Appletons' Popular Science Monthly, February 1899: Volume LIV, No. 4, February 1899Various
Science
Appletons' Popular Science Monthly, February 1899: Volume LIV, No. 4, February 1899
Various
Science -- Periodicals; Technology -- Periodicals
All this is a copy (systematized, of course) of the method employed by
the mother. Now, first, can the grammarian be useful to us? Let us
remember that to begin with his method is to put the cart before the
horse. He must play the second but also an important part. The child
learns to speak first, but he also learns to read and to write. We
will give the same lesson to the pupil in printed form; he will be
asked to read it, and then to copy it or write it from dictation. He
will receive the new speech through the sense of hearing; it will then
be communicated to the sight, and then to the touch. In this manner a
class of twenty girls of about thirteen years had been taught English.
After about thirty printed lessons had been mastered with the
anecdotes, riddles, etc., which had occupied about half a German
school year, they were not only able to read and write without many
mistakes, but showed a strong desire to express themselves in the new
tongue, and were, indeed, able to do so very satisfactorily, as
compared with the results obtained by the grammarian after a seven
years' course.
Who first thought of combining the two original methods of language
teaching in this way? A Frenchman, named François Gouin. He gave it
the name of the "Series Method," because each lesson contains a series
of actions. After the pupil has learned to express himself in regard
to his immediate surroundings he continues to learn in series in
regard to the lives of animals and of plants, the processes of
housekeeping, traveling, trade, etc. It is all presented simply, but
each has its own appropriate words and expressions. As soon as the
pupil has mastered the rudiments he will also have the subjective
matter presented in a series; in one lesson the teacher will be
inclined to mirth, in another to (mock) anger, in another to hope, in
another to (mock) despair.
The most important result of education being the evolution of the
character already present in the child, let us not consider him a
little empty jug to be filled with knowledge; rather let us seek to
draw out the riches of his character. When he is able to _live_ in a
new language, he will be ever broadened, refreshed, and renewed.
This method, resting on a psychological basis, is, with modifications
of manner, which it remains the duty of the teacher to recognize, just
as good for an adult as for a child. Rules of grammar will be earlier
given to the adult, because he will notice correspondences and
differences sooner than the child. But no rule will ever be given to a
pupil of any age till he himself can appreciate its value, till he is
mentally beginning to ask "why?" This questioning state of mind is one
highly to be desired, as it is a state of receptivity.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account