Comprehensible Input & Spanish: The Secret to Second Language Acquisition
In this post: We discuss comprehensible input, the key to Spanish language acquisition.
Comprehensible Input vs Output
You probably remember your high school Spanish foreign language class… sitting in a room… learning grammar rules… You may even remember your first set of conjugations… or how to introduce yourself… maybe even how to ask to go to the bathroom, but how much did all that memorizing help you when you were done?
Historically, Spanish classes have been centered around saying and using the right phrases, vocabulary, grammar… basically, utilizing the correct output. While output isn’t necessarily bad for language learning, it alone cannot help you learn the language.
What is Comprehensible Input?
The truth is, if you (or your child) want to learn any language, it’s all about input. This means that rather than just spitting out words and phrases of a language, you must be in a position where your brain is being exposed to Spanish language input.
Now, before you go and listen to Spanish music on repeat, expecting to be fluent in a few weeks, keep reading... while input is important, not all of it is effective in acquiring a second language. In order to actually learn a language, you have to understand what you’re hearing!
Dr. Stephen Krashen & the Comprehensible Input Hypothesis
In the world of second language acquisition, linguist Dr. Stephen Krashen is a big deal. He has been at work for over 40 years developing his concept of “comprehensible input”. He has shown that for successful language acquisition to happen, the main type of input to the brain has to be comprehensible input.
Essentially, comprehensible input is language input that can be understood by listeners, even if they can’t understand all the words or structures in it. When the input is comprehensible, you understand the gist of what’s being said.
This means that, while listening to Spanish music is good for becoming familiar with the language, it means nothing if you have no other interaction with the language to help you understand what you are hearing!
Everyday Comprehensible Input Examples
There’s an abundance of ways to obtain comprehensible input in Spanish, but one common way is to watch TV or movies in the target language. Oftentimes, you can get a good idea of the plot just from the acting, but sometimes subtitles help as well. By watching the program, you will be fed the language through the dialogue, but will still be able to understand what is happening through the context of the actions, acting and subtitles.
In the classroom, effective Spanish teachers will deliver comprehensible input in Spanish by pointing, acting, or drawing to illustrate what they are saying. Click here to watch Krashen himself use drawings and pointing to create comprehensible input to teach German.
One of the most powerful methods of delivering comprehensible input (and our favorite 😉) is the reading of simple illustrated children’s books. This is (unsurprisingly!) a very powerful method for children, although some adults also use this approach successfully. Click here for Bilingual Baby Blog’s recommendations for bilingual books for babies, and here for MamaLlamaLinguist’s Best Children’s Spanish Books for beginners.
But what if you don’t speak Spanish and therefore don’t feel confident reading books out loud to your child? Or what if you simply don’t have time to read both native language books and bilingual/target language books?
One easy way for your kids to get enough comprehensible input in Spanish is through our story-based app, FabuLingua! Your children can learn independently, and you don’t even need to know any Spanish!
Is Comprehensive Input in Spanish Really All it Takes to Learn?
You may be thinking… “How is this possible?” “There’s no way we can learn Spanish solely through input!” It may seem that it’s too good to be true...but this is how we learn our first language!
When you were a baby, your parents likely didn’t sit you down and have you memorize vocabulary lists, language rules or verb conjugations, they spoke and pointed! Babies are constantly soaking in information, collecting input during what is known as ‘the silent period’ of language acquisition. During this time, the brain is busy receiving and responding to language input, and then, when the time comes, all that input leads to output! Input is what wires the brain to a new language so that it can eventually create the desired output.
The more comprehensible input a learner is exposed to, the more language acquisition will occur. It is the single most important factor in learning a second language.
Comprehensible Input, Language Learning & a stress-free environment
The Affective Filter
Oftentimes, when we learn Spanish in a classroom setting, the environment is stressful, uninteresting, and disengaging. Interestingly, these factors are all barriers to language acquisition.
“My hypothesis is that for language acquisition to really succeed, anxiety should be zero” (See Dr.Krashen’s Video). Stress and anxiety act as filters that block comprehensible input from reaching the part of your brain dedicated to language acquisition (what Dr. Krashen refers to as ‘the language acquisition device’)..
The opposite effect can also be found - when Spanish, or any other language, is taught with topics that are interesting and engaging to the learner, it boosts the attention given to comprehensible input, turbocharging language learning. So, by reducing stress in language learning, your brain is able to process comprehensible input, which leads to language development.
Therefore, while learning Spanish in school isn’t bad, the typical output-oriented method of foreign language instruction is often ineffective. It will take a stress-free environment with lots of engaging comprehensible input for your child, or you, to acquire the language
Compelling Comprehensible Input
Krashen eventually fine-tuned his Comprehensible Input Hypothesis and went beyond it, saying that input should not just be interesting but compelling.
“To make sure that language acquirers pay attention to the input, it should be interesting. But interest may not be enough for optimal language acquisition. It may be the case that input needs to be not just interesting but compelling…Compelling input appears to eliminate the need for motivation, a conscious desire to improve. When you get compelling input, you acquire whether you are interested in improving or not.” Dr. Krashen argues that compelling comprehensible input is essential to language learning. “It is possible that compelling input is not just optimal: It may be the only way we truly acquire language.”
FabuLingua Uses Comprehensible Input in Spanish Learning for the Best Results
We are passionate about raising children with more than one language… bilingualism is a superpower, and its benefits to both the individual and the larger society are profound.
While it is largely known that childhood is the best time to learn a new language, it is difficult for parents and teachers to know where they can find enough compelling comprehensible input. More so, where can they find input specifically designed for children to learn Spanish? And how can we make sure that experience is one that does not produce anxiety, but creates delight?
The fact is, while the science on comprehensible input has been clear for decades, products designed around it (and products designed specifically for kids!) have not yet materialized on a commercial scale.
This is why we developed the FabuLingua app!
FabuLingua is the ideal vehicle for Compelling Comprehensible Input in Spanish for kids
FabuLingua is a platform that provides compelling comprehensible input in Spanish through the reading of authentic Spanish interactive illustrated children’s stories set in an engaging mobile game. Illustrated children’s stories and mobile games are two highly compelling sources of input, and if they are made comprehensible, then their power to teach a second language can be astounding!
Through our patented Magical Translations® methodology, your child will only see the text in Spanish (like they would in a regular Spanish story), but they will hear the narrator’s rhythmic alternation between Spanish and its English translation - instantly making the Spanish input to your brain… wait for it… comprehensible!
(Watch FabuLingua’s founder talk about FabuLingua’s comprehensible input approach here.)
This method allows children to follow the story in a relaxed and engaging way, or what Krashen calls ‘flow’, which we know is the ideal state for language acquisition.
As you can see in the above video, there is no ‘permanent crutch’ in the form of a written translation like you may have in a typical bilingual book. The only translations in FabuLingua are spoken translations, which are by definition temporary, and are over as soon as they are spoken. The learner is left with a sense of meaning, they are left with the comprehension that the brain then uses to gradually develop proficiency in that language.
Invisible Learning, Comprehensible Input & Spanish Language Acquisition
Designed around the concept of ‘invisible learning’, FabuLingua has a unique and engaging approach that uses beautiful interactive comprehensible stories and games to teach kids Spanish. To the kids, they’re enjoying an engaging story with minimal effort, no stress, and all the fun. In their brains, however, they’re actually learning Spanish! Because our stories are designed to provide compelling comprehensible input, this learning happens subconsciously, invisibly, as the child delights in the age-old power of storytelling.
Dr. Krashen specifies that “the best input is so interesting and relevant that the acquirer may even ‘forget’ that the message is encoded in a foreign language.” By piquing students’ curiosity through engaging stories and interactive games, kids often forget they’re hearing the story or playing a game in another language, and FabuLingua serves as an excellent example of highly effective compelling comprehensible input for Spanish language acquisition.
So, how do we make sure kids read a lot of stories (and get A LOT of comprehensible input)?? Well, the secret sauce is that we use the power of gaming to engage children. Our comprehensible input stories are set in a highly engaging and compelling mobile game, where the ability to earn rewards and keep exploring new locations that are unlocked keeps kids coming back for more stories, and thus, more comprehensible input!
To Summarize
Understanding Comprehensible Input in Language Acquisition
Comprehensible input is a fundamental concept in second language acquisition, developed by linguist Dr. Stephen Krashen. It refers to language input that learners can understand even if they don’t grasp every word or grammatical structure. This understanding allows learners to make sense of the language and gradually acquire it naturally, similar to how children learn their first language.
The Role of Comprehensible Input in Language Learning
The central premise of Krashen's hypothesis is that language acquisition occurs naturally when learners are exposed to language they can understand. This input should be rich in context and meaning, allowing learners to make connections and infer meanings, even if they do not understand every word or grammatical structure. This naturalistic approach contrasts with traditional methods that often emphasize rote memorization and explicit grammar instruction.
The Importance of Comprehensible Input and Why it Works
Natural Acquisition: Similar to how children learn their first language, comprehensible input allows for a more organic acquisition of the second language. By hearing and understanding the language in context, learners pick up vocabulary and structures without conscious effort.
Low Anxiety: Krashen also introduces the Affective Filter Hypothesis, which suggests that learners with low anxiety levels acquire language more effectively. Comprehensible input is often more engaging and less intimidating, helping to lower the affective filter and create a more conducive learning environment. A low-stress environment helps lower the affective filter, allowing more comprehensible input to reach the brain’s language acquisition device. Conversely, stress, anxiety and boredom can block this input, hindering learning.
Contextual Learning: When learners are exposed to language in meaningful contexts, they can better understand and retain new information. This could be through stories, conversations, or content that interests them personally, making the learning experience both effective and enjoyable.
Engaging and Relevant Content: To optimize language acquisition, the input should not only be comprehensible but also compelling. Engaging and relevant content ensures that learners are motivated to pay attention and process the language input effectively. This approach aligns with Krashen’s idea that compelling input can eliminate the need for conscious motivation to learn.
Practical Applications of Comprehensible Input
To implement comprehensible input effectively, it's essential to create a learning environment rich in comprehensible language. Here are some practical strategies:
Storytelling: Using stories that are interesting and slightly challenging can captivate learners' attention and provide context for new language. Visual aids, gestures, drawing, acting and expressive intonation can enhance comprehension.
Reading illustrated books: One effective method is using illustrated children’s books, which provide visual context to the language. This approach is powerful for children and can also be effective for adults. The visual aids help learners understand the story, making the language input comprehensible.
Media Consumption: Watching TV shows or movies in the target language with subtitles can be beneficial. The visual context, combined with subtitles, helps learners grasp the plot and language simultaneously. This method provides a rich source of comprehensible input in an engaging format.
Listening Activities: Engaging learners in listening exercises such as podcasts, songs, and dialogues that match their comprehension level can reinforce language acquisition. Repetition and exposure to varied content help solidify understanding.
Interaction: Encouraging interaction with native speakers or more advanced learners can provide valuable comprehensible input. This interaction should be supportive and patient, allowing learners to process and respond at their own pace.
Interactive Apps: Apps like FabuLingua utilize storytelling and gaming to provide comprehensible input in Spanish. These apps are designed to be engaging and stress-free, making language acquisition enjoyable for children. The use of stories and games helps children acquire language naturally through repeated exposure to comprehensible input.
Benefits of a Comprehensible Input Approach
Enhanced Fluency: Exposure to comprehensible input helps learners develop fluency without the need for explicit grammar instruction. Over time, learners internalize grammatical structures and vocabulary through repeated exposure to meaningful language
Increased Confidence: As learners understand more of the target language through comprehensible input, their confidence in using the language increases. This confidence further reduces anxiety and promotes more active participation in language learning activities.
Long-term Retention: Language acquired through comprehensible input tends to be retained longer because it is learned in a meaningful context. This natural acquisition process mirrors how first languages are learned, leading to more durable language skills.
Implementing Comprehensible Input in Education
Teacher Strategies: Effective language teachers use techniques like pointing, acting, and drawing to make their language input comprehensible. These strategies help students understand the language in a contextualized and engaging manner.
Curriculum Design: Incorporating a variety of comprehensible input sources, such as stories, videos, and interactive activities, into the curriculum can enhance language acquisition. A focus on input over output ensures that students have ample opportunities to process and internalize the language.
Parental Involvement: Parents can support language learning by providing access to comprehensible input at home. Reading bilingual books, watching educational programs in the target language, and using language learning apps can create a rich language environment for children.
Conclusion
Comprehensible input is a cornerstone of effective language acquisition. By creating engaging, stress-free, and contextually rich environments, learners can acquire new languages naturally and confidently. Whether through storytelling, media consumption, or interactive apps, providing ample comprehensible input is key to successful language learning.
Get the FabuLingua app today in the AppStore or Google Play store and receive one-week free when you subscribe!
