Discuss and evaluate the five hypotheses of Krashen’s Monitor Mode
Shihabur Rahaman
ContributorDiscuss and evaluate the five hypotheses of Krashen s Monitor Model Do you agree with McLaughlin that Krashen s Theory is seriously flawed in many respects NU Stephen Krashen is a well-known scholar in second language acquisition In the s he developed the Monitor Model which includes five main hypotheses These are the Acquisition Learning Natural Order Monitor Input and Affective Filter hypotheses Each explains a different part of how people learn a new language His theory influenced communicative teaching methods worldwide Yet many scholars such as McLaughlin argued that Krashen s ideas are not always clear or supported by substantial evidence nbsp Acquisition Learning Hypothesis Krashen said there are two ways of learning a language Acquisition is a natural subconscious process It is much like the way children learn their first language Learning is conscious formal and about grammar rules He stressed that acquisition is more important This view
helped teachers focus on communication rather than grammar drills However critics like Ellis have noted that the distinction between acquisition and learning is not always clear Both may support each other instead of being totally separate Natural Order Hypothesis This hypothesis says grammar rules are learned in a fixed order For example the -ing form is learned before the past tense forms Krashen used studies by Brown Dulay and Burt to support this claim The idea helped teachers accept learner errors as natural But the order may change for different learners Factors such as age mother tongue and context can impact progress McLaughlin argued that Krashen s claim is too general and lacks a deep explanation Monitor Hypothesis Krashen believed that conscious learning acts only as a monitor It checks or edits what is already acquired For example a student may correct He go into He goes This concept explains why some learners speak fluently but still make minor errors It also explains why others hesitate by checking the rules too much McLaughlin said Krashen reduced learning to a minor tool which is not fair Input Hypothesis This is the most famous part of Krashen s model He said learners progress when they receive comprehensible input slightly above their current level known as i For example a learner at level i can grow if the teacher provides messages at level i The idea made teachers use stories visuals and simple speech However critics found problems The term comprehensible input is vague It is also hard to measure a learner s exact level Moreover Krashen ignored the role of output Swain later showed that speaking and writing also help learners notice gaps in their knowledge Affective Filter Hypothesis Krashen said emotional factors like motivation confidence and anxiety control how input is received A low filter helps learning but a high filter blocks progress This idea is supported by classroom experience Learners do better in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere However Krashen did not clearly explain how the filter works McLaughlin and Gregg asked why it develops mainly after puberty and why it affects only some parts of language nbsp In termination Krashen s Monitor Model shaped language teaching by stressing input communication and low-anxiety classrooms The five hypotheses gave teachers new ways to think about learning Yet critics like McLaughlin argued that the theory is weak in evidence vague in terms and ignores the role of output nbsp