For almost 200 years, the prevalent modes of foreign language teaching (FLT) have undergone gradual development and changes, alongside the research on western linguistics. This thesis studies the changes of the methodology of FLT in light of the history of western linguistics, and observes the impact of different schools of western linguistics on the mode of FLT since the beginning of the 19th century. It also analyzes the course in which linguists have induced linguistic theories via observation and meditation on FLT practices.