The teaching of modern languages between 1876 and 1939

Identifier:  PC:1246

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/PC1246

Authors:  Rius Dalmau, Maria Inmaculada

Abstract:
This article focuses on the situation of the teaching of modern languages during the 19th century and until the first third of the 20th century in Spain, mainly in Catalonia, and also related to the European background in the same period. The influence of the Reformist Movement on the teaching of modern languages in Europe doesn’t reach Catalonia and Spain until the second decade of the 20th century. Also the methodological innovation doesn’t affect official schools a great deal, where teaching was based on the traditional method of translation, theoretical study of grammar rules and lists of vocabulary. Innovations on the teaching of modern languages were encouraged by the Institución Libre de Enseñanza (ILE) in Spain. The arrival of the Second Republic allowed the innovative ideas of ILE to have some influence in the education policies of the country. The foundation of the Institut-Escola in Catalonia drove to pioneering experiences in teaching, mainly in the field of modern languages. This article revises the role played by the Institut-Escola and the innovative methodological approach on the teaching of modern languages. The Instituto-Escuela of Madrid was founded in 1918 and its influence spread to other cities of Spain, such as Barcelona, Sevilla i València, where from 1931 on, other similar schools were founded. These schools were conceived as experimental institutions and the relevance of the teaching of modern languages in the curricula were rather significant, compared to the others schools of the country. French, English and German were also taught. The French was taught three hours weekly on average, depending on the different levels. Consequently the variation of languages taught and their significance on the curricula showed a great advance in this field. The relevance of Joan Noguès, teacher of French at the Institut-Escola of Barcelona is an important example of good work, which might be a model nowadays