audioling

THE AUDIOLINGUAL METHOD

The Audiolingual Method is also referred to as "The Army Method," because it was developed through a U.S. Army program called ASTP, standing for "Army Specialized Training Program." In this method, oral interaction was emphasized in pattern drills, and conversation practices.

The Audiolingual Method:
   1. New material is presented in dialogue form.
   2. There is dependence on mimicry, memorization of set phrases, and overlearning.
   3. Structures are sequenced by means of contrastive analysis taught one at a time.
   4. Structural patterns are taught using repetitive drills.
   5. There is little or no grammatical explanation. Grammar is taught by inductive analogy rather than deductive explanation.
   6. Vocabulary is strictly limited to pronunciation.
   7. There is much use of tapes, language labs, and visual aids.
   8. Great importance is attached to pronunciation..
   9. Success responses are immediately reinforced.
10. Very little use of the mother tongue by teacher is permitted
11. There is great effort to get the students to produce error free utterances.
12. There is a tendency to manipulate language and disregard content.

The Principal Characteristics:

1) L2 learning is a process of habit formation.
2) Memorizing dialogues and performing pattern drills for automatic pruduction of L2.
3) Speaking is the most important.
4)   L2 skills are learned more effectively if they are presented in spoken form before in written form.
5)   Analogy (similarity) is better than analysis in L2 learning.
6)   Explanations of rules are not given until Ss have practiced a pattern in a variety of contexts (inductive).
7)   The meanings of the words can be learned only in a linguistic and cultural context, and not in isolation.

1.   THEORY OF LANGUAGE
*** Language is a set of habits.
*** Language is a system of rule-governed structures.
***   Lgs have more differences than similarities.
***   Each Lg has a finite number of patterns.

2.   THEORY OF LEARNING
***   Lg learning is habit formation.
*** Skills are learned more effectively if oral precedes written
***   Analogy not analysis.
***   Teach the lg not about the lg.
***   Differences between L1 and L2 should be emphasized.
***   L2 learning is the same as L1 learning.
***   The rules are induced from examples.
***   Ss should overcome their L1 habits.
***   Lg learning is overlearning.

3. OBJECTIVES
*** Mastering the structure of sound, form, and syntax.
*** Native speaker mastery.
*** Accurate pronunciation.

4. SYLLABUS
*** Graded phonology, morphology, and syntax.
*** Contrastive analysis.

5. LEARNER ROLES
*** The Ss can be conditioned to produce correct responses.

6. TEACHER ROLES
***   The teacher is the central figure in learning.
*** The teacher provides model, controls direction and pace.

7. LANGUAGE SKILLS to emphasize
*** Speaking is the most important.

8. ACTIVITIES
*** Dialogues.
***   Drills and memorization.
***   Pattern practice.

9. ERROR HANDLING
*** Errors are not to be tolerated to prevent formation of bad habits. They should be immediately corrected.

10. MATERIALS
*** Teacher oriented.
*** Tapes, visuals, language lab is often used.