Aural-Oral Method

This method of Language Learning is also called the Aural-Oral Method. This method is said to result in rapid acquisition of speaking and listening skills. The audiolingual method drills students inthe use of grammatical sentence patterns. When this method was developed it was thought that the way to acquire the sentence patterns of the second language was through conditioning or helpinglearners to respond correctly to stimuli through shaping and reinforcement.
The Audiolingual Method is based on the following principles:
* Speaking and listening competence preceded reading and writingcompetence.
* Use of German is highly discouraged in the classroom.
* The development of language skills is a matter of habit formulation.
* Students practice particular patterns oflanguage through structured dialogue and drill until response is automatic.
* Structured patterns in language are taught using repetitive drills.
* The emphasis is on having students produce errorfree utterances.
* This method of language learning supports kinesthetic learning styles.
* Only everyday vocabulary and sentences are taught. Concrete vocabulary is taught throughdemonstration, objects, and pictures. Abstract vocabulary is taught through association of ideas.
* The printed word must be kept away from the second language learner as long as possible.
Introduction |  | The audio-lingual method was widely used in the United States and other countriesin the 1950's and 1960's. It is still used in some programs today. |

Approach |
  | Theory of language |  | The Structural view of language is the view behind the audio-lingual method. Particular emphasis was laid on mastering the building blocks of language and learning the rules for combining them. ||
  | Theory of learning |
  | Behaviorism, including the following principles: |
  | * language learning is habit-formation * mistakes are bad and should be avoided, as they make bad...