How to Teach a Foreign Language

A revolutionary 1904 manifesto against the tedium of grammar drills and translation exercises. Jespersen, the pioneering Danish linguist and phonetician, argues that the point of learning a foreign language is to communicate, not to parse sentences or memorize declensions. He traces the scattered early efforts at reform within Scandinavia and makes the case for a method that prioritizes meaningful connection over rote repetition. Written with sharp wit and genuine passion, this isn't a dry pedagogical manual but a passionate argument for treating language as a living tool for thought rather than a museum specimen to be dissected. While the specific techniques have evolved, Jespersen's central insight remains radical: we learn languages to exchange ideas, not to pass exams. Essential reading for anyone curious about where modern communicative language teaching came from.