Natural Approach

The Natural Approach


Introduction
The Natural Approach was developed by Tracy Terrell and Stephen Krashen, starting in 1977. It came to have a wide influence in language teaching in the United States and around the world.
Approach

Theory of language
The Communicative view of language is the view behind the Natural Approach. Particular emphasis is laid on language as a set of messages that can be understood.

Theory of learning
The Natural Approach is based on the following tenets:
* Language acquisition (an unconscious process developed through using language meaningfully) is different from language learning (consciously learning or discovering rules about a language) and language acquisition is the only way competence in a second language occurs. (The acquisition/learning hypothesis)
* Conscious learning operates only as a monitor or editor that checks or repairs the output of what has been acquired. (The monitor hypothesis)
* Grammatical structures are acquired in a predictable order and it does little good to try to learn them in another order.(The natural order hypothesis).
* People acquire language best from messages that are just slightly beyond their current competence. (The input hypothesis)
* The learner's emotional state can act as a filter that impedes or blocks input necessary to acquisition. (The affective filter hypothesis)

Objectives
Here are some of the objectives of the Natural Approach
* it is designed to help beginner become intermediates
* It is designed to depend on learner needs

The syllabus
The syllabus for the Natural Approach is a communicative syllabus.

Types of learning techniques and activities
* Comprehensible input is presented in the target language, using technqiues such as TPR, mime and gesture.
* Group techniques are similar to Communicative Language Teaching.
* Learners start to talk when they are ready.

Procedure
The Natural Approach adopts techniques and activities from different sources but uses them to provide comprehensible input.