The document discusses key concepts in how languages are learned, including input, intake, and interaction. It defines input as language that learners are exposed to, which should be comprehensible, slightly above their level, meaningful, and varied. Intake refers to how learners internally process input in their own "interlanguage." Interaction allows students to learn from each other and the teacher through speaking, asking questions, and negotiating meaning. The roles of both teachers and students are examined, with teachers providing comprehensible input and opportunities for interaction, and students participating, asking questions, and providing feedback to each other.

1. How Languages are Learned:
Introduction
Classroom Research for Year 4
From Teaching and Learning in the Language Classroom, Hedge (2002)

2. Input
Key vocabulary
•Acquisition
•Comprehensible input
•Meaningful input
•Interlanguage
Characteristics
•Input should be:
•Comprehensible
•Slightly above learner’s
level (i+1)
•Meaningful
•Varied

3. Input
Role of teacher:
•Expose students to many
types of input from
various sources and with
various funtions
•Use words that are not
too difficult for students
to understand
•speak at the appropriate
pace
Role of student:
•Listen and read
outside of class to
various type of
materials to gain more
input

4. Intake
Key vocabulary
•Creative constructive
process
•Operating strategies
•Formulate hypotheses
•Overgeneralize
Characteristics
•Different people
process input
differently
•Process of acquiring a
language is a cyclical
process

5. Intake
Role of teacher
•Expect students to acquire language at
different rate
•Make sure your input is
comprehensible and meaningful to
students, so the intake happens easily
•Plan and organizer your lessons
carefully to avoid confusion
Role of students
•Come to class to
receive input
•Be patient with
yourself

6. Interaction
Key vocabulary
•Comprehensible output
•Feedback
•Negotiation of meaning
•Clarification checks
•Collaborative work
Characteristics
•Students learn from
other students and the
teacher
•Students need to speak
in order to learn
•Students learn from
asking questions and
solving problems

7. Interaction
Role of teachers
•Provide opportunity
for interaction
•Provide feedback
•Create a relaxed
atmosphere
Role of students
•Participate in activities
•Provide feedback
•Ask questions of other
students
•Clarification of meaning
•Negotiation of meaning

8. Reading questions
• 1.2 : What do we know about how languages are learned?
1. Explain the relationship between intake and input. What is the
definition of each, and how are these concepts related?
2. What is comprehensible output? Give an example.
3. How is interaction between students important for learning a
second language? Give an example.

9. Reading questions
• 1.5: What roles can teacher and learners play in the learning process?
1. Look at the list of teacher roles on pages 28-29. Which ones do you
think are the most important? Which ones are the least important?
2. What are some of the characteristics of a quality lesson plan?
3. Which “learner roles” are identified in the article? Describe each
learner role in your own words.