The Direct

Method

Is also known as:

NATURAL METHOD
PHONETICAL METHOD
ANTI-GRAMMATICAL METHOD
REFORM METOD

The Direct Method

Uses only the target language

The Direct Method has one very

basic rule:
NO TRANSLATION IS
ALLOWED
Meaning:
DIRECTLY IN THE TARGET
LANGUAGE

THINKING ABOUT
THE EXPERIENCE

OBSERVATION

1. The student read aloud a

passage about U.S.A
geography.

PRINCIPLES

Reading in the target

language should be
taught from the beginning
of language instruction,
the reading skill will be
developed through
practise with speaking.
Language is primarily
speech. Culture consists
of more than the fine arts.

OBSERVATION

2. The teacher points to apart of the

map after each sentences is read.

PRINCIPLES

Objects present in the immediate

classroom environment should be
used to help students understand
the meaning .

OBSERVATION

3.The teacher uses the target

language to ask the students if
they have a question. The
students use the target
language to ask their questions.

PRINCIPLES
The native language should not be
used in the classroom
In
Englis
h,
please
!

Observation
4. The teacher answers the
students questions by drawing on
the blackboard or giving

Principles

The teacher should

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

Observation
5. The teacher asks questions
about the map in the target
language, to which the students
reply in a complete sentence in
the target language

Principles
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 word lists

Observation
6. Students ask questions about
the map

7.The teacher works with the

pronunciation of Appalachian
8. The teacher corrects a
grammar error by asking the
students to make a choice.
9. The teacher asks questions
about the students, students ask
each other questions.

Principles
The purpose of language learning is
communication (therefore students
need to learn how to ask questions as
well as answer them)
Pronunciation should be worked on right
from the beginning of language
instruction.
Self-correction facilitates language
learning.

Lessons should contain some

conversational activity-some opportunity
for students to use language in real
contexts. Students should be
encouraged to ask to speak as much as
possible.

Observation

Principles

10. The students fill in the

blanks with the preposition
practised in the lesson

Grammar should be taught

inductively. There may never be
an explicit grammar rule given.

11. The teacher dictates a

developed from
Paragraph about U.S.A geography

Writing is an important skill, to be

the beginning of language instruction

OBSERVATION
12. All of the lessons of the week
involve U.S.A geography.

13. A proverb is used to discuss

how people in the U.S view
punctually.

PRINCIPLES
The syllabus is based on
situations or topics, not usually on
linguistic structure.

Learning another language also

involves learning how speakers
of that language live.

Reviewing the
principles:
1. What are the goals of teachers who
use the Direct Method?
Teachers who use the Direct Method
intend that students learn how to
communicate in the target language.
2. What is the role of the teacher?
What is the role of the students?
The student role is less passive than in
the Grammar-Translation Method.

3. What are some characteristics

of the teaching/learning process?
Teachers believe that students need
to associate meaning and the target
language directly.
Students speak in the target
language.
Grammar is taught inductively.

4. What is the nature of studentteacher interaction? What is the

nature of student-student interaction?
The initiation of the interaction goes both
ways, from teacher to students and from
student to teacher.
5. How are the feelings of the students
dealt with?
There are no principles of the method which
relate to this area.

6. How is language viewed? How

is culture viewed?
Language is primarily spoken, not
written.
Students also study culture (history,
geography)
7. What areas of language are
emphasized? What language
skills are emphasized?
Vocabulary is emphasized over

8. What is the role of the

student`s native language?
The students native language should
not be used in the classroom.
9. How is evaluation
accomplished?
Student are asked the use the
language, not to demonstrate their
knowledge about the language.

10. How does the teacher respond

to student errors?
Teacher tries to get students to to selfcorrect whenever possible.

Direct Method

Reviewing the techniques

Reading aloud:
Students take turn reading sections of
a passage, play or dialogue out loud
Question & answer:
The teacher asks the questions of any
nature and the students answer

 Getting students to self correct:

When a student makes a mistake, the
teacher will offer a second chance by
giving him a choice.
e.g. Student says: I have cree apples
Teacher: Do you have cree apples or three
apples?
2nd
To repeat the learners mistake in order to
signal that something was wrong.

 Conversation practice:
Teacher asks the students a number of questions in L2
Students should be able to answer correctly in full sentences
They are also given an opportunity to ask their own questions
to the other students or the teacher
Fill-in-the-blank exercise:
Unlike the GTM, all are given in the target language
No explicit grammar rules would be given
Students deduce the grammar rules through the items or
examples given by the teacher

 Dictation:
The teacher chooses a grade appropriate passage and reads
the text aloud. Teacher reads the passage three times.
Map drawing:
Students are given a map without labelled then the
students label it by using the directions the teacher gives.
Paragraph writing:
The students are asked to write a passage in their own
words.

Students:
Carrazana, Dalma
Reales, Leila
Miranda, Lurdes