Effectiveness of audio-lingual teaching method to enhance students’ English speaking and listening proficiency: The case of selected primary schools in Nyagatare District

Abstract

This study is qualitative research that explored the effectiveness of the audio-lingual method to improve students’ English speaking and listening proficiency in primary schools. The study was conducted in three primary schools located in Nyagatare District, in Rwanda. Both interview and observation were used to collect data from 174 participants. The observation was carried out on 160 students while interview questions were administered to 14 teachers selected purposively. Qualitative analysis reveals that applying the Audio-lingual method in the English classroom boosts learners’ English proficiency viz speaking and listening skills by enabling them to communicate using the target language within and outside the school context. In light of the study findings, curriculum implementers and other education stakeholders are recommended to provide needful facilities for effective use of this teaching method. Equally important, teachers should carefully use the audio-lingual method to help learners acquire communicative competencies. Lastly, further studies should explore the effectiveness of the audio-lingual method in teaching language to adult learners in the context of Rwanda.