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6
PREFACE
- Grammar is taught, in order to enable the learner to speak accurately. All other elementary text-books, after the natural method, ignore the difficulties of grammar, and thus tend to make the learner superficial. Unsystematic study being always pernicious in its results, the aim of this little book is to supply a progressive course unfolding the principles of the language. All grammatical as well as lexical details required for the thorough understanding of the text are given.
- Paradigms are used to enable the pupil to see the relation of the part to the whole. It is easy to confuse the learner by giving him one person or one case at a time.
- The Rules are deduced from the examples; the purpose being to develop The abstract from the concrete. In short, the laws of the language are the learner's own inferences from the examples.
- Everything is taught by contrast and association. But too frequently in teaching, the learner's memory is overtaxed and the development of his sense and reasoning faculties neglected. The aim of our method is to employ, first of all, the lower or sense faculties of the mind, the perceptions. It has been wisely said: "True perceptions lead to true conceptions, and true conceptions are the very foundations of Truth itself."
- The lessons are strictly graded, and are made up of conversations on familiar subjects and topics of an interesting character. They supply the learner with a stock of French words and idioms needed in the every-day affairs of life.
- Hair-line type is used in the first four lessons, to call the learner's attention to the silent letters which are thus
