Cover not available

Article published In: Historiographia Linguistica
Vol. 43:1/2 (2016) ► pp.175–208

Get fulltext from our e-platform
JBE logo with link
PDF logo with download linkDownload PDF
authorization required

A Late 19th-Century British Perspective on Modern Foreign Language Learning, Teaching, and Reform

The legacy of Prendergast’s “Mastery System”

 | Birkbeck, University of London
Published online: 28 June 2016
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/hl.43.1-2.06per
Summary
The late 19th century saw a great rise in private foreign language learning and increasing provision of Modern foreign language teaching in schools. Evidence is presented to document the uptake of innovations in Thomas Prendergast’s (1807–1886) “Mastery System” by both individual language learners and educationalists. Although it has previously been suggested that Prendergast’s method failed to have much impact, this study clearly demonstrates the major influence he had on approaches to language learning and teaching in Britain and around the world both with his contemporaries and long after his death. This detailed case study illuminates the landscape of modern language pedagogy in Victorian Britain.
Résumé
La fin du XIXe siècle vit un grand développement de l’apprentissage personnel des langues étrangères, ainsi qu’une offre croissante de l’enseignement des langues étrangères modernes dans les écoles. On démontre ici, en la documentant, l’utilisation des innovations du “Mastery System” de Thomas Prendergast (1807–1886) à la fois par les apprenants individuels d’une langue que par les enseignants. Bien qu’il ait été précédemment suggéré que la méthode de Prendergast n’avait pas réussi à avoir beaucoup d’impact, cette étude montre clairement l’influence majeure qu’elle a eue sur les méthodes d’apprentissage et d’enseignement des langues en Grande-Bretagne et dans le monde, à la fois auprès de ses contemporains et longtemps après sa mort. Cette étude de cas détaillée éclaire le paysage de la pédagogie des langues modernes dans la Grande-Bretagne victorienne.
Zusammenfassung
Am Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts gab es einen großen Aufschwung des privaten Fremdsprachenlernens sowie des modernen Fremdsprachenunterrichts an Schulen. In diesem Beitrag wird gezeigt, dass die Innovationen in Thomas Prendergasts (1807–1886) “Mastery System” sowohl von einzelnen Fremdsprachenlernern als auch von Sprachlehrern übernommen wurden. Es ist behauptet worden, dass Prendergasts Methode nicht einflussreich war. Entgegen dieser Ansicht weist der Beitrag nach, dass Prendergast auf verschiedene Ansätze im Spracherwerb und im Sprachunterricht großen Einfluss hatte, nicht nur in Großbritannien, sondern in der ganzen Welt, und sowohl zu seinen Lebzeiten als auch noch lange nach seinem Tod. Die detaillierte Fallstudie beschreibt die Landschaft der modernen Sprachpädagogik im Viktorianischen England.
References (95)
References
Anonymous. 1864. “Advertisements and Notices”. Morning Post September 7, Issue 28308.11. London.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1864. Review of The Mastery of Language . The Examiner October 22, Issue 2969.51. London.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1868a. “Notice”. John Bull February 1, 2.81. London.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1868b. “Short Notices”. The London Review February 22, 16.188.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1869. “Notice”. The Scholastic Register July 8, 191.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1873. Fifteenth Annual Report of the Columbia Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. Washington, D.C.: Columbia Institution for the Deaf.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1875. “Papers Set at the Christmas Examination for the College Diplomas”. Educational Times, and the Journal of the College of Preceptors 281.25–28.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1877. “Latin Language”. The Cyclopaedia of Education: a dictionary of information for the use of teachers, school officers, parents and others ed. by H. Kiddle and A. J. Schem, 510–515. New York: E. Steiger.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1879. “College of Preceptors, Training Class for Teachers. Seventh Session”. Educational Times, and the Journal of the College of Preceptors 32.134.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1880. Advertisement. Cheltenham Looker-On September 4, 21.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1883. Notice. Dundee Evening Telegraph May 4, 11. Dundee, Scotland.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1887. “Thomas Prendergast”. Harrow Notes 5:47.6–7.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1888. “Notice”. The Cheltenham Looker-On April 28, 2831.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1889. “Modern Schools, or Sides”. Sonnenschein’s Cyclopaedia of Education. Ed. by Arthur E. Fletcher, 224–225. London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1890. “French Classes”. Sunderland Daily Echo October 18, 31. Sunderland.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1900. Catalogue of the Library, Together with the Rules and Regulations for the Teachers’ Guild of Great Britain and Ireland Ireland. London: Cowell.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1915. “Cheltenham Notices”. The Gloucester Journal April 3, 51. Gloucester.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Atherton, Mark. 2008. “To Observe Things as They are without Regard to their Origin”. Bulletin of the Henry Sweet Society No.51.41–58.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2010. “‘The Globe of Language’: Thomas Prendergast and Applied Linguistics in the 1870s”. Language & History 53:1.15–26. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Beale, Dorothea. 1869. Reports Issued by the Schools’ Inquiry Commission on the Education of Girls. London: Nutt.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Berlitz, Maximilian Delphinus. 1887. Méthode Berlitz pour l’Enseignement des langues modernes. New York: Berlitz & Cie.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bowen, Edward Ernest. 1879. “On the Study of Modern Languages at Public Schools”. Paper read at the Headmasters’ Conference at Eton. London: publisher unknown.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Bowen, Herbert Courthope. 1880. First Lessons in French: A book for beginners. London: Macmillan & Co.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Brown, Samuel Robbins. 1878. Prendergast’s Mastery System, Adapted to the Study of Japanese or English. Yokohama, Japan: Kelly & Co.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Capell, Authur. 1940. “Language Study for New Guinea Students”. Oceania January 1, 40–74. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Carroll, Lewis. 1979. The Letters of Lewis Carroll. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Coignou, Alfred. 1868. The French Mastery Manual, Specially Adapted for the Use of Schools. London: Simkin, Marshall & Co.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1871. The Public School Edition of the French Mastery Manual. Manchester: John Heywood.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Colbeck, Charles. 1887. On the Teaching of Modern Languages in Theory and Practice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cummings, Thomas Fulton. 1916. How to Learn a Foreign Language: an exposition of the phonetic inductive method for foreign resident language students. A direct, practical, scientific way of mastering any foreign tongue. New York: Bible Teachers Training School, New York.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
de Morgan, Augustus. 1864. “The Mastery of Languages”. The Antheneum October 14, 4961.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Decoo, Wilfried. 2011. Systemitazation in Foreign Language Teaching: Monitoring content progression. Abingdon: Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ellis, Alexander J. 1875. “On the Acquisiton of Language”. Educational Times, and the Journal of the College of Preceptors 281.175–82.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
ELTons, The. 2015. TEFLology Podcast. Episode 26: Thomas Prendergast, and the lexical approach. 37 minutes. Tokyo: TEFLology. [URL]
Fay, Edward A. 1869. “The Acquisition of Language by Deaf Mutes”. American Annals of the Deaf 14:4.193–204.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Fitch, Joshua. 1881. Lectures on Teaching delivered in the University of Cambridge during the Lent Term, 1880. Cmabridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Fletcher, Alfred Ewen, ed. 1889. Sonnenschein’s Cyclopædia of Education; a handbook of reference on all subjects connected with education (its history, theory, and practice), comprising articles by eminent educational specialists. London: S. Sonnenschein & Co.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gallaudet, Edward Miner. 1868. “Preface”. Handbook to the Mastery Series, 8–9. New York: Appleton.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1869. “Discussion on Dr. Peet’s and Mr. Brock’s Papers. Proceedings of the National Conference of Principals of Institutions for the Deaf and Dumb, held at Washington, District of Columbia, May 12th though 16th, 1868”. Annual Report of the Columbia Institution of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind. Washington, D.C: Columbia Institution of the Deaf.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gatbonton, Elizabeth & Norman Segalowitz. 2005. “Rethinking Communicative Language Teaching: A Focus on Access to Fluency”. The Canadian Modern Language Review / La Revue canadienne des langues vivantes 61:3.325–353. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Gouin, François. 1880. L’art d’Enseigner et d’Etudier les Langues. Paris: G. Flachbacher.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Hale, Edward Everett. 1883. “Colonel Ingham’s Journey”. Harper’s New Monthly Magazine 681.143–149.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1886. Seven Spanish Cities, and the Way to Them. Boston: Roberts Brothers.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Handschin, Charles Hart. 1913. “The Teaching of Modern Languages in the United States”. Bulletin. United States Bureau of Education, 5101.1–154. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Howatt, Anthony P. R. 1984. A History of English Language Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Howatt, Anthony P. R. & H. G. Widdowson. 2004. A History of English Language Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Kroeh, Charles F. 1887. “Methods of Teaching Modern Languages”. Transactions and Proceedings of the Modern Language Association of America 31.169–185. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Laviosa, Sara. 2014. Translation and Language Education: Pedagogic approaches explored, New York: Taylor & Francis. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lewis, Arthur. 1888. George Maxwell Gordon, M.A. F.R.G.S. The Pilgrim Missionary of the Punjab: A history of his life and work 1838–1880. London: Seely & Co.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lindgren, Carl Edwin. 2004. “Robert Hebert Quick (1831–1891)”. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford: Oxford University Press. Online Edition [URL] Consulted July 4, 2014.
Lodeman, August. 1893. “Practical and Psychological Tests of Modern Language Study”. Methods of Teaching Modern Languages, 90–108. Boston: D. C. Heath & Co.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lorch, Marjorie. 2017. “Investigating the Biographical Sources of Thomas Prendergast’s (1807– 1886) Innovation in Language Learning”. The History of Language Learning and Teaching II: 19th and 20th century Europe ed. by Nicola McLelland & Richard C. Smith, Oxford: Legenda. [In press.].Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Lovett, Charlie. 2005. Lewis Carroll among his Books: Aa descriptive catalogue. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Maltby, Thomas James. 1874. Practical Handbook of the Uriya or O’diya Language. Calcutta: Wyman & Co.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
McLelland, Nicola & Richard C. Smith. 2014. “Introduction: Building the history of language learning and teaching (HoLLT)”. Language & History 571:1.1–9. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Millard, James Elwin. 1868. “The Handbook to the Mastery Series, French and German”. The Antheneum March 28, Issue 2109. 4591.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Murphy, John M. & Amanda Ann Baker. 2015. “History of ESL Pronunciation”. The Handbook of English Pronunciation ed. by M. Reed & J. M. Levis. 36–64. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Nakarai, Toyozo W. 1961. “Textbooks for Teaching Biblical Hebrew”. Hebrew Abstracts 71.22–29.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Ogden, Charles Kay. 1930. Basic English: A general introduction with rules and grammar. London: Kegan Paul.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1930. “Editorial: Decimal-Basic English”. Pyche 10:40. 1–31.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Prendergast, Thomas. 1864. The Mastery of Languages; or, the art of speaking foreign tongues idiomatically. London: Richard Bentley.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1866. “Letter from Thomas Prendergast to Thomas Young Hall”. Thomas Young Hall papers. N. C. Board. The Grosvenor, London, Durham County Record Office. Mss. No: NCB 01/TH 66.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1868. Handbook to the Mastery Series. London: Longmans, Green.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1868. The Mastery Series. French. London: Longmans, Green.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1869. The Mastery Series. Spanish. London: Longmans, Green.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1871. The Mastery Series. Hebrew. London: Longmans, Green.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1872. The Mastery Series. Latin. London: Longmans, Green.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1873. Het taalonderwijs langs natuurlijken weg: Verhandeling over de methode. Amsterdam: B. H. Blankenberg, Jr.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1874. Methode Prendergast: Handboek voor de fransche taal. Amsterdam: B. H. Blankenberg, Jr.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Quick, Robert Hebert. 1864. Essays on Educational Reformers. London: Longmans, Green & Co.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1872. “On the Study of Language”. Quarterly Journal of Education [London: Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, n.d.] [3]-8. Quick Memorial Library Collection SHL [Q.M.L.] B.P.2. Senate House Library, University of London.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1875. The First Steps in Teaching a Foreign Language with some account of celebrated methods: A lecture delivered at the College of Preceptors. London: S. Clarke.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1890. Essays on Educational Reformers. London, Longmans, Green & Co.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Richards, Jack C. & Theodore S. Rodgers. 1986. Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2001. Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2014. Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching. 3rd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Rippmann, Walter. 1916. “The ‘Substitution Method’”. Modern Language Teaching 12:4.109–110.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Rosenthal, Richard Sigismund. 1878. Das Meisterschafts-System zur praktischen und naturgemäßen Erlernung der französischen und englischen Geschäfts- und Umgangs-Sprache: Französisch; eine neue Methode, in drei Monaten eine Sprache Sprechen, Schreiben und Lesen zu Lernen. Zum Selbst-Unterricht. Berlin: L. Liepmannssohn.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1885. The Meisterschaft System: A short and practical method of acquiring complete fluency of speech in the French language. Boston: The Meisterschaft Publication Co.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Rossner, Richard. 1987. Review of Working with Words: A guide to teaching and learning vocabulary by Ruth Gairns & Stuart Redman”. ELT Journal 41:4.301–303.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Senex. 1887. “The Late Mr. Thomas Prendergast”. Harrow Notes 5:47.6–7.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Smith, Richard C. 2004. An Investigation into the Roots of ELT, with a particular focus on the career and legacy of Harold E. Palmer (1877–1949). Ph.D. dissertation, University of Edinburgh.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Spurrell, William. 1881. Practical Lessons in Welsh: In imitation of the natural method of learning to speak a language. Carmarthen: W. Spurrell.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Storr, Francis. 1883. “French Class-Books”. Journal of Education July 1, 241–245.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
, ed. 1899. Life and Remains of the Rev. R. H. Quick. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Street, J. C. 1897. “A Study in Language Teaching”. Pedagogical Seminary 4(3): 269–293. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Sweet, Henry. 1913 [1877]. “Presidential Address at the Anniversary Meeting of the Philological Society, May 18, 1877. Collected Papers of Henry Sweet ed, by H. C. K. Wyld. 93–94. Oxford: Clarendon Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 1899. The Practical Study of Languages. A guide for teachers and learners. London: Dent.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Thornbury, Scott. 2004. “Big Words, Small Grammar”. English Teaching Professional 311.10–11.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
. 2004. “Starting out with Words that ‘Glue’ Language”. The Guardian, Education Section, March 18. [URL]. wordsandlanguage. Consulted July 10, 2015.
Tickoo, Makhan L. 1986. “Prendergast and the ‘Mastery Method’: An assessment”. ELT Journal 40:1.52–58. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Watts, George. 1963. “The Teaching of French in the United States: A history”. French Review 37:1.1–165.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Weihua, Yu. 2013. “Grammar-Translation Method”. The Routledge Encyclopedia of Language Teaching and Learning ed. by Michael Byram & Adelheid Hu. 287–289. Abingdon: Routledge.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Wheeler, Garon. 2013. Language Teaching Through the Ages, New York: Routledge. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Zimmerman, Cheryl Boyd. 1997. “Historical Trends in Second Language Vocabulary Instruction”. Second Language Vocabulary Acquisition: A rationale for pedagogy ed. by James Coady & Thomas Huckin. 5–19. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar
Cited by (2)

Cited by two other publications

Hodgetts, John
2020. Pronunciation Instruction: Background, Techniques and Relevant Studies. In Pronunciation Instruction in English for Academic Purposes [Second Language Learning and Teaching, ], ► pp. 9 ff. DOI logo
McLelland, Nicola
2018. The history of language learning and teaching in Britain. The Language Learning Journal 46:1 ► pp. 6 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 10 december 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Mobile Menu Logo with link to supplementary files background Layer 1 prag Twitter_Logo_Blue