English in Action [antikvár]

PREFACEThe purpose of this book is to teach students how to speak and understand English. The book clearly follows the so-called "direct method" of teaching. Ail exercises are in English. The student is supposed to speak and use only English from the very first lesson. It follows that, for best results, ail the instruction should also be in English. The teacher, if she is able to do so, may wish to explain some of the grammar rules in the native language, where necessary but otherwise the use of the native language should be definitely avoided.The teacher, furthermore, should emphasize the "oral" approach to ail materials. Thus, although students can work with books open when drill exercises are first prac-ticed, ail exercises should later be repeated orally several times. In this connection, the teacher can also introduce supplementary oral drills of her own invention to give the student further practice with whatever grammar or language principie is being studied.The same oral method should also be followed in dealing with the conversation exercisesparticularly the set of questions which appears at the end of each lesson. The students can first read and answer these questions with books open, but then books should be closed and ail questions asked orally by the teacher. Here again the teacher can expand upon this material by asking additional questions of her own choosing. In this way, not only will students gain more practice in speaking but occasionally simple conversation of a natural kind will resuit.