A comprehensive account of the origin and development of the basic contributions to the field of language instruction is thematically developed in this text. Major sections treat: (1) methodology, including the teaching of meaning, grammar, and pronunciation; (2) linguistic habit formation concerning speech, reading, and writing; (3) curriculum development; (4) articulation; (5) instructional media; (6) psychology, linguistics, and language teaching; and (7) the effect of language teaching theories on the public and the teaching profession. Numerous illustrations, a bibliography, and a subject and author index are provided. (RL)