Presentation Transcript
Language Teaching 1940 – 1980 :Language Teaching 1940 – 1980 The Audiolingual Method
Structuralism
The Audiovisual Method
Structuralism /Audiolingualism :Structuralism /Audiolingualism Interwar period – developments in:
Linguistics – rise of descriptive linguistics; structural methodology.
Psychology – behaviourism
Effect of WWII – development of “The Army
Method” or Audiolingualism
Structural linguistics :Structural linguistics Language seen as being made up of “building blocks” which combined in certain rule governed ways to make another block at a higher level – phonemes combine to form morphemes; morphemes combine to form words; words combine to form phrases etc
Behaviourism :Behaviourism Learning is conditioning or habit formation. It is mechanical and automatic – eg Pavlov’s dogs
Habits are formed by stimulus – response – reinforcement
Verbal behaviour is no different from other behaviour
Structuralism /Audiolingualism Some principles :Structuralism /Audiolingualism Some principles Speech seen as being the primary form of language and therefore given priority:
Emphasis on pronunciation from the
beginning
Input of new words and structures
through dialogues
Strict order of introduction : Listening
–Speaking – Reading - Writing
Structuralism /Audiolingualism Some principles :Structuralism /Audiolingualism Some principles Learning is habit formation and habits are formed by repetition.
Dialogues contained copious examples of the target structure
Memorisation of basic sentences
Use of pattern practice and repetition (Mimicry)
Emphasise areas of contrastive difficulty
Lexical control
Aim : to produce automatic production
of language items
Structuralism /Audiolingualism Some principles :Structuralism /Audiolingualism Some principles Habits are reinforced by repetition of the correct behaviour. Error impedes habit formation. So - strict control of language used by Ss :
Structural grading and lexical control
Use of drills and avoidance of free
practice activities
No translation
Types of Drill :Types of Drill Repetition drill
Substitution drill
Transformation drill
Integration drill
Expansion drill
Replacement drill
etc
The Advent of Technology … :The Advent of Technology … 1960s : For the first time technological aids become available for language teaching.
Tape recorders and language labs fitted in perfectly with A-Lism
Film projectors extended it. Audiovisual Method : A-Lism with pictures
The Beginning of the End :The Beginning of the End 1959 - BF Skinner : Verbal Behaviour
Noam Chomsky : Review of Verbal Behaviour and criticism of structural linguistics