AudiolingualMethod- Bahar Kızılkaya

BACKGROUND

The entry of the US into World War II had a significant effect on language teaching in America. In those times,they set up a special language training program whose name was Army Method.

The Army Method lasted only about two years but attracted considerable attention in the academic community. It convinced an oral-based approach for teaching language. Thus, Oral Approach was developed. That method led to the method that came to be known as Audio Lingual Method(ALM).

OBJECTIVES

In short range: listening comprehension, accurate pronunciation,ability to reproduce in writing

In long range:Students must use language as a native speaker.

Teacher is a model.

Teacher must keep the learners attentive by varying drills and tasks.

Teacher must teach spoken language in dialogue form.

Teacher must provide reinforcement.

MATERIALS

Tape recorders and audio visual equipment often have central roles

Language laboratories were used extensively but they aren't being used now.

Ss were found to be unable to transfer skills acquired ALM to real communication.

It is boring.

Language is not a habit structure.

Practice activities should involve meaningful learning.

CRITISISM

Although it provides oral proficiency to a medium extent, the process of method is really boring so students may fed up with learning language. Also, it causes mechanical learning which means you learn without thinking so you cannot get the meaning. This method is teacher-centered so it makes this method deductive. Furthermore, minimal pairs encourage students but they are not meaningful so it makes this method inefficient.

FEATURES OF ALM

Speech is language.

It is a process of habit formation.

Language is in context.

Teacher is a model.

Correction is important.

SKILLS

The language skills are taught in order of listening, speaking, reading and writing.

They are supposed to produce correct responses.

They must play an active role.

The use of drills and pattern practice is a distinctive feature of ALM.

Some types of drills:repetition, inflection, restatement, completion, rejoinder

Memorising minimizes mistakes.

Words can be learned in context.

It provides oral proficiency and accurate pronunciation.