Krashen's+Connection

​ Krashen's Connection

Stephen Krashen According to Reid Wilson (2000), Krashden once said, " What theory implies, quite simply, is that language acquisition, first or second, accurs when comprehension of real messages occur, and when the acquirer is not on the defense." Stephen Krashen was born in Chicago in 1941. The following were major achievemnets in Krashen's life: -Taught 8th grade Science and English in Ethiopia with the Peace Corps -Pursued a PH.D. in Linguistics at the University of California - 1972- Took up a PH.D. as well as the dissertation: "Language and the Left Hemisphere" -Published over 350 informative and insightful papers and books - Professor of Linguistics at the CUNY Graduate Center His ideas, theories, and approaches, especially his "Natural Approach to SLA", have seemed to open the eyes and changed the thinking of many educators, especially in the field of Linguistics and ESL

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The Natural Approach.__ This approach aims to fulfull the requirements for learning and acquisition. The teacher speaks only the target language and the class is committed to providing input for acquisition ( Wilson, 2000). This approach also states that comprehension come before speech production. Students might experience a "silent period" where they are trying to comprehend before they speak. Errors in speech are usually not corrected.

__​ The Five Hypotheses __ ​ __Acquisition - Learning Hypothesis__ Just as there are two different words in this title, there are also two different ways for adults to learn a new langauge: acquisition and learning. Language Acquisition is a subscious process that allows learners to develop a "feel" for correctness. .Language Learning is the concious knowledge. This involved knowing the rules of grammar, as well as being aware of them and using them.

__The Natural Order Hypothesis__ This approach states that learning grammar will take place in a predictable order. These grammatical structures are acquire, not learned. __The Monitor Hypothesis__ This approach states that there is not much conscious learning taking place in L2 acquisition. A monitor, known as a conscious editor is used. this monitor acts as an editor in terms of focusing on form, rules, and grammar.

__The Input Hypothesis__ This approach explains the answer to how a langauge acquirer develops comptency over tim e. Krashen said, " We acquire, in other words, only when we understand language that contains structures that are a little beyond where we are now" ( Wilson, 2000). This "silent period" is a result of this hypothesis.

__The Affective Filter Hypothesis__ This appraoch discusses the impediment to SLA caused by negative emotional responses. Some examples may be : boredom, anxiety, or self doubt. These may be avoided by low anxiety situations, providing interesting lessons and activities to the student, or encouraging self esteem. __ Resources: __ The following two websites may be useful to parents and or teachers that wish to learn more about Krahsen and the Natural Approach.

An article written by Krashen on a delayed - gratification appraoch to langauge acquisition: []

An article on using Krashen's approach with China's traditional methods for teaching ESL, as well as the outcome. __[]__ __References:__ The Biographical Dictionary. ( 2006). //Stephen Krashen.// Retrieved from : []

Wilson, R. ( 2000). A Summary of Stephen Krashen's " Principles and Practices in Second Langauge Acquisition," Retrieved from : []

Michelle Samoray MSamoray@gmail.com