HANDBOOK OF IRISH TEACHING.
Had M. Gouin achieved nothing in his long life but to discover and point out the futility of the classical or book methods of teaching languages he would have accomplished enough for one man. What years of valuable school life are wasted in our schools and colleges in an abortive attempt to teach boys and girls a language which they never acquire, but which even a single year's residence amongst people who speak the language would not fail to impart to even the dullest amongst them. Fortunately it is not now necessary to labour this point, particularly amongst Gaelic Leaguers; for the few years' experience we have had in trying to impart a knowledge of Irish from the study of books has fairly convinced us that we must try other methods or give up the attempt to bestow a working knowledge of our language upon any but a limited and select number of our people. But M. Gouin did not content himself with demolishing old idols. He discovered and enunciated many principles of teaching in respect of languages, and if he did not elaborate and complete a perfect system of teaching, he at least offered such suggestions as have made the path easy for other reformers.
Amongst the principles discovered and enunciated by Gouin the following are important:—
I. A language must be learned at first through the ear and not through the eye; that is, the teaching
B
