The Audiolingual Method (ALM) is an approach to language teaching that emerged during World War II, originally known as the Army Method. It prioritizes listening and speaking skills before reading and writing.
It provides oral proficiency and accurate pronunciation.
Words can be learned in context.
Memorising minimizes mistakes.
TECHNIQUES
Some types of drills:repetition, inflection, restatement, completion, rejoinder
The use of drills and pattern practice is a distinctive feature of ALM.
STUDENTS' ROLES
They must play an active role.
They are supposed to produce correct responses.
SKILLS
The language skills are taught in order of listening, speaking, reading and writing.
FEATURES OF ALM
Correction is important.
Teacher is a model.
Language is in context.
It is a process of habit formation.
Speech is language.
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.
DISADVANTAGES
Practice activities should involve meaningful learning.
Language is not a habit structure.
It is boring.
Ss were found to be unable to transfer skills acquired ALM to real communication.
MATERIALS
Language laboratories were used extensively but they aren't being used now.
Tape recorders and audio visual equipment often have central roles
TEACHER'S ROLE
Teacher must provide reinforcement.
Teacher must teach spoken language in dialogue form.
Teacher must keep the learners attentive by varying drills and tasks.
Teacher is a model.
OBJECTIVES
In long range:Students must use language as a native speaker.
In short range: listening comprehension, accurate pronunciation,ability to reproduce in writing
BACKGROUND
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).
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.