The audio lingual method, also known as the Army Method or the New Key, is a language teaching approach that emphasizes the use of repetitive drills and pattern practice to teach language structures. It was developed in the 1940s and 1950s by American linguists and language teachers as a response to the traditional grammar-translation method, which focused on the analysis and translation of written texts and was seen as too theoretical and disconnected from real-life language use.
The audio lingual method is based on the idea that language learning is a habit-forming process, and that the best way to learn a new language is to imitate and practice the sounds, rhythms, and structures of the target language until they become automatic. To achieve this, the audio lingual method uses a variety of teaching techniques such as drills, dialogues, and role-plays, which are designed to expose students to authentic language use and help them develop their listening and speaking skills.
One of the key features of the audio lingual method is its emphasis on oral skills. The method recognizes that listening and speaking are essential for effective communication in any language, and it focuses on developing these skills through a range of activities such as repetition drills, dialogues, and role-plays. For example, a teacher might use repetition drills to teach students how to produce a particular sound or structure, or use dialogues and role-plays to help students practice using the language in different social situations.
Another important feature of the audio lingual method is its focus on grammar. While the grammar-translation method treated grammar as a set of rules to be memorized, the audio lingual method sees grammar as a tool for creating meaning and expressing thoughts and ideas. To teach grammar, the audio lingual method uses a variety of techniques such as substitution drills, transformation drills, and sentence-combining exercises, which are designed to help students internalize the patterns and structures of the target language and use them effectively in communication.
Despite its popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, the audio lingual method has come under criticism in recent years for its emphasis on drilling and repetition, which some argue can be boring and monotonous for students and does not adequately prepare them for real-life communication. Additionally, the method has been criticized for its focus on form rather than meaning, and for its assumption that all students learn in the same way and at the same pace.
Overall, the audio lingual method has had a significant impact on the field of language teaching and has influenced the development of many other approaches and methods. While it has its critics, the method remains a valuable tool for teaching language and continues to be used in classrooms around the world.