LIN8001 Learning activity 3.3

Learning activity 3.3

1. Explain in your own words the distinction that Krashen makes between acquisition and learning
According to Krashen, 'acquisition' is a subconscious process that leads to "knowing" a language - so, an operational knowledge - whereas 'learning' is a conscious process that leads to "knowing about" a language - that is, a theoretical knowledge. Krashen argues that fluency is achieved through acquisition, not learning.

2. The distinction between acquisition and learning is based on children acquiring their first language. True or false?
Sort of. Krashen states that acquisition is a process 'similar, if not identical' (p. 10) to the way children develop their first language, and that it is a subconscious process, as is competence in the FL. Krashen goes on to state that adults also acquire language through the 'language acquisition device', and that acquisition is a "powerful process in the adult" (p. 10). So, the statement is not so much true or false, but 'sort of'.

3. Krashen claims that learning cannot become acquisition. True or false?
True - Krashen claims that there is no interface between learning and acquisition, therefore learning cannot become acquisition.

4. If Krashen's claim about acquisition/learning distinction were true, what implications would it have for classroom practice?
If Krashen's claim were true, then teaching methods that used 'learning' methods would be ineffective for true SLA - that is, classroom practices would be ineffective.

5. Do you think learning can become acquisition? Give a reason or reasons for your claim.
I do not accept that there is a true or complete dileneation or dichotomy between 'acquisition' and 'learning', believing instead that the use of any such distinction is rhetoric from a previous period. I accept completely a distinction between "learning" a language and "learning about" a language and that this difference speaks to fluency/mastery of the SL, and contend that learning about the language, that is, the grammar, supports learning the language.


Krashen, S. (1982). Second language acquisition theory. In Principles and practice in second language learning and acquisition (pp. 9-32). Oxford: Pergamon