The Audio-Lingual Method was developed in 1945 at the University of Michigan as an oral-based language teaching approach. It focuses on drilling students in grammatical sentence patterns through repetition and imitation exercises. The teacher controls the class like an orchestra leader, providing a model for students to mimic. Students are expected to automatically use the target language without relying on their first language. A variety of drills and exercises are used, including dialog memorization, substitution drills, and question-answer practice. While it aims to improve pronunciation and grammar, critics argue it reduces higher-order thinking.