Direct Method

Direct method is named “Direct” because meaning
should be connected directly with the target
language without translation into the native
language. It is based on the assumption that the
learner should experience the new language in the
same way as he experienced his mother tongue.

In practice it stood for the following principles and procedures:

1. Classroom instruction was conducted exclusively in the target language.
2. Students are encouraged to think in the target language.
3. The teacher should demonstrate not explain or translate.
4. Grammar was taught inductively.
5. New teaching points were introduced orally.
6. Concrete vocabulary was taught through demonstration, objects, and pic­tures;
abstract vocabulary was taught by association of ideas.
7. Self-correction facilitates language learning.
8. Correct pronunciation and grammar were emphasized.

Strategies Using Direct Method:
• Question and Answer: The teacher asks questions of any type and the
student answers.
• Dictation: The teacher chooses a grade-appropriate passage and reads it
aloud.
• Reading Aloud: the students take turn reading sections of a passage, play or
a dialogue aloud.
• Getting Students to Self-Correct: when a student makes a mistake the
teacher offers him/her a second chance by giving a choice.
• Conversation Practice: the students are given an opportunity to ask their
own questions to the other students or to the teacher. This enables both a teacher-
learner interaction as well as a learner-learner interaction.
• Map Drawing: Teacher mentions some places in a geographical map.
Students are asked by teacher to find and label the places in the map. This
technique is used to give students listening comprehension practice and develop
students’ listening skill.
• Paragraph Writing: the students are asked to write a passage in their own
words.
The goal of the teacher is to encourage students to think in target language. Some
Advantages are that it promises to teach the language and not about the language,
and its emphasis on speech made it more attractive for those who have needs of
real communication in the target language.5. New teaching points were introduced
orally.
6. Concrete vocabulary was taught through demonstration, objects, and pic­tures;
abstract vocabulary was taught by association of ideas.

7. Both speech and listening comprehension were taught.
8. Correct pronunciation and grammar were emphasized.