Rajarata University of Sri Lanka Final Year 3212

Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

Department of Languages

Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities

Online Lectures

Year and Semester	Year-3 Semester-2
Subject	English Language Teaching Methodology-4
Subject Code	ENGL 3212
Course Unit	Direct Method
Date	19.05.2020
Time	Theory (8.00 am-10.00 am)  Practical (3.30 pm-5.30 pm)
Lecturer	D.N. Aloysius
Theory Hours	02                                            Total  No of  Hours: 08
Practical Hours	02                                            Total  No of  Hours: 08

The principles of the Direct Method in teaching English

1.       Reading in the target language should be taught from the beginning of the language instruction; however, the reading skill will be developed through practice with speaking. Language is primarily speech. Culture consists of more than the fine arts (e.g. in this lesson we observed the students studying geography and cultural values.

2.       Objects (e.g., realia or pictures) present in the immediate classroom environment should be used to help students understand the meaning.

3.       The native language shouldn’t be used in the classroom.

4.       The teacher should demonstrate, not explain or translate. It is desirable that students make a direct association between the target language and meaning.

5.       Students should learn to think in the target language as soon as possible. Vocabulary is acquired more naturally if students use it in full sentences, rather than memorizing.

6.       The purpose of language learning is communication (therefore, students need to learn how to ask questions as well as answer them).

7.       Pronunciation should be worked on right from the beginning of language instruction.

8.       Self-correction facilitates language learning.

9.       Lesson should contain some conversational activity—some opportunity for students to use language in real contexts. Students should be encouraged to speak as much as possible.

10.   Grammar should be taught inductively. There may never be an explicit grammar rule given.

11.   Writing is an important skill, to be developed from the beginning of language instruction.

12.   The syllabus is based on situations or topics, not usually on linguistic structures.

13.   Learning another language also involves learning how speakers of that language live.

Advantages of Direct Method in Teaching English

·         The following are the advantages of the Direct Method in teaching English:-

·         Direct method helps learner to acquire correct pronunciation.

·         It provides better understanding

·         Time saving

·         Helped in teaching idioms

·         It provides better fluency of language

·         Based on psychological principle

·         No gap between active and passive vocabularies.

1.     It is natural method:

·         In the direct method the order of teaching is observing, listening, speaking, reading and writing. This is the natural order of learning a language. The method makes use of demonstration and conversation.

2.     It gives fluency of speech:

·         As a lot of attention is paid to oral training in this method, the students acquire fluency of speech. This is the reason why students who are taught by the direct are fluent speakers as compared to those who are taught by the translation method.

3.     It improves pronunciation:

·         As the students are made to speak a lot and they are also taught phonetics, their pronunciation improves.

4.     It aids written work:

·         Fluency of speech leads to case in writing.  To express themselves in writing, the students have only to learn spellings, if a students can express as himself clearly in speaking, he can express himself in writing as well.

5.     It facilities the study of literature:

·         It is believed that since the student acquires an ear for the language in direct method, it facilities the study of literature.

6.     It makes use of audio-visual aids:

·         Audio-visual aids are used in the direct method. This makes the lesson interesting.

Disadvantages of Direct Method Teaching of English language:-

·         Direct method is difficult as there no use of mother language.

·         It isn’t economical as it is requires various teaching aids.

·         Mayn’t be suitable for average or weaker students.

·         It requires competent teachers.

·         It gives overemphasis on listening and speaking skills.

·         It isn’t effective in early stages of learning.

1.     It is an incomplete method:

·         Direct method lays too much emphasis on speaking. It neglects reading and writing. The tendency is to give insufficient attention to reading and not to teach written work systematically.

2.     It requires efficient teachers:

·         Every teacher can’t make a success of the direct method. Only that teacher can work out this method successfully, who is good at English? Especially conversational English.

3.     It requires linguistic minded students:

·         Direct method can succeed only with those students who are linguistically minded, that is, students who have got a fine ear for the language. Only the clever child can profit by this method.

4.     Material facilities aren’t available:

·         Direct method requires the use of audio-visual aids, but these aren’t available in a majority of our schools.

5.     The classes are over-crowded:

·         Small classes are needed for the direct method so that the teacher can pay individual attention. But in a majority of schools the classes are very large.

6.     It is difficult for explanation:

·         The meaning of new words in the direct method is explained by material association, explanation in the target language and use in suitable context. The mother tongue is not used although in certain cases its use more economical and effective in telling meaning.

Practical: Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of DM.

References:

1.    Approaches and Methods in language teaching, Richards and Rodgers

2.      Techniques and principles in language teaching  by Diane Larsen-Freeman