Audio-lingual method

Developments in the field of psychology had an effect on language teaching as well. Behaviourism had a profound influence on language teaching in the 40s and 50s – the belief that a language is made up of a series of habits (Stimulus/Response Theory). The audiolingual method sees language as a series of habitual patterns to be reinforced by repetition. The teacher is seen as the drillmaster who ensures the fixing of behavioural patterns. The student is a performer of a set of oral drills. The Audio-lingual 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. 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 method considers listening and speaking the first tasks in language learning, followed by reading and writing. There is considerable emphasis on learning sentence patterns, memorization of dialogues and extensive use of drills.

Audio-visual aid

An audio or visual device used by a teacher to help learning. For example, pictures, charts and flashcards are visual aids; radios, records, CDs, MP3-players are auditory aids. Film, television and video are ~s.

Authentic material

Written or spoken texts which a first language speaker might read or listen to. They may be taken from newspapers, radio, etc. The language in the texts is not adapted or made easier for learners or the language learning process. This is unscripted material or that which has not been specially written for classroom use, though it may have been edited. Examples include newspaper texts and TV broadcasts.