The Direct Method
Maximilian Berlitz developed the Direct Method in the late 1880s. Like Gouin's Series Method, it was based on concepts of natural language learning, including "lots of oral interaction, spontaneous use of language, no translation between the first and second languages, and little or no analysis grammatical rules" (Brown & Lee, 2015, p. 20). Proponents of this method believe that the limited use of the students' native language (L1) to translate the new language (L2) means that the meaning of L2 will be directly conveyed through the use of "visual teaching materials and the implementation of physical response function" (Han-Kwang, 2012, p. 65). DM also makes use of drills and exercises to help the students naturally use the grammatical structures and patterns of L2 (Han-Kwang, 2012). The Direct Method, or the Berlitz Method, is popular around the world to this day. However, it can be difficult to utilize this method in conventional classrooms.
Pros:
Cons:
Pros:
- natural approach
- focus on speaking and listening
- everyday vocabulary employed
- visual aids to support learning
Cons:
- does not adapt well to classroom size or timeline
- depends on a skilled instructor