Teaching and Learning English as a Foreign Language

Teaching and Learning English as a Foreign Language by Charles C.Fries Review by: Robert A. Hall, Jr. The Modern Language Journal, Vol. 30, No. 1 (Jan., 1946), pp. 55-56 Published by: Wiley on behalf of the National Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/319334 . Accessed: 14/10/2014 14:02 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. . Wiley and National Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Modern Language Journal. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 200.2.119.115 on Tue, 14 Oct 2014 14:02:29 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Pp.. 1-9). ofthelanguage-thestructure and thesoundsystemwitha limitedvothefundamentals be through recordis buta speech. 10-26).The book'ssublanguagewhichhavegrown learning arenotconfined. The temptation Yet we cannotomit thesetwoverysignificant passagesfromChapterI: themastery No matterif thefinalresultdesiredis onlyto readtheforeign of language. "Convocabulary(IV."pp. a generalconsideration As a matter contributions ofrecentyearstothetheory offoreign Fries'sbookis oneofthemostimportant andas suchshouldbe calledto theattention ofeveryteacher in thisfield.75.57-61). or grammar.of especial ing the technique Procedure inMarking LimitedIntonation" is thesection"Step-by-Step (pp..as has the"oralapproach"as hereadvocateddependsforitseffectiveness beeninsisteduponbefore." oftheteaching offact.$1. 14 Oct 2014 14:02:29 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions .119.'" pp." pp.pp...has onlyrecently of languageteachers. to quoteextensively is great.. Lithoprinted.and VocabularyContent. Ann Arbor: Universityof Michigan Press.. 27-37)."pp. 38-56.115 on Tue. (chiefly theteaching and by the"oralapproach.as a setofhabitsfororalproduction processofreadingis a process in his ownnativelanguage."In thisbook. becomeknownto although yearsold. "On Learning a languageprimarily Adult"(pp.Unlessone has masteredthefundamentals andreception-the thatis.and V. features andonewhichwillhenceforth tantandoneofthemostneglected haveto be a majorpointofattention. Frieshas beendirector of theUniversity Since 1941. 153. "The Words:Mastering threesections textualOrientation.62-153)contains exemplifyand materialsdevelopedby the EnglishLanguageInstitute. aspectofFries'sbookforgeneraltheory complete.TheAppendix (pp.Professor of Michigan'sEnglish LatinAmericans) engagedinteaching Englishtoadultforeigners LanguageInstitute. 1945.setting ofalllanguagestudy. 223ff.as Friesstates however.REVIEWS 55 FRIES. The mostimportant is itsthorough. ject-matter ofdealingwithEnglishas a thisbookis devotedto thespecific problems (p.butmustbe resisted. and explainsfullythereasonsforlearning as speech. 62importance forth fordealingwithwhatis at thesametimeoneofthemostimpora technique 74). concerning relatedto theoralpracticeofthelanguage theyare alwaysintimately approach. "The Sounds:Understanding the'StreamofSpeech. and sane discussion overa hundred andfifty Thisscience."Translation"on an exceedingly ofseekingwordequivalents lowlevelis all thatsuch"reading"reallyamouhtsto (p.To "master"a languageit is notnecessary to read representation secondary whether onecanreallyreadthelanguage doubtful without first it. to theteaching andinterest ofEnglish.The written cabulary--must ofthelanguage.The speechis thelanguage. Neverare thestudents theyhavejustbeenled through.grammatical structure andProducing (III. Teachingand LearningEnglishas a ForeignLanguage. andlearning ofotherlanguages. anditsapplication to practicalproblems morethana handful is stilla and consequent matterofconsiderable misunderstanding dispute. This content downloaded from 200."although thatare givenconcerning structure oruse are alwayssummaries orgen.Friesexpoundsthetheoreticalbasesofthe"oralapproach"-thetermhe usesforwhatI haveelsewhere termed the a ForeignLanguageas an "oral-intensive-scientific" approach--inChapterI.2.he statestheconclusions concerning ofEnglishas a foreign outofhiswork. CHARLES C. vi). 6). inhearing andinspeaking theforeign notsolelyuponthefactthatthereis muchoralpractice XXXI (1945). The laterchapters understanding to pronunciation ofthistechnique theapplication setforth (II. viii. languageteaching.butitis extremely mastering of thenewlanguageas a languageit orally. 1AAUPBulletin. and mastering its structure as analyzeddescriptively and scientifically. thestatements thestudents drawnfromtheactualsentences havealreadypracticed andundereralizations The lessonmaterials in thebookbecomeforthestudents thenotesthey stoodthoroughly. mighthave takenoftheexercises assigneda lessonin advanceforsilentstudybeforecomingto class. "The StructheUse oftheDevicesofArrangement ture:MakingAutomatic and Form. Thentoo. "Although it is myhopethatthediscussion oftheseproblems willalso contribute to foreign language. Generalizations are a regularfeatureof the"oral structure. of the applicationof linguistic scienceto the teachingof languages. it withaccuracyandas a setofautomatic habitswithin a limitedvocabulary. University Press.1945. D.00.1945.119. NewYork.The University Kany.In short. Dictionary Shipley. New York. Molinos.Price$3. Bur6.itwillprovide to cleartheir are ignorant ofthefactsorwhoare stillhostile..00. forcurofthe"new"approachandas a corrective valuable. Crofts de Bososa. S. JosephT.1945.Elliott.New York.. NewYork. New York..Price$3..Fries'Teachingand Learning mindsof misunderstanding inforeign isanabsolute"must"forallwhoareengaged language Englishas a Foreign Language teaching. Lohan. FRENCH Press.Price$1. Meyer.1944. makeFries'sbook Theseand manyothersimilar passages.1945. Brentano's. and Corbett. The RonaldPressCo. Price $1..50.bothas an exposition extremely rentmisconceptions it.Joseph. ROBERTA. L. MauriceE.75.. Price$5. NewYork..M.25.Robert. Delcourt. BrownUniversity RhodeIsland Providence. Library.Price Howell.MargaretT.Adolph.in facttheentirediscussion.50.Voltaire: $3. de Philologie Initiation de l'anglais.1945. 14 Oct 2014 14:02:29 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions .Brentano's. 7).. M.Publishers.Price$2. Oppide. Inc.Price$1.. De Saint-Exup6ry. Books Received MISCELLANEOUS The Philosophical NewYork. Proustand Painting.Price Syntax.HarvardUniversity 1945.Soskin.56 THE MODERN LANGUAGEJOURNAL materialsselectedand aruponhavingsatisfactory language.75. Grant.Brentano's.Pierreand Rudd. forSpanish-Speaking and Co. Mandelstamm.Bibliothbque d l'6tudehistorique IV. Valentin. vecinos mexicanos. E. Aubier. V-5(Un romanpolicier). Man ofJustice. American-Spanish $6.1945. This content downloaded from 200. Nuestros New York. HALL..LongGrismer.EnglishComposition Students. FightingFrance. and erroneous beliefs.Price$2.CharlesE. GERMAN Frederick Literature.Forthosewhoalreadyknowthe"oral-intensive-scientific" concerning a solidbaseoftheoretical Forthosewho understanding.Cambridge.MargaretNance.M. Consuelo.NewYork.50.FRANCE FOREVER Year Book 1945. ofWordOrigins. mans.. approachanditsvalue..1945.115 on Tue. EasySpanishAmerican Reader. rangedin accordwithsoundlinguistic in thechoiceand sequenceofmaterials and the oflanguagedescription scientist's technique "new thatis at theheartoftheso-called ofmethod thatgrowoutofthesematerials principles approachto languagelearning" (p.JR.but also and fundamentally It is the practicaluse of thelinguistic principles. NewYork.. Mass.ErnestRenanetAllemagne.2. Macy. F.Emile.50.Greenand Co.Price$1.50.TheGoldenAgeofGerman UngarPublishing Co. TheCareerofVictor Hugo.it shouldbe required reading. 1945. SPANISH of ChicagoPress.International Chernowitz.1945.00. R. NewYork.