audiolingual method

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Audio-Lingual Method


The Audio-Lingual Method Audio-lingual method, Army Method, or New Key , is a style of teaching used in teaching foreign languages. It is based on behaviorist theory, which professes that certain traits of living things, and in this case humans, could be trained through a system of reinforcement—correct use of a trait would receive positive feedback while incorrect use of that trait would receive negative feedback. This approach to language learning was similar to another, earlier method called the direct method. Like the direct method, the audio-lingual method The advised that students be taught a language directly, without using the students' native language to explain new words or grammar in the target language. However, unlike the direct method, the audio-lingual method didn’t focus on teaching vocabulary. Rather, the teacher drilled students in the use of grammar

“According to this statement human beings learn things by their behaviors. That is why this method was based in the behavioristic approach, language was seen as a kind of behavior. Language was taught based on the grammatical structure and translation was not seen as the best way to teach”


The Audio-lingual method is the product of three historical circumstances. For its views on language, audiolingualism drew on the work of American linguists such as Leonard Bloomfield. The prime concern of American Linguistics at the early decades of the 20th century had been to document all the indigenous languages spoken in the USA. However, because of the dearth of trained native teachers who would provide a theoretical description of the native languages, linguists had to rely on observation. For the same reason, a strong focus on oral language was developed. At the same time, behaviourist psychologists such as B.F. Skinner were forming the belief that all behaviour (including language) was learnt through repetition and positive or negative reinforcement. The third factor that enabled the birth of the Audio-lingual method was the outbreak of World War II, which created the need to post large number of American servicemen all over the world. It was therefore necessary to provide these soldiers with at least basic verbal communication skills. Unsurprisingly, the new method relied on the prevailing scientific methods of the time, observation and repetition, which were also admirably suited to teaching en masse. Because of the influence of the military, early versions of the audio-lingualism came to be known as the “army method.”

I think that the audio-lingual method mainly had its root in world war second; the first purpose wasn’t the educational field however later it was used in some American school for teaching foreign language. With the starting of the Second World War, USA government needed translator and soldier who could speak more than one language, then U S assigned some institution to prepare these soldiers”.


Theory of learning(audiolingual method) Behaviorism, including the following principles:    

language learning is habit-formation mistakes are bad and should be avoided, as they make bad habits language skills are learned more effectively if they are presented orally first, then in written form analogy is a better foundation for language learning than analysis

“I think that the language is a creative process and it is not a kind of behavior. Although I agree that first language should be presented orally but well explained and later it should be presented in its written form.


Procedure Here is a typical procedure in an audio-lingual course     

Students hear a model dialogue Students repeat each line of the dialogue Certain key words or phrases may be changed in the dialogue Key structures from the dialogue serve as the basis for pattern drills of different kinds. The students practice substitutions in the pattern drills

“In my opinion this procedure is acceptable because it is focused on student’s performance.


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