What is the Direct Method?

At iLINGUA language school we use, among other things, the Direct Method or Communication Method to teach English; that is why we would like to introduce you to this method....

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In learning a foreign language using the Direct Method, the primary aim is to acquire the ability to communicate in the foreign language. During lessons in, for example, English, the use of the mother tongue is minimised and certain language reflexes are formed. Which leads to thinking in the particular language being learnt and consequently facilitates communication in the language.

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The Direct Method has developed along with the development of the methodology of teaching a foreign language, but also with the requirements and expectations of the students (the basic methodological assumptions of the Direct Method were created over a hundred years ago). That is why it is fast, but more than that, it is very effective and enables practically every person to achieve very good results.

Naturally, some assumptions or things remain the same, but in today's demanding world, this method and the coursebooks we use are rigorously and regularly evaluated, taking into account the value and relevance of the content to the client's needs. Therefore, the textbooks used in our language school are based on new standards and successfully enter the twenty-first century.

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Direct Method is largely learning English through conversation. There is a strong emphasis on practice and oral exercises (listening and speaking). Roughly eighty per cent of the lessons are conversations with the teacher, based on controlled dialogue. This conversation consists of the teacher asking questions based on previously introduced vocabulary (and grammatical issues). So the newly learnt material is practised in context and in practice.

Classes are held practically exclusively in English. The teacher gives instructions in the foreign language (although, in order not to introduce stressful situations for the listeners (mainly those beginning their adventure with the English language), the teacher may to some extent assist with the use of the native language).

In order to develop the correct language reflexes, it is necessary to speak at a normal pace and without (much) thinking - just like in the mother tongue. In this way, you can get rid of the habit that hinders communication (listening and speaking at a natural pace), namely thinking and translating from the mother tongue - the aim is to think in the target language.

Learning a language in small groups (although learning can take place individually) through conversation is probably the most common way of acquiring a language that has been known for hundreds of years.

The dynamic exchange of questions and answers between the teacher and the listener serves to develop language habits. The listener achieves automaticity of response by imitating words, whole phrases and eventually sentences.

In the initial stages of learning, the questions and answers are predetermined. The listener practises those words and grammatical structures that are included in the conversations. In the following stages, the listener's own inventiveness is introduced and the listener finally creates individual and free answers.

In the textbooks used, we use interesting questions and answers in contemporary and natural language. Listeners use the language in more contexts (honing language use, grammatical structures and collocations). And this makes learners able to use the language creatively, rather than in a mechanical and unnatural way.

The teacher emphasises correct language use (i.e. pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar), which reinforces the learners' correct language habits.

It is important to construct utterances on one's own, even if the student makes a mistake (of course, the teacher lecturer corrects mistakes in a friendly manner) - and, as we all know, we learn from mistakes, so they are natural in the process of learning a foreign language.

Knowledge of grammar comes ‘by the way and over time.’ We practise it in sentences and consolidate it in exercises from time to time.

Learning a foreign language is a process in which repetition is an important element. Therefore, we repeat previously learnt material in a structured way at the beginning of each lesson. Repetition is the key to success (just like typing - the more you type, the better you get at it and the more skilful you become).

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As is well known, the best way to learn is to practise and, in the case of language, to use it, simply to speak it. The learners take an active part in the class, practising listening, speaking, new vocabulary and structures to form an utterance.

In this method, we learn a foreign language just as a child learns its first language. That is, first we hear the words, then we speak them (imitating how we hear them), then we learn what they look like (reading) and finally we write them.

In short, vocabulary is more important than grammar, and communication is most important.

With this method we learn, get to know and acquire English.

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The foreign language textbooks we use (mainly English) are proven and used in more than thirty countries and in more than a thousand language schools.

At iLINGUA we use textbooks , such as.

• English designed with DIRECT Method, 

• Teens English designed with DIRECT Method, 

• Business English Marketing and Management designed with DIRECT Method, 

• Business English Finances and Industry designed with DIRECT Method 

• oraz Get Down to Business English.