DIRECT METHOD AND ITS USE FOR ADULT LEARNERS

 

           DIRECT METHOD AND ITS USE FOR ADULT LEARNERS

 

                         

 The Direct method is considered as the Natural Method. It was developed by Maximilian Berlitz as a reaction to the Grammar Translation Method. This method is based on oral communication. Vocabulary is emphasized over grammar. In this method, the only target language is used for teaching. The Direct method is named “direct” because here the teacher demonstrates the meaning by using realia, pictures, or objects. This method had a great impact on language teaching classes. We know that to learn a language, the learner should learn all four skills but this method only focuses on listening and speaking. As grammar gets less attention, students fail to learn about the structures of the target language. But The Direct method is successful in making the learners fluent.

When Grammar Translation Method failed, The Direct method was established in England. It was adopted by key international language schools like Berlitz and Inlingua within the 1970s and lots of of the language departments of the Foreign Service Institute of the U.S. State Department in 2012. This method was popular for using the target language only. At some point, the Direct Method also failed like the Grammar Translation Method. There are several reasons behind its fall. This method cannot be used in a large classroom and using this method, lessons cannot be taught to the tertiary level students. Moreover, to conduct the class using this method, teachers need to be well trained. The Direct method is time and energy-consuming. 

 

     

 Teaching a foreign language to the adult learner is very challenging. The learning of a second language can be seen as a parallel to the acquisition of the child’s first language learning. The Direct Method follows the same way of learning the mother tongue. So, it becomes easy to adopt a foreign language for adults. Moreover, adults do not have lots of time for learning a language as they have so many responsibilities at their office and family. In the Direct Method, grammatical rules are not taught. This is one of the best methods to learn a second language within a very short time and with less effort. In DM, Teachers do not stop to correct the learners. Stopping in the middle of learning feels disrespectful to some elderly people. In my opinion, the Direct Method is the best way to teach the older effectively.