The video begins with the instructor speaking to the viewers and explaining the Silent Way method and who created it. The teacher begins by using a pointer stick to point out different vowels and constants and pointing to corresponding pronuncians on a board. The teacher then points to different students to ask them to pronounce each letter. Another teacher is briefly shown using props to facilitate the class. It is important to know that this method has no textbooks and no speaking on the teacher’s part. The teacher explains how the Silent Way is a very gentle method, that progresses a lot slower than others, to focus on quality of learning rather than quantity. The Silent Way is built on learning the basics, or the essence of the language, so students have a better understanding as they progress. The teacher explains that the Silent Way is not a method for everyone, and requires a teacher who really loves what they’re doing and knows how to engage students in this method. The teacher explains how to the students and herself it can feel almost like a sort of game, and that classes are unusually never boring for them, especially when they occasionally use props.
During the video, I felt detached, I didn’t feel like there was a good idea of what the Silent Way actually looked like, since we were only shown small clips of the class. Because of these short clips, I personally didn’t see any student learning. Aside from the teachers testimony as well as 1 student saying he found that the method worked better for him than any other methods.
I like this approach for students who have tried other methods that haven’t worked for them, or for students with high sensitivity for hearing. I think this method would be great for students with anxiety or students with lower confidence. This method would also be great for more self-directed learners, since they are able to rely on themselves more than the teachers anyway.I am worried about students who require more mental stimulation, and believe that this method would only work for a certain set of students. I don’t think this method would be acceptable for students coming from foreign countries who are used to more structured courses and classes as well.I found it helpful that the instructor went in depth about the method, and I like the idea of quality of learning over quantity. I am curious about what this method would do for more advanced students, or if this method should only be used for a more beginner student.
For myself, I do not think this is a method I would do well with, I find for myself I do well with a lot more structure and guidance. The lack of textbooks and speaking is something that I feel would put me off of this method, and I would either become frustrated or bored with the slow pace.
In conclusion, like all teaching methods, this is a method that would only work for some students and not all.