The teaching of English as a foreign language is now, in many places, expanding into primary (elementary) school settings
The Direct Method: How to teach the names of subjects
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The Direct Method: How to teach the names of subjects
Among the first lessons to be given to beginners are those that teach the names of common objects. Many and repeated opportunities must be given for seeing the objects and hearing their names, seeing the objects and saying their names, pointing to the objects on hearing their names, answering such questions as What's this? What's that? What are these? etc. That is to say, the pupils must so associate the objects with their names that when they hear the name they think of the object and when they see the object they think of its name. All lessons that teach the names of objects come under the heading of «Lessons based on the question what?» The usual procedure is as follows. I The teacher first selects a number of objects, in batches of say from 10 to 20. If he chooses too many at a time, the pupils are likely not to remember them all; too many words at a time results in «mental indigestion». If he chooses too few at a time, the lesson is likely to be monotonous. The objects should be chosen wisely. They should be in the first instance the commonest and most general objects – the things we talk about very often and not the things we talk about rarely. Teach for instance, tree before shrub, head before eyebrow, stick before twig, etc. The objects may be those that are usually to be found in the place where the lesson is given, e. g. door, window, knife, match, book; or parts of the body and articles of clothing. those collected specially for the purposes of the lesson, e. g. a stick, a stone, a nail, a piece of wire, a piece of string, etc. those represented by pictures, such as those printed on picture cards or wall charts, or by rough drawings on the blackboard. The teacher shows or points to each object in turn and names it. He says the name clearly (but naturally) three or four times. He should say, for instance pencil as we usually say the word, not pen-sill; or garden (rhyming with pardon) and not gar-den. It is usually considered better and more practical to put a (an) or the before the name. Thus, not simply table or chair, but a table, a chair or the table, the chair. But a, an, the (and other similar words) should be pronounced naturally as in ordinary speech, and not as ay, Ann, or thee. 2. The teacher shows or points to the same object saying this time This is a book (pencil, button, etc.). This is an envelope (umbrella, etc.). That's the door (window, etc.). It is usual to say This is a for small objects close to the teacher, and That's a for larger objects a short distance away from him. While a (or an) can be put before the objects, it is usual to speak the door, the window, the table, the floor, etc. meaning the one table, window, floor, etc., which belongs to the room. Much must be left to the judgment of the teacher, who will in each case use what seems to him the most natural form. Some teachers prefer to use from the very start This is a book, This is an envelope, That's the – table, etc., instead of merely book, a book, table, the table, etc. Such words as this and that should always be accompanied by a suitable gesture, thus: This (tapping or holding up the object) is a, That (vigorously pointing to the object) is the So far the pupils have been listening and looking; they have been receiving words and sentences and not giving them. Some teachers at this point would begin making the pupils say the words and sentences or answer the question What's this? But it is generally considered wiser to give the pupils more chances of hearing and recognizing words before they are called upon to speak. Other teachers even go so far as to spend several lessons on. listening practice before allowing the pupils to say anything. Their point is that the more the pupils have heard the words and sentences repeated the more easily and correctly they will speak when the time comes. And indeed if pupils are forced to say words before they have properly «digested» them, they will generally say them with great difficulty and not at all in the English way. He will then proceed to the questions for yes or no answers. In all examples of questions and answers the words printed in italics are to be emphasized or stressed. Is this a book? Yes, it is. Is this a pencil? No, it isn't Is this a pencil? Yes, it is. Pupils generally find it amusing when they hear the teacher (when pointing to, a table) ask himself: Is that a button? and before long will themselves call out: No, it isn't. Then he can continue by asking himself «alternative questions» and answering them. Is this a book or a pencil? It's, a book. Is this a pencil or a button? It's a button. Is that the window or the door? It's the door. Finally he should ask and answer a «series» of three questions for each object always in the same order and in the following way: Is this a book? Yes, it is. Is this a pencil? No, it' isn't What is it? It's a book. Is that the door? Yes, it is. Is that the window? No, it isn't What is it? It's the door. etc. Such «series» of questions and answers should be executed in regular drill-like manner so that the «pattern» of the sentences stands out in a distinct rhythm. As we shall see later, this «series drill» is of great importance, and the teacher would do well to practise the system until he can execute it (or cause it to be executed) without the slightest hitch of hesitation. It is comparable to the commands and movements of military drill in which the succession of movements is carried out in perfect order and with machine-like accuracy. Note that: Question One is to obtain yes as the first word in the answer. Question Two is to obtain no as the first word in the answer. Question Three is to obtain the main answer. Note which words in the questions and answers are stressed or put into prominence. The success of the drill depends largely on this. Note also that the rise or fall of the voice must be natural: Is this a book? (Voice rises on book.) Yes, it is. (Voice drops on is.) Is this a pencil? (Voice rises on pencil.) No, it isn't (Voice drops on isn't) What is it? (Voice drops on is.) It's a book. (Voice drops on book.) Such «series» and indeed all drill-like question-and-answer work should be used as indicated and not varied by the substitution of Indirect for Direct questions (see pp. 8–10). Indirect questions may be introduced later, when the pupils have practised the Direct form until they are thoroughly familiar with it. 4. When the pupils have had sufficient opportunity to hear the words and sentences (and to grasp their meaning) they are called upon to say them. In the first instance they may repeat them after the teacher Teacher Pupils a book a book This is a book. This is a book. That's the table. That's the table. Next they must answer the questions:
When the pupils are proficient in answering such questions in more or less drill-like form, the question may be asked in irregular order: Pupils Teacher What's Ms? It's a stone. Is that the table or the floor? It's the table. Is that the window? No, it isn't. Is this a match? No, it isn't. What's that? It's the wall. At a certain moment (this depending on the aptitude and proficiency of the pupils) various pupils in turn will be called upon to play the part of teacher, and will carry on the work of naming and questioning – the objects and types of questions being of course those with which they are familiar. At the end of the lesson the list of suitable words is given (17). Yüklə 226,79 Kb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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