An Effective Way Helps To Learn The Second Language

Krashen believes that only when the learner is exposed to “comprehensible input”, that is, a second language input that is slightly higher than his/her existing language skills, so that he/she can focus on meaning (the understanding of the information) instead of the code of the language to produce acquisition. Learners will recognize frequent words, phrases and grammar structure by using listening, reading and repetition. Mechanized language learning will make learners lose interest in a second language quickly.

The characteristics of comprehensive input:

• Comprehensive

It’s necessary to prepare learning materials that learners can understand, otherwise the input is just a kind of noise for them.

• Interesting and relevant

The materials should be interesting and relevant so that the learners are more likely to acquire the language unknowingly.

• Non-grammatical programming

The main purpose is "acquisition" rather than "learning,"

• Enough input

It requires continuous and interesting extensive reading and a lot of related conversations.

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Effective strategies in the classroom

Beginners: The teacher puts words and phrases in context and gives learners specific instructions.

Intermediate learners: When the learner begins to understand the basic logic of the language, the teacher can let the learner know how to form sentences through games, stories and videos.

Advanced learners: The teacher appropriately increases the difficulty of the materials, and through dialogue, audio and video, teaching phrases and idioms, further improve students' language knowledge and cultivate their insight.

How to apply the input Hypothesis?

• Put it in the context

Although there are some unfamiliar words or phrases in the text, learners is able to guess their meaning through reading the whole massage.

• Explain difficult concepts

All languages have unique expressions (phrases/idioms), so explain them before giving the materials to learners to help them translate.

• Rewrite words and expressions

Some advanced or professional expressions seem impossible for learners to translate, so try to use simpler synonyms to reword them.

• Use visual materials

Visual materials like pictures, drawings and videos help leaners associate unfamiliar words and phrases with the materials so as to understand their meaning.