Topic Overview

The way that language out there impacts the development of interlanguage, within the individual, is perhaps the most important aspect of second language learning.

Key Concepts

This Element offers an overview of the key concepts related to input and the major lines of research exploring its nature and its role in second language learning. It then puts things together into a coherent, if controversial, picture of input and its role in development, emphasizing the place of consciousness.

Implicit Input-Based Learning

In this and most other current perspectives, implicit (unconscious) input-based learning is the heart of second language acquisition.

Teaching Options

This suggests two general options for teaching: (a) trust the natural implicit processes, trying to create optimal conditions for them; (b) direct those processes to selected features of the input, probably using explicit instruction.

Conclusion

The conclusion is that (a) appears preferable.