"The Art of Teaching and Studying Languages" by François Gouin, Howard Swan, and Victor Bétis, published in 1894, delves into the necessity of creating a "mental railway" between nations through effective language learning methods.
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| "The Art of Teaching and Studying Languages" |
The book explores the character, conditions, and ultimate goal of a successful linguistic method, as well as the possibility of constructing such a method based on natural prototypes.
The authors recount their experiences with learning the German language, starting with classical antecedents and their initial efforts at Hamburg University. Despite studying grammar, irregular verbs, and roots, they faced disappointment and fatigue. Traditional methods like reading and translation proved ineffective, leading them to explore alternative approaches.
The Ollendorf method, which promised rapid progress, ultimately left them disillusioned. They also discuss the teachings of Jacotot and Robertson, highlighting the disorder and arbitrariness inherent in traditional language instruction. Their experiences at Berlin University, where they struggled to connect with fellow students and classes, further underscored the limitations of conventional language learning methods.
In a moment of desperation, the authors turned to observing a three-year-old child's language development in nature's school. This led to a breakthrough in their understanding of language acquisition, emphasizing the importance of perception, conception, and the role of verbs in the learning process. They also explore the formation of individuality through language and the significance of series in language acquisition.
Through insights gained from observing children's language learning processes, the authors propose a new approach to language instruction that emphasizes sentence-based learning and the integration of objective and subjective language. They return to Berlin to test their newfound knowledge, achieving success and vindication.
The book concludes with an epilogue and prologue, reflecting on the transformative journey of discovering a more effective method of teaching and studying languages. "The Art of Teaching and Studying Languages" offers a fresh perspective on language acquisition, challenging traditional methods and advocating for a more intuitive and holistic approach to language learning."The Art of Teaching and Studying Languages" by François Gouin, Howard Swan, and Victor Bétis, published in 1894, delves into the necessity of creating a "mental railway" between nations through effective language learning methods. The book explores the character, conditions, and ultimate goal of a successful linguistic method, as well as the possibility of constructing such a method based on natural prototypes.
The authors recount their experiences with learning the German language, starting with classical antecedents and their initial efforts at Hamburg University. Despite studying grammar, irregular verbs, and roots, they faced disappointment and fatigue. Traditional methods like reading and translation proved ineffective, leading them to explore alternative approaches.
The Ollendorf method, which promised rapid progress, ultimately left them disillusioned. They also discuss the teachings of Jacotot and Robertson, highlighting the disorder and arbitrariness inherent in traditional language instruction. Their experiences at Berlin University, where they struggled to connect with fellow students and classes, further underscored the limitations of conventional language learning methods.
In a moment of desperation, the authors turned to observing a three-year-old child's language development in nature's school. This led to a breakthrough in their understanding of language acquisition, emphasizing the importance of perception, conception, and the role of verbs in the learning process. They also explore the formation of individuality through language and the significance of series in language acquisition.
Through insights gained from observing children's language learning processes, the authors propose a new approach to language instruction that emphasizes sentence-based learning and the integration of objective and subjective language. They return to Berlin to test their newfound knowledge, achieving success and vindication.
The book concludes with an epilogue and prologue, reflecting on the transformative journey of discovering a more effective method of teaching and studying languages. "The Art of Teaching and Studying Languages" offers a fresh perspective on language acquisition, challenging traditional methods and advocating for a more intuitive and holistic approach to language learning.
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