The Audio-Lingual

Method
 1. Learning theory

Principles of Behaviorism
 Habit formation: essential
actualized by means of repetition &
mechanical drills
 Inductive
Rules: induced from examples
No explicit grammar rules given
 2. Language theory

Language: primarily for oral

communication
 oral skills & everyday speech: important
 perfect pronunciation: required
Every language: unique system comprising of
≠levels (phonological, morphological & syntactic)
Natural order of skills: listening, speaking,
reading & writing
 3. Goals of the teachers

To be able to use L2 communicatively:

- to overlearn L2 &
- to use it automatically w/o stopping to think

 Achieving this by forming new habits in

L2 & overcoming old habits in L1
 4. Teacher’s & Learners’ role

TEACHER’S ROLE
 An orchestra leader who directs & controls
language behaviors of learners in L2
 A good model in L2, esp. pronunciation & oral
skills
 Aware of differences b/w L1 & L2

LEARNERS’ ROLE: imitators of the teacher

 5. The role of L1 & Interactions

The role of learners’ L1: not allowed in the

classroom (because L1  interference & bad
habit formation in L2)

Interactions: initiated by the teacher (T-Ss &

Ss-Ss)
 6. How vocabulary is taught

meaning of vocabulary: directly taught

 L1: prohibited in teaching vocabulary

 vocabulary: introduced through dialogues

 7. How grammar is taught

(1) Explicit rules: not provided

(2) Ss induce rules through examples & drills

(3) Ss acquire grammar by being exposed to

patterns through mechanical drills
 8. Language skills & areas

Language skills: (a natural order of skills)

Listening – Speaking - Reading- Writing
Areas:
Pronunciation: taught from the beginning
Vocabulary: kept to a minimum while Ss
are mastering the sound system &
grammatical patterns
9. Materials /Syllabus & error correction

Materials: Dialogues

Syllabus: grammar points & sentence patterns in

structural syllabus

Errors: directly corrected by the teacher as they

may cause bad habit formation
 10. Teaching techniques

1. Dialogue 5. Mechanical drills

memorization - repetition
2. Minimal pairs (pro.) - chain
3. Complete the - transformation
dialogues
- substitution
4. Grammar Games
- question- and-
answer
 11. How language & culture are viewed

Language:
- everyday speech emphasized
Culture:
- everyday behavior & lifestyle of the target
language speakers
 QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS

What are some advantages & limitations of

the Audio-Lingual Method if it is applied in
different contexts in Vietnam such as
-primary schools
-junior/senior high schools
-children (in English language centers)
-young learners (teens)
-adult learners
 Questions (in previous exams)

Some people believe that knowledge of a first and

second language can be helpful to learners who are
trying a third language. Do you agree? Use specific
reasons and your own teaching experiences to
explain your answer. (2012)
 Questions (in previous exams)

“The native language and the target language should

be kept apart so that the students’ native language
interferes as little as possible with the students’
attempts to acquire the target language.” (Larsen-
Freeman, 2000). To what extent do you agree with this
principle? Use specific reasons and your own teaching
experience to explain your answer. (2013)