Audio-lingual

method
Lecturer: Mdm Shamshinor bt Mohd Saleh
Mr Samuel Yesuiah J. S. Moses
Prepared by: Sia Soon Huong
Wendy Ngu Woei Jiuan
• A method of foreign language teaching
which emphasizes the teaching of listening
and speaking before reading and writing

• It uses dialogues as the main form of

language presentation and drills as the main
training techniques

• Mother tongue is discouraged in the

classroom
• Lesson takes place entirely in the target
language.

• Emphasis is on the acquisition of patterns in

common everyday dialogue.

• These patterns are elicited, repeated and

tested until the responses given by the
student in the target language
are automatic.
• Based on linguistic theory and behaviourism
theory.

• Based on Skinner’s Behaviorism theory, it

assumed that a human being can be trained
using a system of reinforcement
(repetition drill).
 Objectives
Short-term Long-term
objectives objectives

accurate Language as the

pronunciation native speaker
and grammar uses it

ability to respond
quickly and accurately in
speech situations

knowledge of sufficient
vocabulary to use with
grammar patterns.
 Characteristics
• Drills are used to teach structural patterns

• Set phrases are memorised with a focus on

intonation

• Grammatical explanations are kept to a

minimum

• Vocabulary is taught in context

• Audio-visual aids are used

• Focus is on pronunciation

• Correct responses are positively reinforced

immediately

• From the teacher’s point of view, and the

learner always knows what to expect.
The principles of this method
• Instructions are given in the target
language. Language forms occur within a
context
• Errors are carefully avoided because they
lead to the formation of bad habits
• Positive reinforcement helps the student to
develop correct habits
• Listening and speaking are given priority in
language teaching, and they precede
reading and writing

• Correct pronunciation, stress, rhythm

What are some characteristics of the
teaching/learning process?
• New vocabulary and structures are presented
through dialogues. The dialogues are learned
through imitation and repetition.
• Students successful responses are positively
reinforced.
• Grammar is induced from the examples given;
explicit grammar rules are not provided.
 What is the role of the teacher?

• The teacher is like an orchestra leader,

directing and controlling the language
behaviour other students.

• She also is responsible for providing her

students with a good model for imitation.
What is the role of the students?

• Students are imitators of the teachers

model or the tapes she supplies of model
speakers.
• They follow the teacher’s directions and
respond as accurately and as rapidly as
possible.
 Advantages
• The Audio-lingual Method is said to be the
best approach for beginning level foreign
classes
• Speaking and listening skills are better
trained.
• It popularized the use of visual aids
• The state of class is more lively and
interesting
 Noam Chomsky
• He rejected this approach.

• His theory of transformational grammar said

that language is creative and generated, not
a habit.

• Language derives from innate aspects of the

mind and from how humans process
experience through language.
 Weaknesses
• The method’s insistence on repetition and
memorization of standard phrases ignored the
role of context and knowledge in language
learning.
• Methodology did not deliver an improvement
in communicative ability that lasted over the
long term.
• Students were not able to transfer the skills to
real communication outside the classroom
• Lacked of standardization of vocabulary
and grammar

• Equal importance is not given to all four

skills.

• Basically lacked “STRUCTURRE”

 Conclusion
• The Audio Lingual Method focuses on speaking
and listening competence stressing repetition
and habit formation to learn a second or a
foreign language. This method make the learner
understand the second language by memorizing
and practice speaking with drilling from the
people communication
THANK
YOU