An experimental study of the effectiveness of two methods in teaching English

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to compare the effectiveness of the Pure Audio-lingual and the Modified Audio-lingual methods of teaching English to first year college students, through analysis of the results of experimental teaching. Answers to the following questions were sought:

1. Which method will result in better learning as measured by written tests?

2. By which method would subjects with high mental ability learn better? Those with low mental ability?

3. By which method would subjects with high socioeconomic status learn better? Those with low socio-economic status?

4. By which method would older subjects learn better? By which would the younger subjects?

The experimental classes were two groups of freshmen college students enrolled in English I at Philippine Normal College, Negros Occidental Branch, Cadiz City. They were equated on the basis of intelligence, background in English, socioeconomic status and age. The criterion of effectiveness was outcomes in terms of teacher-made achievement tests.