The Natural Approach

Natural Method vs. Natural Approach

Similarity

They both assume that …

“Foreign languages are learned in the same way
the first language is learned.”
 Natural Method vs. Natural Approach
Differences

 Natural Method
Put stress on the use of target language, correct pronunciation,
translation and memorizing grammar rules and vocabulary.

 Natural Approach
.
• Adopts techniques and activities from different comprehension-based
approaches in language teaching to provide comprehensible input.

• Emphasize on the central role of comprehension and exposure (input),

rather than practice.

• Put less emphasize on teacher monologues, direct repetition, formal

questions answers, and on accurate production of target- language.
 Approach : Theory of Language

 Krashen and Terell refer to the Natural Approach, an

emphasis on teaching communicative abilities, as an
example of a communicative approach.

 Language is vehicle for communicating meanings and

messages.

"Acquisition can take place only when people understand

messages in target language."
 Approach : Theory of Language

 View language learning as

mastery of structures by stages :

Learners learn best when they encounter with

“input” containing structures at the I +1 level.

• I +1 level

I : learner's present level , +1 : input that is slightly

above the learner’s
present level.
 Approach : Theory of Learning

 Krashen's hypothesis

(1) The acquisition-learning hypothesis

(2) The monitor hypothesis
(3) The natural order hypothesis
(4) The input hypothesis
(5) The affective filter hypothesis
 The Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis

• Acquisition : an unconscious process

developed through using
language meaningfully.

• Learning : a conscious process that

discovers rules about a language.

“Learning cannot lead to acquisition.”

 The Monitor Hypothesis

 Learners refers to learned knowledge to check and repair

the output of the acquired system.

• There are 3 conditions for its successful use.

1) Time:
Need sufficient time for a learner to choose
and apply learned rule.
2) Focus on form :
Must focus on correctness or on the form of the
output.
3) Knowledge of rules :
Must know the rules of the language.
 The Natural Order Hypothesis

 Grammatical structures are acquired in a

predictable order( natural order).

• In L1 acquisition, certain grammatical

structures are acquired before others.

• In L2 acquisition,
a similar natural order is found.
 The Input Hypothesis
 Explain the relationship between input and language acquisition.

1) The hypothesis relates to acquisition, not to learning.

2) People acquire language best by studying input that is slightly

beyond their current level of competence. ( I + 1 )

3) Fluent speaking ability cannot be taught directly.

→ it emerges independently in time, after the acquirer
has built up linguistic competence by understanding input.

4) If there is a enough quantity of comprehensible input, I+1 will be

provided automatically.

utterance that the learner understands

based on the context and the language
in which they speak.
 The Affective Filter Hypothesis

 The learner's emotional state that

impedes or blocks input necessary
to acquisition.

1) Motivation
2) Self-confidence
3) Anxiety
 Implications of the above hypotheses

1. As much comprehensible input as possible must be

presented.

2. Whatever helps comprehension is important. Visual aids are

useful, as is exposure to a wide range of vocabulary rather
than study of syntactic structure.

3. The focus in the classroom should be on listening and

reading; speaking should be allowed to "emerge."

4. In order to lower the affective filter, student work should

center on meaningful communication rather than on form;
Interesting input and a relaxed classroom atmosphere is
essential.
 Design : Objectives & Syllabus
 Objectives - To develop basic communicative skills for
beginners to become intermediate learners.

 Syllabus-communicative syllabus based on

a selection of communicative activities and topics
derived from learner needs .

1. Basic personal communication skills : oral

(e.g., listening to announcements in public places)
2. Basic personal communication skills : written
(e.g., reading and writing personal letters)
3. Academic learning skills : oral
(e.g.. listening to a lecture)
4. Academic learning skills : written
(e.g., taking notes in class)
 Types of Learning Techniques and Activities

 "acquisition activities" : focus on meaningful

communication rather than language form

 Using familiar techniques that focuses on providing

comprehensible input.

= command-based activities. (TPR :Total Physical Response)

= mime , gesture, elicit questions and answers from context,
practice of structures and patterns. ( Direct Method )
= Group-work activities
(CLT: Communicative Language Teaching)

 Using class room environment that provide

comprehensible input.

 Minimizing learner anxiety & maximizing learner self-

confidence.
 Learner Roles

 Responsibilities of learners

1. Provide information about their specific goals so that

acquisition activities can focus on the topics and
situations most relevant to their needs.

2. Take an active role in ensuring comprehensible input.

3. Decide when to start producing speech and when to

upgrade it.

4. Decide the relative amount of time to be devoted to

learning exercises (i.e. grammar study ) with the
teacher and perhaps even complete and correct
them independently.
 Learner Roles

 Stages of linguistic development

• In the pre-production stage :

Participate in the language activity without having to respond in
the target language"

• In the early-production stage:

Respond to either-or questions, use single words and short
phrases, fill in charts, and use fixed conversational patterns

• In the speech-emergent phase:

Involve themselves in role play and games, contribute personal
information and opinions, and participate in group problem
solving.
 Teachers Roles
 The teacher has a responsibility to communicate clearly to
student the assumption, organization and expectation of the
method.

Teacher is....

 The primary source of comprehensible input in the target

language.

 The primary generator of that input.

 The creator who creates a classroom atmosphere that is

interesting, friendly and in which there is a low
affective filter for learning.

 The organizer who choose and orchestrate a rich mix of

classroom activities, involving a variety of group size,
content, and contexts.
 The Role of Instructional Materials

 The primary goal of materials in the Natural Approach

To make classroom activities as meaningful as possible.

-By relating classroom activities to the real world,

-By fostering real communication among the learners.

 Materials from the real world rather than from textbooks.

Visual aids : schedules, pictures, brochures, advertisements,

maps, books
 Games : focus the students on what it is they are doing and
use the language as a tool for reaching the goal
 Procedure

1. Start with TPR (Total Physical Response) commands.

"Stand up. Turn around. Raise your right hand.“

2. Use TPR to teach names of body parts and to introduce

numbers and sequence.
“ First touch your nose,
then stand up and turn to the right three times"

3. Introduce classroom terms and props into commands.

"Touch a wall, go to the door and knock three times"

4. Use names of physical characteristics and clothing to

identify members of the class by name.
"Who is wearing a yellow shirt?"
 Procedure

5. Use visuals, typically magazine pictures, to introduce new vocabulary

and to continue with activities requiring only student names as
response. “Who has the picture with the sailboat?"

6. Combine use of picture with TPR.

"Jim, find the picture of the little girl with her dog and give it to the
woman with the pink blouse."

7. Combine observation about the pictures with commands and

conditionals.
"If there is a woman in your picture, stand up. If there is something
blue in your picture, touch your right shoulder."

8. Using several pictures, ask students to point to picture being described.

"Picture 1, there are two men in this picture. They are young. They are
boxing. Picture 2…."
 Conclusion

• Strengths of the Natural Approach :

= The avoidance of risk-taking activities that could damage a
learner’s language ego towards target language

= Focus on comprehensible input which provide the sufficient

conditions for successful classroom of foreign language
acquisition.

• Flaws of the Natural Approach

= The emergence of language will differ for each learner,
it may be difficult for the teacher to manage an entire
classroom