Theories of 2 Language Learning

Theories of secondlanguage learningKrashens theories
Based on
Barry McLaughlin: Thoeries of Secondlanguage Learning (Edward Arnold,
1987)
Lightbown and Spada: How Languages
are learned (OUP,1993)
Copyright Linguaprof 2010
Krashen, five central

hypothesis
The Acquisition-Learning
Hypothesis
The Monitor Hypothesis
The Natural Order Hypothesis
The Input Hypothesis
The Affective Filter Hypothesis
Hypothesis
Learning- conscious, Acquisitionunconscious

Learning does not turn into
acquisition, says Krashen
Hypothesis
Claims
Sometimes there is Acquisition

without Learning- people can speak
without knowing rules consciously
Sometimes learning never becomes
acquisition- knows the rule but
always breaks it
No-one knows anywhere near all
the rules
LAD Language
Acquisition Device
Krashen, Chomsky
Do adults have it too?
The Monitor Hypothesis
Learning has only one function,

that is as a Monitor or editor
Acquisition initiates the speakers
utterances and is responsible for
Fluency
3 conditions for Monitor

use
Time
Focus on form/ correctness
Know the rule
All these are problematic, difficult
to demonstrate
Krashen explained the

individual differences on the
Monitor concept
Monitor over-users
Monitor under-users
Optimal monitor users
Adults vs. Children
Children are better learners

because they do not use the
Monitor
The second explanation is related
to the affective filter, discussed
later
Problems
Acquisition-learning distinction not

clearly defined
The theory that learning will not become
acquisition cant be tested empirically
It is only in the phonological
development that children do better!
We simply cannot unequivocally identify
the source of any utterance!
The Natural Order

Hypothesis
We acquire rules in a predictable

order, some rules tending to come
early and others late.
The order of rules is not
determined by its simplicity and is
independent of the order in which
rules are taught
The Natural Order

Hypothesis, problems
is based on the morpheme

studies, which, by focusing on the
final form, tell us little about the
acquisition process
It can be accepted, but in a weak
form: some things are learned
before others, but not always
People learn in only one way, by

understanding messages, getting
comprehensible input
Speaking is a result, not a cause.
If input is understood and there is
enough of it, the necessary
grammar is automatically provided.
Krashen tried to explain

his theory by the
Silent period
Problems:
No answer to how language is acquired
There may be other explanations for
the silent period (anxiety, personality,
etc.)
How do we learn, if in the beginning
we know nothing?

doesnt explain
How learners progress form

understanding to acquisition
What is comprehensible input, not
clear
just beyond the syntactic
complexity of what he knows at
present - impossible to define
clearly
Conclusion
Acquisition is caused by
understanding the input but
internal factors are given little
emphasis
The importance of output is deemphasized
A more balanced view is required
The Affective Filter

Hypothesis
There might be a mental block that

prevents learners form fully
profiting form comprehensible
input
If the filter is UP, the input is
blocked
up
INPUT
filter
LAD
Language acquisition
device
Acquired
competence
down
The operation of the affective filter, Krashen, 1982

The Affective Filter theory

was used
To account for he individual

differences in language learning
Def.: The filter is that part of the
processing system that
subconsciously screens incoming
language based on motives,
needs, attitudes, emotional
states.
The filter is described as

having 4 functions,
determining
Which language model will we select

Which part of the language will be
attended first
When the language acquisition
effort should cease
How fast we can acquire the
language
Though most of the researchers

agree that affective variables play
a critical role, there role and
existence of the affective filter is
not clear
Problems with the theory
No coherent explanation for the filters

development
Cant be studied
Vague in its origin and its function
No connection wit first language
acquisition, why?
What about the children?
it cant explain the individual differences

completely!

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Theories of secondlanguage learningKrashens theories

Krashen, five central

Learning- conscious, Acquisitionunconscious

Copyright Linguaprof 2010

Copyright Linguaprof 2010

Sometimes there is Acquisition

Copyright Linguaprof 2010

The Monitor Hypothesis

Learning has only one function,

Copyright Linguaprof 2010

3 conditions for Monitor

Krashen explained the

Copyright Linguaprof 2010

Adults vs. Children

Children are better learners

Copyright Linguaprof 2010

Acquisition-learning distinction not

The Natural Order

We acquire rules in a predictable

The Natural Order

is based on the morpheme

The Input Hypothesis

People learn in only one way, by

Krashen tried to explain

The Input Hypothesis

How learners progress form

The Affective Filter

There might be a mental block that

Copyright Linguaprof 2010

The operation of the affective filter, Krashen, 1982

The Affective Filter theory

To account for he individual

The filter is described as

Which language model will we select

Though most of the researchers

Copyright Linguaprof 2010

Problems with the theory

No coherent explanation for the filters

it cant explain the individual differences

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