What’s the Natural Method?

Has this ever happened to you? You have been attending Italian courses for quite a while and want to take your Italian to the next level, so decide to go on vacation to the “Bel Paese”. After so much time spent learning about the “Preposizioni semplici e articolate” and “Passato Prossimo” you think you are ready to have a chat with the native speakers.

While in Italy, however, you can’t understand a word, because they speak too fast.

When you want to answer questions about yourself you just go blank and start flipping the pages of your memory looking for the correct grammar rule to use. 

If this happened to you, you’re not alone! Been there, know how frustrating this can be.

But what all of this has to do with the Natural Approach or Method, while acquiring a new language?

In a nutshell, the Natural Approach is acquiring a language the same way you learnt your native language as a child. First of all, you listened to the world around you speaking (mostly your parents). Then, after time, you start speaking too.

But before starting speaking did your parents make you sit down and learn what a subject or a verb is? Or did they explain to you the difference between Present Simple and Present Continuous? 

Well if they did, they must have been really into grammar LOL. 

You were learning to speak and you didn’t even notice it. Because you were acquiring the language through two important instruments: association and repetition.

And most importantly, in my opinion, was that no one was expecting from you to start speaking immediately, or to start speaking it perfectly without mistakes. 

These principles are the basics of the Natural Approach as well.

During classes where teachers use the Natural Approach, students feel free to speak or not, because no one pressures them to speak before they’re ready to.

So if you’re an introvert, this is the best option for you!

Of course, taking part in the program is highly recommended, but the emotional state of every student is taken into account and it’s what counts the most. 

If you’re curious to see how a class with the Natural Approach takes place, book a trial lesson on the Home page. See you on the inside!