New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-05-09
HOW TO LLARN Lang U1GES
TIE ADVANTAGES AND EVILS OF MODERN
"MFTHODs.-

THE ADVANTAGES AND EVILS OF MODERN
"METHoDs.'
A teacher of German, well known in New
York, conversing recently with OF bis pupils.
"What do you think" asked tho pupil. "ofthe varous
methods learning foreign languages which have been
so much talked OF lately
"They all have less utility" replied the pro-
lessor, "but they OF them dispense with
earnest systematic work on tho part OF the learner.
The promise to teach German French in a month
six months Is promise which can never DO redeemed.
EucIlds old saying Is absolutely without exception
There lie no royal road to learning Tho theory
which most OF tho modern methods proceed lie simple
and logical 1t is that one should learn a foreign
language I'm the way he learns his language
that is by the rather than by the intellect This
theory however. may easily be pushed to extreme
1t requires four Ave years for child to learn its
language and during these its mind Is In reality
concentrated this study though the child does not
know It. Now man whose IDEAS arc already formed,
who has learned the elementary rules OF construction
which common to all languages. easily shorten
the period in acquiring foreign tongue. To do this
however systematc grammatical study necessary in
which his knowledge OF the grammar Of language
will aid him in learning that OF another The who
should attempt to learn language like German with
really complicated grammar, simply by hearing 10
spoken would probably arrive ut proficiency. 10
learn language in that the mind must, like tue
mind of child be perfect blank really to receive and
retain first Impressions.
any experience abroad with Americans and English
men who have come to Germany to learn the language
teaches that they often push this theory TO
extreme. For instance they como to Berlin without
knowing the first word OF German. They Immediately
marculae in the University and begin to attend Leo
In this way they learn nothing, little
A child a year old would learn mucn II 1t were
brought into the lecture hall to hear DIR. Grimm talk
about and DR. virchow about anatomy. The learner
must first have certain vOcabuary he must be taught
something about the grammatical construction Of tho
language above all, the dioms that he will hear must
be explained him. In words, he must be taught
how to hear. II Is curious fact that when idOm
has been explained to learner he Immediately be-
gins to hear employed all hands AMI finds himself
unconscously making use OF itin the right way too
Probably he had heard that diom used hundred times
before but it had fallen on deaf ears. This is what
when say that in learning foreign language
should supplement the by the Intelligence. and
should be content to proceed by the Same slow
progress a child"
"What do you consider the best method By which tho
can be taught to hear, as you sayl"
"Of course, each teacher champions his method
but this is the way generally proceed. and find IL
the purpose we'll After the student has obtained
q knowledge Of elementary grammar and a limited
vocabulary let the teacher select novel OF the day,
written in the colegca language of tho tongue to be
learned. Poetry won't the purpose least OF all
classical poetry, which Is generally full OF obsolete
words and expressions. II you are studying French
don't begin by reading play OF Corneie or Racine.
Their language Ia the language spoken In tho cafe
and the bouevards. Faust, however, forms an ex.
ception general rule. for there is hardly iom
in the German language which does not turn up in the
OF this WORK. Armed with such book let tue
teacher and tho student study together AS each idom
met, its meaning and uses should be thoroughly ex-
planned to the learned and then writ. down for future
reference The same should be done for every new
word. No one remember. can ever expect to learn q
language by studying book but this is an excellent
method of calling the attention to words and ssons.
that the may be ready to detect them when heard.
To study OF this kind add the conversation
lesson. better still the lecture and the theatre.
and you have the elements necessary to the complete
acquisition OF "A foreign language"
What degree of proficiency Is II possible for FOR.
eigner to obtain In "a language not his WI !"
In my opinion there Is only limit in that direc-
ton, ana that limit is rather theoretical than practical
do not believe that man can ever create In foreign
lie may write IL and speak IL dramatically
atcaly, with all the uency OF his mother tongue.
he will always express himself according 20 forms
which have been created for him. and which no has
learned. He far master the genius OF tho
language mould IL TO his ideas. His thoughts
will her fall into the moulds which others have made
write poetry poetry with the real creative fro
In foreign language consider impossible. let. that
need isco courage one for how many Zeal poets
,ven III their tonguea"