Krashen’s Theory: SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION

Antonia Cornejo CamposFrancisca Urrutia Mundaca

Universidad de las AméricasPhonetics II

The psychologist Stephen Krashen

Five main hypotheses:• The acquisition-learning hypothesis• The monitor hypothesis• The natural order hypothesis • The input hypothesis • The affective filter hypothesis.

Acquisition• Subconscious process• Similar to learning native language

Learning• Conscious process• “Rules" and "grammar“• Formal instruction• Less effective than acquisition

(according to Krashen)

Acquisition – Learning DistinctionAcquisition

Sub-consciousby environment

(Ex: games, Movies, radio)

Picking up words

LearningConscious by

instructorsCorrect errors

Knowing aboutGrammar rules

Monitor hypothesis• Relationship between acquisition and

learning.• The acquirer/learner must know the rule.• The acquirer must be focused on

correctness.• Having time to use the monitor.

Natural Order Hypothesis• The acquisition of grammatical

structures follows a “natural order” which is predictable.

• He rejects grammatical sequencing.• Teaching of grammar can result in

language acquisition – when students are interested.

Input Hypothesis• Structure that is “a little beyond”

where we are now.• “going for meaning” first.• Speaking fluency cannot be taught

directly.• Provide comprehensible input.

Affective Filter Hypothesis

• ‘Affective variables’: Motivation, self-confidence and anxiety.

• Learners with these affective variables are better equipped.

ConclusionThe acquisition-learning hypothesis is at the core of modern language acquisition theory, and is perhaps the most fundamental of Krashen's theories on second acquisition.

Bibliography• Krashen, Stephen D.  Principles

and Practice in Second Language Acquisition.  Prentice-Hall International, 1987.

• Krashen, Stephen D.  Second Language Acquisition and Second Language Learning.  Prentice-Hall International, 1988.