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FL501:
Theories of Foreign
Language Learning
The Natural Approach Theory
Stephen Krashen
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CONTENTs

This slide covers the

contents of the presentation

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The Natural Language Approach 4
 Stephen Krashen (Ph.D. in Linguistics 2023

University of Southern California)

Specialized in theories of Published over
An expert in the language acquisition and 100 books and
field of linguistics development articles

He researched the study of non- Over 300 lectures at

English and bilingual language universities of USA & Canada.
acquisition.

Born May 14,

1941
Quotes
"Language acquisition does not require extensive use of conscious
Who is Krashen
grammatical rules and does not require tedious drill." 5
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KRASHEN'S SECOND-LANGUAGE

Definition of the Theory and The Five Hypothesis

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The Natural language Approach 20XX

The Monitor Model Theory

The core of Krashen’s Theory Monitoring or Competence

• We can assume all the rules that the student learned about English are • Competence is gained through learning, or
‘the monitor’. "Monitoring" as Krashen terms it.
• These rules are grammar, spelling, and pronunciation. They are used in • The second-language student can use learned rules to
formal writing and conversations.
"monitor" or correct his language either before or
• We can call all the words and phrases that the learner has acquired his
‘acquired language.’
after the moment of production.
• This acquired language could be acquired from school, TV, podcasts, • Sufficient time+ focus + the necessary rule are the
YouTube, etc. limited conditions for writing or taking a grammar test.
• In practice, he speaks freely in a conversation using these words and
phrases from the acquired language.
• Before speaking, he uses ‘the monitor’ to review what he will say.
• After speaking, he uses ‘the monitor’ once again to check the 7
correctness of his words.
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Hypothesis
Stephen Krashen proposed the Monitor
Model as his theory of second language
acquisition in 1982. The Monitor Model
suggests five hypotheses about second
language acquisition and learning:

1. Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis
2. Natural-Order Hypothesis
3. Monitor Hypothesis
4. Input Hypothesis
5. Affective Filter Hypothesis

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 1.Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis
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 ing
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Acquisition
Learning
It is a subconscious
process similar to
• It is a conscious process.
children learning their • Formal learning
first language.
• For example, grammar rules
• Informal situations.
• Depends on attitude
• Usage of grammatical feel
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 2. Natural-Order Hypothesis
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Krashen’s second suggests that the acquisition process, especially grammatical,
happens along a Natural Order, regardless of what language you are trying to
learn, for first and second-language ‘acquirers’ alike.
 Examples Children may learn, I am running (the
ing form) before the third person (s)
Krashen’s second suggests that the acquisition process, especially
grammatical, happens along a Natural Order, regardless of what
language you are trying to learn, for first and second-language In English:
‘acquirers’ alike. I drink >> He drink
After some time:
I am drinking; he drinks. He is drinking.
In Arabic:
The equivalent is not found as the verb initials
sometimes change according to the subject, and other
times the endings differ.
‫ ناأ‬栭 ‫ ب أرش‬栭
‫ ب أرش وه‬髠
‫ ب بور نهش مه‬髠
‫ن‬ ‫ن‬
‫ن نح‬焉 ‫ب أرش‬

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3. The Monitor Hypothesis 14
According to Krashen:
The acquisition system is the ‘initiator’.
And the ‘Learning’ system is the ‘Monitor’.

The ‘Monitor’ plans, edits, and

corrects.

Under three conditions:

1. The 2L learner has sufficient
time.
2. He/she focuses on the form
(the correctness).
3. He/she knows the rule.
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monitor use

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1.) Speaking is the result of the acquisition

and not its cause.

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Examples
An alternate term that keeps the original
meaning fresh is one coined by Terry
Waltz: comprehended input. The student must
comprehend the input. If what you say is not
understood, it is virtually worthless for
acquisition. (Altar Waltz)
As a teacher:
• Discard “listen and repeat”.
• Limit forced output.
• Allow and encourage output–but do not force
it.
• Be sure it is “Comprehended Input”
• Use clear language with interesting topics.
• Check often to be sure it is actually
comprehensible.
• Use differentiated comprehension checks
questions.
• Create a classroom culture where NOT
understanding is OK

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5. Affective Filter Hypothesis

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 • 20
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The “affective filter” is a term made

popular by Stephen Krashen, It is an
attempt to describe how a student’s
attitudes or emotional variables can
impact the success of learning a new
language. The affective filter is a
psychological filter that either helps or
obstructs the process of learning a
second language.

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In Class
• The affective filter is an invisible
wall or fence.
• It can be lowered or raised in a
person’s mind. When a person
experiences any of the following
feelings:
• Boredom
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Insufficient self-confidence.
• Lack of motivation

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THANK YOU!
Nagwa Ibrahim