The Direct Method

 

Contents Goals : The students are : able to use a target language to communicate to think in the target language	Existing Classroom Practice As I once observed : Students read the passage about a topic. Then, a teacher showed some stuffs which was involved in the passage. The teacher demonstrated the stuffs in front of the class. Communication was in the target language. The teacher asked some questions based on the passage using the stuffs and the students had to answer it in the target language with complete sentences. If there were some mistakes in the context of sentences or pronunciation, the teacher reminded the students by giving signs or choices so they could make it up themselves. If there were some problem the students could ask the teacher by using the target language of course, well the teacher would explain directly by demonstrating it so the students could understand and use it well without translating it of course, native language was never used. At the last session, the teacher asked the students to write what they got from that passage with their own words.
Teaching-learning characteristics : lesson should contain some conversational activity communication is in the target language translating into native language is never done grammar is taught inductively vocabulary is emphasized over grammar, it’s practiced by using new words in complete sentences Pronunciation also receives attention Self-correction facilitates language learning by giving signs or choices
Teacher’s activities/roles : Teacher and students are as partners in teaching and learning process Presenting and demonstrating
Students’ activities : Reading in the target language Learning how to ask questions as well as answer them Writing is an important skill Learning how speakers of that language live	As I was told : Some students read a conversation text based on their textbook, the situation was at the bank, then the teacher demonstrated what they in the text did, so all the students could understand. Then, the teacher asked them to make a short conversation with their partner and demonstrated in front of the class, the teacher would give a codes or choices if there were some mistakes they made in the context of sentences or grammar.
Comments (plusses and minuses to English language teaching today) :
This method brings a lot of advantages, the students are able to use the target language to communicate, and studying can be fun, it is good for active students but passive students will not get any advantage if they can not follow the lesson well