Allison Eagleston

EDUC 426.1
WEEK 1
Assignment 1

Theories and Hypothesis Comparative Chart

CURRENT THEORIES  IMPLICATION TO STUDENTS  EXAMPLE 

Krashen’s Acquisition-Learning Acquisition involves the The optimal way a language is
Hypothesis subconscious acceptance of learned is through natural
knowledge where information communication. This is turn,
is stored in the brain through will help students to acquire
the use of communication. This the language instead of just
is the process used for learning it.
developing native languages. 
Learning, on the other hand, is
the conscious acceptance of
knowledge about a language.

Krashen’s Monitor Hypothesis The acquisition system, initiates It will always be a challenge to
an utterance and the learning strike a balance between
system ‘monitors’ the encouraging accuracy and
utterance to inspect and fluency in your students. This
correct errors.  Krashen states balance will depend on
that monitoring can make some numerous variables including
contribution to the accuracy of the language level of the
an utterance but its use should students, the context of
be limited.  He suggests that language use and the personal
the monitor can sometimes act goals of each student.
as a barrier as it forces the
learner to slow down and focus
more on accuracy as opposed
to fluency.

Krashen’s Natural Order
Hypothesis
This hypothesis suggests that
the natural order of acquisition
occurs independently of
deliberate teaching and
therefore teachers cannot
change the order of a
grammatical teaching
sequence.
Teachers should start by
introducing language concepts
that are relatively easy for
learners to acquire and then
use scaffolding to introduce
more difficult concepts.
Krashen’s Input Hypothesis Suggests that language By providing as much
acquisition occurs when comprehensible input as
learners receive messages that possible, the teacher is able to
they can understand, a concept create a more effective
also known as comprehensible opportunity for language
input.  It also suggests that this acquisition.
comprehensible input should
be one step beyond the
learner’s current language
ability in order to allow learners
to continue to progress with
their language development.

Krashen’s Affective Filter The emotions/feelings of the Creating a safe, welcoming

Hypothesis learner during second language
acquisition can play a critical
role in how fast and how well
the second language is
acquired.
Krashen’s Reading Hypothesis States that the more we read in
a second language the greater
our vocabulary will be.
environment in which students
can learn and feel that they
are able to make mistakes and
take risks.
It is important to involve
reading in the language
classroom to increase
knowledge of the language
and the way it is used in real-
life contexts.

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis Theorizes that thoughts and Provide instructional scaffolds

behaviors are determined (or at in lessons with modeling and
least partially influenced) by explicit language and provide
language. anchor charts so children can
have better understanding of
what and how you want them
to complete a task.
Cummins Basic Interpersonal Involves those language skills The amount of context
Communication Skills (BICS) and functions that allow provided by the teacher and
students to communicate in the degree of difficulty of the
everyday social contexts that learning task can decrease or
are similar to those of the increase the ease in which the
home. concept can be learned. A
Cummins Cognitive Academic The language needed to teacher should break down
Language Proficiency (CALP) perform school tasks that are learning task and use explicit
generally more abstract and instruction for student success.
 decontextualized.
Cognitive Academic Language Includes the development of
Learning Approach (CALLA) academic language skills and
explicit instruction in learning
strategies for both content and
language acquisition.
Piaget’s Cognitive Theory of Theorized that language is
Language made up of symbols and
structures and exhibits itself as
a child’s mental abilities
mature.
B.F. Skinner Behavioral Theory Posited that children are
conditioned by their
environment to respond to
certain stimuli with language.
Teachers give students the
skills and opportunities to take
an active role in their learning
through hands-on activities.
This has been used as the basis
for scheduling the school
curriculum.
A language-rich environment
helps children achieve success
in communication.