Audio Lingual Method was originally known as American approach and developed in the mid 1950s. There are two underlying theories that are used by the Audio Lingual Method. The first theory is the theory of language that relies on the structural view or structuralism. Therefore, like Grammar Translation Method, the Audio Lingual Method also believes that mastery of a language means mastery of the grammar rules, so that teaching a language means teaching the grammatical rules of that language. The second theory that the Audio Lingual Method relies on is the theory of language learning. The Audio Lingual Method relies its teaching on the behaviorist learning – learning is a process of habit formation. According to behaviorism, learning is a process of changing or forming a new behavior (language behavior) on an individual that is conducted through a mechanistic process of learning. The learning process of behaviorism follows the following sequence: stimulus – response – reinforcement – repetition – new learned behavior. In Audio Lingual Method the stimulus and response are in a form of verbal behavior.
In language learning the learned behavior refers to language behavior, such as ability to pronounce correctly, speak with correct grammar, etc. The given stimulus is also in a form of language behavior, for example pronouncing a word that most students are unable to do it correctly. This language behavior is, then, followed by the students’ response, such as imitating the teacher’s utterance. Positive reinforcements should be given to correct behaviors, while negative reinforcements to the incorrect ones so as to avoid the fossilization of the incorrect behavior in the individuals (learners).
Approaches, Methods, and Techniques in Language Teaching 