The direct method of teaching, which is sometimes called the natural method, and is often (but not exclusively) used in teaching foreign languages, refrains from using the learners' native language and uses only the target language. It was established in England around 1900 and contrasts with the grammar–translation method and other traditional approaches, as well as with C.J. Dodson's bilingual method. It was adopted by key international language schools such as Berlitz, Alliance Française and Inlingua in the 1970s and many of the language departments of the Foreign Service Institute of the U.S. State Department in 2012.
In general, teaching focuses on the development of oral skills. Characteristic features of the direct method are: teaching concepts and vocabulary through pantomiming, real-life objects and other visual materials teaching grammar by using an inductive approach (i.e. having learners find out rules through the presentation of adequate linguistic forms in the target language) the centrality of spoken language (including a native-like pronunciation) focus on questionanswer patterns
Definition
The direct method in teaching a language is directly establishing an immediate and audiovisual association between experience and expression, words and phrases, idioms and meanings, rules and performances through the teachers' body and mental skills, without any help of the learners' mother tongue.
Direct method of teaching languages aims to build a direct way into the world of the target language making a relation between experience and language, word and idea, thought and expression rule and performance. This method intends for students to learn how to communicate in the target language This method is based on the assumption that the learner should experience the new language in the same way as he/she experienced his/her mother tongue without considering the existence of his/her mother tongue.
Essentials
No translation
Concepts are taught by means of objects or by natural contexts through the mental and physical skills of the teacher only. Oral training helps in reading and writing listening and speaking simultaneously. Grammar is taught indirectly through the implication of the situation creation.
Techniques
Question/answer exercise – the teacher asks questions of any type and the student answers. Dictation – the teacher chooses a grade-appropriate passage and reads it aloud. Reading aloud – the students take turns reading sections of a passage, play or a dialogue aloud. Student self-correction – when a student makes a mistake the teacher offers him/her a second chance by giving a choice. Conversation practice – the students are given an opportunity to ask their own questions to the other students or to the teacher. This enables both a teacher-learner interaction as well as a learner-learner interaction. Paragraph writing – the students are asked to write a passage in their own words.
Nature
The direct method is also known as the natural method. It was developed as a reaction to the grammar-translation method and is designed to take the learner into the domain of the target language in the most natural manner. The main objective is to impart a perfect command of a foreign language. The main focus is to make the learner think in the targeted language in the same manner as the learning of his/her mother tongue in the most natural way. In traditional language-learning, pupil participation was found to be diminished as the teaching is perceived to be long and monotonous.