Stephen Krashen who is a linguist and educational researcher has developed a model of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) that is known as the monitor model.
Monitor Model: The Monitor Model is a theory made by Stephen Krashen, a language expert. It explains how people learn a second language (like learning English if your first language is something else).
What is the Monitor Model?
It’s a theory with 5 big ideas (called hypotheses) about how we learn languages. Krashen says we don’t just learn by studying grammar — we learn best when we use the language naturally in real-life situations.
The monitor model is an interesting set of five central hypotheses developed in the late 1970s but accepted in the 1980s. This is the most comprehensive model of SLA. Each of the hypotheses is summarized here so that Krasen’s views on motivative or causative variables can be considered.
The Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis
This hypothesis or theory of Krashen claims that there are two ways of second language development which are acquisition and learning. He differentiates between acquiring and learning Language. He asserts that learning language is not really similar to spoken language. According to him, teachers must focus on using natural, authentic, and meaningful activities in the classroom in order to improve communicative skills for the real world.
| Feature | Acquisition | Learning |
| Meaning | Picking up a language naturally | Studying a language in a formal way |
| Process Type | Subconscious / Unconscious | Conscious / Aware |
| Where it Happens | In real-life situations (like talking with people) | In classroom or while studying books |
| Focus | On meaning and communication | On grammar rules and structure |
| Example | Learning to say “I’m hungry” from a friend | Studying the past tense of “to be” in a textbook |
| Goal | To speak and understand naturally | To know about the language |
| Fluency or Accuracy | Helps with fluency (speaking smoothly) | Helps with accuracy (speaking correctly) |
| Long-lasting | Yes, usually long-term memory | Yes, but more effort needed to remember |
| Used for Monitoring | No | Yes, used to check or correct mistakes |
| Classroom Dependence | No (can happen outside classroom) | Yes (usually needs classroom or formal study) |
Important point: Krashen says that just studying (learning) doesn’t help you acquire a language. Real understanding comes from acquisition.
The Natural Order Hypothesis
Krashen says that when people learn a second language (like English), they don’t learn grammar rules randomly. Instead, they learn them in a natural, predictable order — just like babies learning their first language.
He has two main ideas in this:
- We learn grammar in a set order, step by step — just like how children learn their first language.
- Learning a second language also goes through a natural process — not all at once.
Monitor model Hypothesis
Here in this hypothesis, monitor is synonymous to edit. The monitor model means the process of editing in case of using second language for communication. Some aspects of monitor theory:
- Self-correct or repair.
- Conscious knowledge of what is told and written.
- Learning the required rules and the proper application of these rules.
Therefore, Krashen does assert that learning is important so that people can monitor the language that they produce.
The Input Hypothesis
Krashen says we learn best when we understand the language we hear or read, but it should be a little bit harder than what we already know.
This is called i + 1:
- “i” = your current level
- “+1” = just a little more difficult
The Affective Filter Hypothesis
Krashen says that our feelings and emotions can help or block us from learning a new language.
- If we feel happy, confident, and relaxed, we learn better and faster.
- If we feel nervous, shy, or scared, we learn less.
Conclusion: Stephen Krashen’s Monitor Model is a very important theory for understanding how people learn a second language. It explains that we learn best by using the language naturally, not just by studying grammar. His five ideas show that:
- Acquisition (natural learning) is more powerful than learning (studying rules),
- We learn grammar in a natural order,
- We can monitor or check our language using grammar rules,
- We need input that is just a little harder than what we know (i+1),
- And most importantly, our feelings (like confidence and low anxiety) play a big role in how well we learn.
