Method of
language training, pioneered by Maximilian
Berlitz.
The
method is based on "listen, repeat and speak". There is no
translation - everything happens in the language the
student is learning, initially by using visual aids. This way, the
student is forced to think in the new
language rather than having to rely on
translation. Instead of studying
grammar and theory, the student learns new structures and words by demonstration and practice. Once again, this enables the student to think in the new
language rather than in terms of
grammar. The goal of the
teacher is to have the
student speak more than half of the class time, so that the
student becomes confident and comfortable with speaking the new
language.
This is very similar to how a baby learns its first
language and very different from most High
School or College
language lessons.