Audio-lingual
Method
By the end of this lecture, students
should be able to:

Develop an awareness about the
history of the Audio-lingual
Method.

Recognize the nature of the
Audio-lingual Method.

Define the (ALM).

Recognize the methodology of
Audio-lingual Method.

Identify the advantages and
disadvantages of the (ALM) .

Form an outline about the (ALM).
Objectives
of this
lecture
The History of the Audio-lingual Method
The United States involvement in World War II
brought a significant change in the teaching
of languages in U.S. schools, by the need of
the US army sending troops around the world
during World War 2.
This teaching technique was initially called
the (Army Method), and was the first to be
based on linguistic theory and behavioral
psychology.
The method became very popular in the
1960s. Language laboratories appeared, and
students were required to listen to audiotapes
and repeat dialogues that captured aspects of
daily living.
The nature of the ALM:

The audio-lingual approach to language teaching has a
lot of similarities with the direct method. Both were
considered as a reaction against the shortcomings of
the Grammar Translation method, both reject the use
of the mother tongue and both stress that speaking
and listening competence preceded reading and
writing competence. But there are also some
differences. The direct method highlighted the
teaching of vocabulary while the audio-lingual
approach focus on grammar drills.

Based on Skinner’s Behaviorism theory, it assumed
that a human being can be trained using a system of
reinforcement. Correct behavior receives positive
feedback, while errors receive negative feedback.
The nature of the ALM:

Drills are used to teach structural patterns.

Set phrases are memorized with a focus on
intonation.

Grammatical explanations are kept to a
minimum. Grammar is taught inductively.

Vocabulary is taught in context.

Audio-visual aids are used.

Focus is on pronunciation.

Correct responses are positively reinforced
immediately.

Lessons in the classroom focus on the correct
imitation of the teacher by the students.
Definition of the Audio-lingual Method:
The emphasis of the audio-lingual
method, was on the memorization of a
series of dialogues and the rote
practice of language structures. The
basic premises on which the method
was based were that language is
speech, not writing, and language is a
set of habits.
The Methodology of the ALM
1- Repetition – the students repeat what the teacher says.
Example: Teacher – “I walk to school”. Students – “I walk to
school”.
2- Inflection – the teacher says a word, the students say another
form of one of the words back to the teacher. Example: Teacher – “I
walk to school”. Students – “I walked to school”.
3- Replacement – the teacher says a sentence and the students
replace on of the words for a different word. Example: Teacher – “I
walk to school”. Students – “I run to school”.
4- Restatement – the teacher says a sentence and the students
rephrase the sentence. Example: Teacher – “Tell me to walk to
school”. Students – “Walk to school”.
Advantages of the Audio-lingual
Method:

It aims at developing listening and speaking skills
which is a step away from the Grammar
translation method.

The use of visual aids has proven its effectiveness
in vocabulary teaching.

It is relatively simple, from the teacher’s point of
view, and the learner always knows what to
expect.

The target language is the only language to be
used in the classroom.

Repetition in this method can sometimes be
helpful if you have a very large class and want to
practice speaking or pronunciation.
Disadvantages of the ALM:

ALM was perfect for the US army to give its soldiers
a basic understanding in a foreign language where
they would be posted. But it proved its weakness
recently.

Students had been taught a “script,” and people do
not speak following a particular script.

There was no opportunity provided for “true”
communication to take place in the ALM classroom.

It can be useful sometimes to drill the students with
sentences, but should not solely be used as the only
method of teaching

Students who studied with the audio-lingual method
still remembered the dialogues but could not speak
the foreign language they had studied.
Application : Typical Techniques:
Specific teaching methods would include things
such as:
Memorization.
Repetition
Reading
Drilling
of certain dialogs.
aloud dialogues.
( practice)
Replacement
of words (substitution)
Restatement
of words ( paraphrasing).
Completion
of sentences.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=Mqd7OdJoLn0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=Pz0TPDUz3FU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=9xZmUfQiPN0
The End
Thank you for your
participation