Linguist|Educational researcher

Stephen Krashen: languages, method and verdict

American linguist (born 1941), professor emeritus at the University of Southern California, whose Input Hypothesis and comprehensible input theory underpin today's immersion and input-based learning.

The short answer

Stephen Krashen is an American linguist best known for the input hypothesis and comprehensible input, a theorist rather than a classic polyglot. This profile lists the languages, the method and the Kungfucius verdict on the claims.

5+Languages

1941Born

Nationality

American

Languages

English|Spanish|Mandarin Chinese

Asian languages

Chinese (Mainland China Mandarin)

Signature method

Comprehensible input

Key works

The Input Hypothesis|Principles and Practice in Second Language Acquisition

Claimed vs verified

Not primarily a polyglot; reports studying several languages including German, Spanish and some Mandarin.

Developed the highly influential Input Hypothesis theory of second language acquisition

Kungfucius says: Told the world to watch more TV in Spanish. The world listened, mostly to K-dramas.

Kungfucius's view

Krashen's central idea has held up well: nobody acquires a language without a great deal of input they can understand. How to put it into practice is described under comprehensible input.

Kungfucius adds one caution. Input alone is not enough, and there may be better ways than 100 per cent comprehensible input. Speaking with correction, pronunciation drills such as shadowing, and a modest amount of deliberate vocabulary work with spaced repetition get most learners further, and faster, than input by itself.

Keep reading

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