The Washington critic., 1888-04-07
Five Weeks in Germany.

heauefS oil IHE CRITIC Will doubtless
have seen notices in the several daily
papers of the city, with the caption,
German in FIVE Weeks" The writer
of this article visited the lecture rooms
in Masonic Temple, corner Ninth and f
streets, TO see what could be seen, as the
proposition that an American could
learn German IN five weeks was too
astounding to be believed.
The class was called to order by Pro-
fessor Haupt, in choice German, and not
word of English was spoken until the
close, when short lecture in English
was given to explain the method. The
writer became student instead of q dis
belieyer at the close of the remarks and
is much pleased at the progress he has
made, and jtseems to him that any person
rejecting upon the subject must arrive at
the same conclusion as himself a. "a
English is entirely banished from the
class room, and all explanations are given
in German in language adapted to the
student, and the words are impressed up-
on his mind through the medium of we'll
told anecdotes, of which the Professor
has an inexhaustible fund. More rapid
progress can be made in these classes
than by two years tour in Germany,
for one has all the advantages of hearing
and speaking, with the additional. ad,
vantage of receiving full explanation
of the uses and meanings of words, in
stead OF simply listening to unmeaning
sounds as he would in the homes Of
Germans.
Each days lessons are the subject of a
lecture, and are then given upon printed
page, accustoming the ear to interpret the
sound and the eye the printed page.
After the scholar is a little further sd.
vanced, writing is introduced, and the
hand is also trained, thus most thoroughly
grounding the pupil in the principles and
practice of pure German. Formerly Pro-
lessor Haupt was professor of modern
| Languages at Des Moines University and
while there, realizing that the oldmethods
were defective, developed this new sys-
TEN, and has, in the past ten years, sue
eessiully taught nearly seventeen thou
sand persons.
He takes a lesson from the child at its
mothers knee, where il learns the gram
matieal construction of language, not
from the dry theory Of anGqliated gram
mar, but from the living, speaking words
and sentences, taking up the grammar
ai!er he Is issalready well;founded in
the language, that he may, perchance
! spoken thoughts The, first requisite is
| TO learn to speak correctly and this the
| students of this system certainly. do; and
then if they wish TO delve deeply into the
abstract theory, of the language they, have
| so to do. a'sA
| Thisis the Professors second season IN
| the city, and his success has been so
| complete that he has decided to organize
! two new classes to accommodate those
| who desire 10 take the course, These
| will he organized on Monday next nj
halfpast nine in the morning and OF
| quarter past four in the afternoon.
Many of the best known residents and
society people Of Washington have and
are taking his course, and many
moro will commence with the new class
on Monday. In addition 10 learning
German thoroughly, the hour spent in
the class is most Interesting, as the quaint
stories from "Vaterland, as told by the
Professor, are well worth the small price
! charged for tuition. Talented assistants
aid in .expoinding the Language
Mr.. Mueller having been for over
| five years connected with the system
and Is thoroughly proficient. A lecture
the hrst Oft the new course, will be deliv.
cred at Masonic Temple next Monday, al
the hours above mentioned, and all are in
| yiled to be present. whether wishing tC
become students or not. Go and tax,
your friends with you and you will bS
wei repaid for the slight effort it will eos
| yml