students a few questions using a
target grammar point, which they must understand to be able to answer
correctly. The students were able to ask each other their own questions
using the same grammatical structure.
◆ Fill-in-the-blanks Exercise: All the items are in the target language, so
the students infer needed grammar from examples.
◆ Dictation: passage read several times for listening + writing accuracy. The
teacher reads the passage 3 times. The first time the teacher read it at a
normal speed, while the student just listens. The second time he reads the
passage phrase by phrase and the students to write down what day have
heard and the last time the teacher again reads at normal speech and
students check their work.
◆ Paragraph Writing: The teacher asks the students to write a paragraph in
their own words about a task given before, they can do this from memory or
using a model.
Conclusion
The Direct Method prioritizes communication, oral practice, and learning
meaning through context.
It works best when the teacher can provide rich input, visuals, and lots of
interaction.