Job Discussion Forums

dragonpiwo · Joined: 04 Mar 2013 Posts: 1650 Location: Berlin

Pinged off a few CVs this week and am in the process of getting private work sorted until I go back to the sand.

Is it me or has Direct Method type teaching become trendy here again? I've looked at loads of schools and 'consultancies' and many are either going down the ALM/ DM route at least when it comes to what they advertise.

Thought that went out of fashion a long time ago elsewhere.

dragonpiwo · Joined: 04 Mar 2013 Posts: 1650 Location: Berlin

Clearly it's just me then.

Funny thing is when you post on this forum about teaching, no-one actually comments.

Placement tests?-Nothing.
Direct method?/Nothing.

Let's go back to arguing about the price of fish.

Overwhelmed with offers in just 5 days of advertising/talking to mates.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Thu Sep 18, 2014 5:58 pm Post subject:

Sorry 'bout that. Nothing I can add to this thread. Except that the placement test is pretty good. Cheers once more.

oipivo · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Posts: 163 Location: Poland

When I moved to Poznan I found a few schools that practice the direct method. I was quite surprised as I thought it was relatively extinct. How many schools have you found doing it?

I haven't come across it yet since moving to Wroclaw.

dragonpiwo · Joined: 04 Mar 2013 Posts: 1650 Location: Berlin

Couldn't put a number on it but it's prevalent.

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

Infinite · Joined: 05 Jan 2013 Posts: 235

The Direct aka Callan aka whatever... yea, it's extinct everywhere but here.

I was literally forced to use this method by one of my previous employees. After getting acquainted with the method I went out of my way to do some actual research.

Other than being completely useless for anyone who can form a single correct sentence describing any object in the room, it brings nothing to the table.

Every now and again I pick up a student or two who learned English via this method and it's always the same story. First you need to teach them to rid themselves of the horrendous habits acquired by osmosis while parroting.

I was told that it was developed by the military... great, I'm yet to meet a single member of the Polish military who can speak English.

Other than great PR and marketing, those schools are nothing more than meat grinders churning out large groups of people who after 6 or 7 years of learning are barely able to ask for a cup of coffee.

The bright side? From a school owner's perspective, you can hire second year students with intermediate handle on English to conduct classes in company. Results are usually pretty much same across board.

I think the greatest shock to me was when I was handed a group of 6 people who were using this method for 7 years, yet they couldn't even ask for directions.... why shock? They kept paying for the classes and were fully satisfied. Why? Because it's the HOT NEW METHOD.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

For people truly incapable of acquiring a foreign language, a NEW METHOD may sound like a miracle cure for their condition.

Infinite · Joined: 05 Jan 2013 Posts: 235

simon_porter00 · Joined: 09 Nov 2005 Posts: 505 Location: Warsaw, Poland

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

Just had teacher training today in Tokyo.
Guess what - direct method from someone from Oxford.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

dragonpiwo · Joined: 04 Mar 2013 Posts: 1650 Location: Berlin

The wheel has turned full circle then Smile

. Talk about re-inventing the wheel. How very ELT.

Master Shake · Joined: 03 Nov 2006 Posts: 1202 Location: Colorado, USA

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Poles have difficulty in learning foreign languages. Compare their miserable record with neighbours to the North and West. When a snake oil salesman shows up and promises a miracle cure for Monoglossia, they fall for it !