Short Presentation The Natural Approach to Language Teaching Based on Recent Research on Language and the Brain more

Sat, Dec 18, 09:50-10:15 Asia/Tokyo

During the past 30 years Stephen Krashen’s major hypotheses have been largely discredited, especially his assertion that conscious learning does not lead to real language acquisition. Nevertheless, the Natural Approach continues to endure in the field of second language acquisition. This paper will argue that new research in neurobiology supports many of the claims of the Natural Approach. Whereas previously language was thought to be a function of the left hemisphere of the brain, new research shows that language involves both hemispheres and learning language is more akin to learning music and is embodied much like music. It will be argued that this and related research supports the fundamental assumptions of the Natural Approach.