Activity Instructions: Read the passage given below and draw a map highlighting geographical neighbourhood of Pakistan. Pakistan is situated in the western part of the Indian subcontinent, with Iran in the west, India in the east, Afghanistan in the north-west, China in the north and the Arabian Sea in the south. The northern and western highlands of Pakistan contain the towering Karakoram and Pamir mountain ranges, which include some of the world's highest peaks: K2 (28,250 ft; 8,611 m) and Nanga Parbat (26,660 ft; 8,126 m). The 1,000-mile-long (1,609 km) Indus River and its tributaries flow through the country from the Kashmir region to the Arabian Sea. Introduction The Direct Method was developed by Maximilian Berlitz towards the end of the 19 th century as a reaction to the Grammar Translation Method. The Direct Method is named direct because meaning should be connected directly with the target language without translation into the native language. Basically, the Direct Method aims to provide language learners with a practically useful knowledge of language. Knowing a language is being able to speak it. This method argues that a foreign language can be taught without translation, unlike the argument of GTM. Characteristics Characteristics are the unique elements of this method given below: Introduce vocabulary by pantomime 2
Grammar by inductive approach Focus on question-answer patterns Target language as a medium of communication Less teacher-centred Principles There are certain principles on which this method is based and this makes it different from others. 1. Never Translate : Demonstrate Classroom instruction is conducted exclusively in the target language. Teacher should demonstrate, not explain or translate. 2. Basic Vocabulary Only everyday vocabulary and sentences are taught first. 3. Induce Grammar Rules Grammar is taught inductively. There may never be an explicit grammar rule given. 4. Focus on Pronunciation Pronunciation is given primary focus from the very beginning. 5. Learning by Self-Correction The teacher, by asking the student to make a choice, gets him to correct his own error. 6. Contextual Teaching The syllabus is based on situations or topics related to real life context. 7. Communication-First Principle The purpose of language learning is communication; therefore students need to learn how to ask questions as well as answer them. 8. Forbidden Native Language Native language should not be used in the classroom.
Techniques Techniques are the tools which helps to achieve the goal. 3
Grammar-Translation Method vs. The Direct Method: A Comparison
Direct Method Grammar Translation Method
The teacher provides the knowledge in grammar inductively through speech.
It focuses on grammar rules and their application. Language is learned through rules.
The vocabulary is learned through practice The vocabulary is learned through direct 4
every day.
translation of L1.
Oral communication skills are built up in a carefully grade.
Primary skills to be improved: Reading and writing.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
Disadvantages
It makes learning of English lively by building a direct bond between a word and its meaning.
There are many abstract words which cannot be interpreted directly in English and much time and energy are wasted in making attempts for the purpose.
Through this method fluency of speech, good pronunciation and power of expression are properly developed.
But this method was unable to give maximum positive results, which led to the further development of teaching methodologies and this search produce Audio-lingual Method.
Conclusion In order to conclude this it is observed that teacher-student relationship is more like partners in activity which help them learn the target language. This method lay focus on oral skills and reading and writing is based on the spoken as well.