1. Active Listeners and Responders:
* Constant Engagement: Students are constantly listening to the teacher and responding to prompts, drills, and dialogues.
* Imitation: They focus on imitating the teacher's pronunciation, intonation, and grammar patterns.
* Repetition and Memorization: They practice repetitive drills and memorize set phrases and dialogues.
2. Participants in Dialogue and Role-Playing:
* Controlled Practice: Students engage in carefully structured dialogues and role-playing exercises to practice the target language.
* Pattern Practice: They work in pairs or small groups, repeating and manipulating pre-determined grammatical structures and vocabulary.
* Focus on Fluency: The emphasis is on developing fluency through repetition and practice, rather than immediate understanding of complex grammar rules.
3. Limited Use of Native Language:
* Minimal Translation: The ALM discourages the use of the native language as much as possible.
* Visual Aids: Visual aids, real-life objects, and gestures are used to convey meaning instead of translation.
4. Focus on the Physical:
* Body Language: Students use physical responses like pointing, nodding, or acting out actions to reinforce learning.
* Movement: Some drills and activities involve physical movement to further engage students.
Limitations of the Student Role in ALM:
While the ALM emphasizes student engagement, it can also be criticized for:
* Limited Creativity: Students are expected to follow prescribed patterns and drills, limiting their individual expression.
* Lack of Focus on Meaning: The focus on repetition and drill can sometimes overshadow the understanding of actual meaning.
* Mechanical Learning: Some students may find the constant repetition tedious and discouraging.
In Conclusion:
Students in the Audio-Lingual Method play a very active role in learning the language through constant listening, responding, practicing dialogues, and engaging in structured drills. However, it's important to consider the potential limitations of this approach for individual learning styles and preferences.