Direct method for teaching English

Meaning

·         It is the method of teaching foreign language without use of mother tongue, without translation and without study of formal grammar.

·         It involves association of words and symbols with their meaning by use of discussion, dramatization, gestures and pictures etc.

·         Intense stress on listening and speaking.

Aims of Direct method

·         Enable students to think in English.

·         Enable students to grasp what they read or hear as they grasp their mother tongue.

·         Enable students to use unerring language.

·         Enable students to express their thoughts fluently in English.

Principles of Direct method

·         Use of one language i.e English.

·         Use of limited vocabulary.

·         Teaching grammar inductively.

·         Stress on oral work.

·         Emphasis on correct pronunciation.

·         Sentence as unit of speech.

·         Direct association of word and thought.

Techniques

·         Learners are motivated to think in English.

·         Learners are encouraged to ask questions and give answers in English.

·         Proper exercise for listening and speaking.

·         Use of various teaching aids i.e charts, pictures and audio-video devices.

Advantages

·         Direct method help learners to acquire correct pronunciation.

·         It provides better understanding.

·         Time saving.

·         Helpful in teaching idioms.

·         It provides better fluency of language.

·         Based on psychological principles.

·         No gap between active and passive vocabularies.

Disadvantages

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

·         It is not economical as it requires various teaching aids.

·         May not be suitable for average and weaker students.

·         It needs competent teachers.

·         It gives over emphasis on listening and speaking skills.

·         It is not effective in early stages of learning.