A Comparative Study on the Applicability of the Audiolingual Method and the Oral Approach in Online English Teaching: — A Case Study of Child and Adult Learners

Yaqi Qing

doi:10.63313/LLCS.9182

Authors

Yaqi Qing China West Normal University, School of Foreign Languages, Nanchong, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63313/LLCS.9182

Keywords:

The Audiolingual Method, The Oral Approach, Adult Learners

Abstract

The English Curriculum Standards for Compulsory Education (2022 Edition) and the China English Proficiency Scale both emphasize that language teaching should align with learners' cognitive development and needs. However, traditional English teaching methods often lack diversity and fail to account for age-related differences, resulting in a significant gap between teaching outcomes and the standards. With the rapid development of online education platforms, flexible teaching models and diverse technological tools have offered new solutions to these issues. This study focuses on the online education context, using platforms such as Lixiao Coming and New Oriental as case examples to analyze the application of the Audiolingual Method and the Oral Approach in courses for children and adults. The research finds that online platforms for children predominantly employ the Audiolingual Method, incorporating high-frequency listening input, gamified speech imitation, and other designs that cater to children's visual thinking and interest-driven learning styles. In contrast, adult courses emphasize the Oral Approach, utilizing situational dialogues and task-based teaching to meet the practical and logical learning needs of adult learners. The study reveals the adaptation mechanisms between different teaching methods and learner groups, highlighting issues such as children's "mechanical imitation" and insufficient interaction in adult courses. It proposes a layered integration strategy to optimize teaching methods, offering recommendations for improving online English teaching strategies and bridging the gap between current teaching practices and curriculum standards.

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