Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-09-27
COMMU NICATIUN.

particularly those who are engaged in teaching
it, to my System Of Tuition. Although | am
fully aware that an author can seldom be justi-
fled in obtruding his own affairs on the reader,
yet there are circumstances so intimately inter-
woven with the Elan which have the honor to
propose, that trust shall be forgiven for say
ing as much as may be necessary TO elucilae
my system. | have been many years a witness
of the wonderful effects of my plan of educa.
ton by lis influence have seen the youthful
mind dart upwards, as it were, at one bound, to
knowledge; and when contrast its or 'at COM
paraiive benefits with the perfect simplicity Of
It's origin and operation, | am not surprised if
superficial observers regard my enthusiasm with
"A smile Those, however, who recolect that
falling apple first awakened the exploring
powers of Newton TO the wonders of the crea.
ton; and that a mere verbal difference, at a
convval party, directed the acute mind of
Locke towards the mysteries Ct the human I'M
Outstanding, will not need to be reminded that
the greatest effects may spring from the most
trivial causes. II is of great importance that
those who study the French Language should
become Familiarity acquainted with the Alphabet
and Accented vowels; indeed, so much so. that
it is physically impossible to make rapid pro.
grcss without it, Fortunltely, however, it is of
easy acquisition, and it is much to be wished
that the scholar may have the whole perfectly
at command in the very outset, circumstance
altogether in their power by constantly repeat
ing after the instructor the alphabet and ac-
cented novels, and writing them until they are
thoroughly familiar to the ear and the eve, after
which the scholar is To form them into syllablcs,
and form the syllabes into words, before he
commences 10 read he should also be bic to
pronounce every word distinctly before he COM
mences to translate. 1t is also of great mpor-
lance that the scholar should take five lessons
a week, for sixty lessons taken in the space of
twelve weeks would be better than ninety les.
sons taken in the space Of tweny.l -four weeks,
In order to save time, and be sure of acquiring
a good pronunciation, the student should not
study alone for at le tst four weeks. IN transla.
ting, he should commence b. iransatnr the
English into the French, for in doing so he does
not only learn TO translate, but at the same
time Increases his knowledge of French sounds
which is the most important point OF the French
language. alter the student has acquired toll
cradle knowledge Of the exercises gwen for
translation in Bomar's I.evzac Grammar of
The llth edition, (Which work have thoroughly
eNanline,., and have also used TO better advan.
taee than any other work Of the kind published
IN tie United States he should commit to mem
DRY the verbs that are in il, for thorough
knowledge Of the same I consider one third of
the acquisition Of The French Language.
Whilst the student is engaged in hs ransla
ting exercises, the master shouil make hun
write exercises in I'rcucli once or twice
week, and these exercises 10 be copied from the
masters 70 CO, and not from TIE book, and the
same exercises, after the master has corrected
them, and explained the defects TO his pupils,
| he should have thea translate tie same LITERAL
" into English; and after the scholar has be-
come acquainted Wlththcse exercises, it sthen
FOR the master to commence conversation, with.
ont negIectiug now and then to review the for
mer exercises even TO the alphabet and accent
ed vowe's. At the commencement of the ex-
ercises grcn FIR translation, he student ouuht
TO practice frequently the cardinal and ord,nal
numbers. not only because lie should UNDER
stand counting as well rs reading. &c, but be.
cause it is a great assistance in the pronuncja-
Ton Of the French Language. B.ore CON-
menciug coHyt rSai0n the student ought TO c.
pher in French until he can ad !. subtract. mu
!py and divide with ease. With this system
Of instruction, a person can acquire a rood
knowledge of reading, writing, and speaking
the French Language in about one year, by de-
voting one hour a day, five days I'M week, aud
no other home study than what ie rofniroA to
comm the verbs Ia memory. Though | have
above mentioned the name OF Grammar which
| use, it is not the GrQmmar If our angarge,
but more a collection OF Practical Exercises,
which the student will unders and without com
hitting to memory Ii is Of great Importance
| that after the student has commenced reading,
| the master should make him acquainted With a
number Of Rules that We have in our Language,
to know why words although frequently almost
| spe,f alike, vary much in pronunciation. | shall
say nothing here ab1u. the Liquid l., as Profess
sor Balmar has fully explained it in his Fables
| and 4 al ipt n his ErauCl kpaler
| shall only request that those who are engaged
in teaching may pay a Lite attention TO it, st
that their pupils may not contract a false hab
Of pronunciation. Having spoken OF the Llqult
| /, 1t may be well also 10 call the attention o
some to the II, when it is mute and when it i;
aspiraed.
Spelling should also be attended TO as sool
as the pupil can read and have small knowl
edoe OF the translatng exercises. 1t is ais
necessary that the scholar should, as soon a
his know edge of the French will justify it, Il
read Poetry, and observe the rules for the same
The fact is tina, language is natural. Ii is onl
bad methods Of learning that have made il, as
were, unnatural, that is TO say, complicated
perpeXing, and Of almost impossible attain
men,.
Having now partly explained my system c
teaching, l shall enumera,e the objection
When have to other systems, and Ciirr, trus
a satisfactory reIu,aton of them. That fro
the number OF pupils exercised sImuItaneousI J
the pronunciation Of individuals cannot be al
tended to, and that the ordinary mode III com
mencng the Language by the study OF Gram
: mar should be entirely d Scarded and the Gram
! mar rendered merely an accessory and not
principal. In considering this objection, 1t
necessary first to inquire what is the nature {
| 4 ntai tho II a q T.