EFFECTIVENESS OF AUDIO-LINGUAL METHOD OF TEACHING MANDARIN AS SECOND LANGUAGE: A CASE STUDY AT KOTA KINABALU INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Authors:
Li Xuefei, Dr. Tan ChoonKeong
Abstract:
The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the audio-lingual method of teaching Mandarin as a second language at Kota Kinabalu international school. This study involved 18 primary years 4 students in Kota Kinabalu international school separated into two groups, namely the experimental group and the controlled group. Audio-lingual method was used in the experimental group while the traditional method was applied in the control group. This study lasted 3 months. Pre-test and post-test data were collected as a comparison. After data collection, the SPSS program was used to analyze the mean scores in the experimental group and the control group. The mean gains of each group were also analyzed by SPSS program. The result showed improvement in the listening and speaking skills of both the experimental group and the control group. After comparing the mean gains, the result showed that students’ listening and speaking skills in the experimental group improved more significantly than the control group. This proves the audio-lingual method of teaching Mandarin as a second language in Kota Kinabalu international school is more effective than the traditional method