The Direct Method 直接法

The Direct Method is a method of second or foreign language teaching which insists that only the target language should be used in class and meaning should be communicated “directly” by associating speech forms with actions, objects, mime, gestures and situations. It emphasizes the importance of spoken language and holds that reading and writing should be taught only after speaking .The Direct Method believes in the natural process of language learning and the inductive teaching of grammar.

The Direct Method has several main features. First, during using this method, students learn to think in the target language. Second, meaning is presented by relating directly to the physical word. Third, the target language is the only language of instruction and communication in the classroom. Fourth, correct pronunciation is emphasized during using this approach. Fifth, the basic unit of this method is the sentence.

The advantages of the Direct Method are as following. First, the use of the target language as a means of instruction and communication in the classroom contributes greatly to forming the habit of thinking in the target language, which is necessary in efficient real communication. Second, the emphasis on practice with new language items and on language skills, rather than on language knowledge is important in achieving autonomy of using the target language. Third, the emphasis on spoken language conforms to the objectives of modern language teaching. Special attention paid to pronunciation and intonation is desirable in teaching spoken language. Fourth, regarding listening and speaking as the basis of reading and writing is strategic in fostering for four skills. Using full sentences as teaching units makes foreign language learning more natural and efficient for students to understand a new text and acquire a language.

Still, the Direct Method has its disadvantages. First, overemphasizing on the similarities between naturalistic first language acquisition and classroom foreign language learning may result in the exclusive use of the target language. The absolute avoidance of the native tongue occasionally troubles the Direct Method in teaching the meaning of abstract concepts. Second, it makes students lack of knowledge of the target language grammar. Without explicit grammar explanation, students lack necessary knowledge of the target language. As a result, they tend to produce utterance with a lot of grammatical mistakes in them. Third, the Direct Method places a high demand on teachers. It requires native-speaker teachers or teachers who have native-speaker-like fluency in the target language.