Speech #890077108

The backbone of the oral English instruction is a series of drills designed to aid the Samoan child in pronouncing sound combinations and speech rhythms unfamiliar to his native language. This is accomplished through a philosophy of linguistics called the Australian Method. fostered by George Pittman. a lecturer at New Zealands Victoria University and now a parttime consultant to the Government of American Samoa. Pittmans philosophy is based on what he calls a reversal of the standard process of teaching language. "Normally. when you start a child in school you are concerned with literacy." he says. "What were trying to do here is put language into the childs mouth first. literacy comes later." The Australian Method was founded In 1950 when Pittman and his staff of 150 were trying to give European immigrants In Australia a quick fundamental knowledge of English. Their starting point was extensive oral drill based on easily understood situations which could be created in a classroom. In Samoa. these exercises have been adapted for television use.