Gouin Series

The Gouin Series is a direct method of teaching a foreign language developed by Francois Gouin in the nineteenth century.  It’s not the only way to teach a language, but it is our favorite way!  While many language teachers use the Gouin Series (GS) frequently and with great success, others either haven’t heard of it or haven’t given it much thought since studying methodology.  The mission of this website is to encourage and equip you to “Go GS!”

In a Gouin Series, language is presented in a controlled context.  Five or more related sentences are presented to the learner in a dramatic way with gestures and props.  Traditionally, these sentences are in the first person and might describe steps or a process.  However, a GS can easily be a third person story.  Your focus can be on vocabulary, verbs, language chunks, grammar, or culture.  The content and structures are limited only by your imagination!  Best of all, language is acquired in the natural order:  first by listening, then speaking, and finally reading and writing.  Students of all ages are engaged and energized in a GS lesson, and literacy skills can soar with the proper follow-up activities.

Watch our How-To videos to learn more about the history of Gouin Series and tips for how to present them.