The Nature Method for Learning Foreign Languages - What is it & Why isn't it Better Known?

Summary

This video discusses the Direct or Natural Method of language learning, which relies solely on the target language from the outset, using pictures and vocabulary building through known words. Popular a century ago, the method has waned but is exemplified by 'Lingua Latina per se Illustrata'. The script delves into the history of pedagogy, mentioning scholars like W.H.D. Rouse, and explores books from the 19th and 20th centuries. It highlights the efforts of the ION Academy to revive this intuitive and engaging method, offering modernized versions and resources for learners interested in this immersive language acquisition approach.

Takeaways

• 📚 The Direct or Natural Method is an approach to language learning that relies solely on the target language from the first lesson, avoiding the use of the learner's native language.
• 🌟 The method uses well-planned manuals with simple sentences and vocabulary building through pictures and known words, popular from about 1890 to 1920.
• 🔍 'Lingua Latina per se Illustrate' by Hans Orberg is a well-known book that employs the Direct Method, featuring a continuous story of a Roman family with exercises and grammatical explanations in Latin.
• 📚 The Direct Method was championed by prominent scholars and linguists like W.H.D. Rouse, Otto Jespersen, and Wilhelm Vietor, as an alternative to the Grammar Translation Method.
• 🎓 James Henry Warman published books using the Natural Method for French, German, Spanish, and Latin around the 1890s, focusing on conversation and understanding through the target language.
• 📚 The Nature Language Institute published a series of language learning books in the 1950s using the Direct Method, with a focus on conversation and practical use of the language.
• 🔍 The Ion Academy is dedicated to reviving and updating the Direct Method, offering videos and republished books for various languages, including Latin, Czech, and Turkish.
• 🌐 The Direct Method emphasizes immediate use and understanding of the target language, which can be intuitive, user-friendly, and gratifying for learners.
• 📚 The original Nature Language Institute books from the 1950s included IPA italicized writing for non-English, non-French, and non-Russian languages, aiding in pronunciation.
• 🔍 The resurgence of interest in the Direct Method is attributed to the efforts of organizations like the Ion Academy, which aim to make this approach more accessible to modern language learners.
• 🚀 The script suggests a hope for a renaissance of the Direct Method in the 2020s, similar to its brief resurgence in the 1950s, and encourages exploration of this method for language learning.

Q & A

What is the Direct Method or Natural Method in language learning?

The Direct Method or Natural Method in language learning is an approach that relies entirely on the target language from the very first lesson, with no use of the teaching language. It involves well-planned manuals that build vocabulary and simple sentences, often using pictures to aid understanding.

Why was the Direct Method popular in the late 19th century?

The Direct Method was popular from about 1890 to 1920 due to its intuitive approach, which was championed by prominent scholars and linguists of the time, such as W.H.D. Rouse, Otto Jespersen, and Wilhelm Vietor, as an alternative to the Grammar Translation Method.

What is 'Lingua Latina per se Illustrate' and how is it related to the Direct Method?

'Lingua Latina per se Illustrate' by Hans Orberg is a book that employs the Direct Method. It is well-known in the language learning community and uses a lot of pictures, continuous story, and exercises, all in Latin, to teach the language.

Why is 'Lingua Latina per se Illustrate' considered unique?

While 'Lingua Latina per se Illustrate' is not as unique as some people think, it is considered unique because it is one of the few books that still employs the Direct Method, which was popular a century ago, and it is part of a series with companion volumes.

What is the significance of the Nature Language Institute in the context of the Direct Method?

The Nature Language Institute published a series of books in the 1950s that used the Direct Method, including 'Latinas' by Orberg, which later became 'Lingua Latina per se Illustrate'. These books were part of a larger effort to promote the Direct Method for language learning.

What is the role of the Ion Academy in reviving the Direct Method?

The Ion Academy is dedicated to reviving and promoting the Direct Method. They are uploading videos, chapter by chapter, on their YouTube channel and republishing old books in updated editions, making the method more accessible to modern learners.

How does the Direct Method differ from the Grammar Translation Method?

The Direct Method focuses on conversation and immediate use of the target language, whereas the Grammar Translation Method, which was the standard at the time, focused on translating texts from and into the learner's native language, emphasizing grammar rules.

What are some of the criticisms of the Direct Method?

While the Direct Method is praised for its intuitive and engaging approach, some criticisms include its dated content, especially for languages that have evolved significantly since the method's heyday, and its limited availability in modern language learning materials.

Can you provide examples of other language learning books that used the Direct Method during its heyday?

Examples of other language learning books that used the Direct Method include works by James Henry Warman for French, German, Spanish, and Latin, as well as series by Payne and Mine Warring, and Appelton Jones.

How does the Direct Method utilize pictures in language learning?

The Direct Method uses pictures to visually represent the vocabulary and concepts being taught, allowing learners to associate the target language directly with the images, which aids in comprehension and retention without the need for translation.

What is the current status of the Direct Method in language learning today?

The Direct Method is not as widely known or used today as it once was. However, efforts by organizations like the Ion Academy are working to revive interest in this approach, making it more accessible through modernized materials and online resources.