English as a second language and naturalistic learning

Naturalistic acquisition in an early language classroom

---

You do not currently have access to this article. You could not be signed in. Sign In Forgot password? Don't have an account? Sign in via your Institution Sign in. Purchase Subscription prices and ordering Short-term Access To purchase short term access, please sign in to your Oxford Academic account above.

This article is also available for rental through DeepDyve. Email alerts New issue alert. Receive exclusive offers and updates from Oxford Academic. Related articles in Web of Science Google Scholar. Citing articles via Web of Science 4.

Charlotte Taylor and Anna Marchi eds: The communicative approach responded to this criticism by promoting fluency, or authentic communication, over accuracy. Similarly, the natural approach to second language acquisition is a reaction against more traditional methods of teaching English. The natural approach shifts the focus away from language learning and teaching to acquiring a second language the same way that people acquired their first language, or mother tongue.

One way to think about this approach is that all humans, with few exceptions, learn to speak their first language from a very early age without formal instruction. We don't learn our first language the same way we learn chemistry or math; we acquire our first language through constant exposure to it.

English as a second language and naturalistic learning

Our parents talk to us from the moment we're born, and eventually we start to take the words we have heard and put them together to form sentences. Naturally, we make mistakes, but our parents are usually able to understand and don't overwhelm us with corrections. Why can't we learn a second language the same way we learned our first language, which didn't take place in a classroom?

That's the idea behind the natural approach. Stephen Krashen, a researcher in linguistics, proposed the input hypothesis.

The input hypothesis essentially says that you can only acquire a language if you are constantly exposed to comprehensible and meaningful input, or language in spoken or written form that you can understand. No comprehension means no language acquisition and no language production. How can teachers apply the natural approach in the classroom? First of all, taking into account the input hypothesis, teachers need to make sure that they use language that their students can understand. This means being aware of their students' level of English when planning teacher talk time, including instructions, questions, and explanations.

Teachers need to use simple sentences without complicated grammar or vocabulary when speaking to their students. Implementing these approaches can be more difficult than they sound, and inexperienced teachers may need to plan instructions beforehand to make sure they're using simple enough language for their students. Another tool that teachers can use to make sure their speech is comprehensible, meaningful, and memorable for their students is the use of visual aids or pictures of key words. Next, teachers should not push students to produce language until they're ready.

It's easy to assume that, because students aren't speaking, they don't understand. One of the main ideas behind the natural approach is that the learner first listens and understands, and then speaks. Teachers can use activities that allow students to show their understanding through physical responses, such as by following a command, like ''stand up'', ''sit down'', or ''point to a particular image''. Similar to the natural approach, the ''total physical response'' strategy is built entirely around demonstrating understanding through this type of activity.

It's important that teachers not force students to speak before they're ready because it will make them feel uncomfortable; when people feel uncomfortable, they lose motivation and do not learn. Finally, when students do start to produce language, teachers should be careful not to correct their grammar. In the natural approach, the focus is on comprehensible output, or language production, and not on accurate language use. The teacher's primary concern is understanding what a student is trying to say, not on any grammatical mistakes.

In general, language teachers become quite skilled at knowing what their students are trying to say. The natural approach views students as sponges. Think of a small child who clearly understands what his mother is saying but cannot verbalize a response. The same thing also happens with language learners.

The time when students do not speak is often called the silent period. Students may understand and respond physically as previously discussed, but they may not feel comfortable speaking. Students may also respond using their first language, or L1. They may also use their L2, or the language spoken in their current location, when responding. In other approaches to language learning, speaking L2 is frowned upon, but in the natural approach, it's seen as part of the acquisition process.

So, the natural approach to second language acquisition proposes a new way of learning a second language quite different from other methods associated with classroom instruction. It's based upon the input hypothesis and emphasizes that human beings successfully learn a first language without formal classes or direct instruction and should be able to do the same thing when learning a second or third language.

While it has received its fair share of criticism, it is an approach that has influenced English language teaching, particularly the concepts of comprehensible output and the silent period, along with the use of L1 and L2 responses.

To unlock this lesson you must be a Study. Did you know… We have over college courses that prepare you to earn credit by exam that is accepted by over 1, colleges and universities. You can test out of the first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Anyone can earn credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level.

You must create an account to continue watching

To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. Not sure what college you want to attend yet? The videos on Study.

Students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction. Explore over 4, video courses. Find a degree that fits your goals.

Account Options

The Natural Learning Approach to Second-Language Acquisition The natural approach to second language acquisition is a theory of language learning and teaching that says learning a second language should be similar to learning one's first language. Try it risk-free for 30 days. An error occurred trying to load this video.

Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Register to view this lesson Are you a student or a teacher? I am a student I am a teacher. What teachers are saying about Study. Are you still watching? Your next lesson will play in 10 seconds. Add to Add to Add to.

• My Ultimate Tropical Fish Guide
• THRONE - All The Bible Teaches About
• Al amor de la lumbre o el brasero (Spanish Edition)
• Ebony Mask / Ebony Gold: EBONY MASK
• Shotoku: Ethnicity, Ritual, and Violence in the Japanese Buddhist Tradition: Ethnicity, Ritual and Violence in the Japanese Buddhist Tradition