The direct method
At the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries grammar-translation was in its heyday,especially in the privileged secondary schools of Europe. Yet, at the very same time, language-learning populations were already changing in ways which were to gather momentum throughout the twentieth century. For example, in the early years of the century there was continuing mass immigration, by speakers of many different languages, into the USA — a country whose unity has depended upon the use of English even though, to this day, it has no official language! And throughout the century, despite the interruptions of two world wars,there was growing international trade and tourism and an increase in both vocational and recreational language learning.