Output hypothesis

Output hypothesis

1. Introduced by: Merill Swain (1985)

   • She denied Krashen's claims -> A person could learn a second language without speaking at all.
     • Her studies in Canada:
       • English-speaking students learn all subjects in French
         • But not having to reply in French
           • Did not achieve full productive competence in French
   • “Learners may notice a gap between what they want to say and what they can say, leading them to recognize what they do not know or know only partially”

2. Output is part of the process of learning, not simply the product. The act of producing language (speaking and writing) constitutes part of the process of secong language acquisition.

3. Output = important role in SLA

4. Practicing

   • Helps learners observe their own production

5. Noticing

   • Essential to SLA

6. Builds up a coherent set of knowledge

7. Enhancing fluency by turning declarative knowledge into procedural knowledge

8. Indirect role in the acquisition of declarative knowledge

9. Learners should actively engage themselves in the creation of “comprehensible output” in order to develop linguistically and cognitively.