What is Comprehensible Input?
What is meant by comprehensible input in language learning? Stephen Krashen uses this term, as well as the term compelling input, to refer to the kind of language exposure we need in order to learn a language. The term CI, in language learning, can apply to both. What do they mean?
Comprehensible input is language input that can be understood by learners even when they don’t understand all the words and structures in a given text, or bit of audio they are listening to. It doesn’t have to be 100% comprehensible. It has to be mostly understandable, with the means to gain a greater level of comprehension by looking up words, reading again or listening again. It is sometimes described as being just one level above the level of the learner. According to Stephen Krashen’s theory of language acquisition, giving learners plenty of this kind of input helps them acquire language naturally, rather than learn it consciously.
Language Learning and the Input-Based Approach
I make quite a few videos in languages other than English at my YouTube channel. I am often asked to provide subtitles or a transcript for the videos I do in these languages. Regrettably, I simply don’t have time to do this.
However, these videos in Japanese, or Spanish, or Mandarin, or French, usually cover the same ground as my English videos. What’s more, these videos have subtitles in those languages, and using the LingQ browser extension (available for Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox), these videos can be imported into LingQ as lessons. So any learner of these languages who follows my channel, and is interested and familiar with what I have been saying, can study these videos on LingQ as lessons, read them, listen to them, look up words and phrases, listen again, and in this way this content becomes comprehensible input for learners who have a sufficient level in those languages to almost but not quite understand the first time. Comprehensible and hopefully compelling input!
Study my videos on LingQ here.
I believe strongly, with Stephen Krashen, that massive input of CI is the key to language acquisition. That doesn’t mean there is no need for output, for speaking and writing, nor that people needn’t look at grammar from time to time, but it means that the bulk of the learning time should be spent on listening and reading and building up vocabulary.
Why do I think this is a better way to learn languages? I have five reasons.
It works very well
Look at the best polyglots on the Internet. If you study their methods you’ll see that they generally involve a lot of reading. This is the case today and was the case 100 years or 150 years ago. Of course, today with the availability of new technology, mp3 technology and smartphones etc., listening has become as important as reading, or even more important simply because it is so much easier to do. In my own case, it’s worked for me.
When I was learning Czech, for the first eight months I only listened and read and then gradually started speaking. I stepped up my speaking just prior to going to Prague, via the Internet. When I arrived in Prague I could understand almost everything. My speaking ability, which was at a low intermediate level, quickly progressed to an intermediate level. I had acquired the vocabulary and familiarity with Czech that enabled me to activate my passive vocabulary and enjoy interacting with people in Czech. I was able to do that because I had a sound basis in the language and that sound basis comes from a lot of listening and reading, from massive exposure to CI.
So it’s effective, number one.
It’s easy
You can do it anywhere. You can do it listening in your car, washing the dishes as I do or exercising. You just have it with you, you’re waiting somewhere and you do it. So it’s very easy. Similarly with reading, particularly now. I use LingQ. I can read on my computer or iPad, looking up words and saving them and then read or listen on my iPhone. I can even do so on the lighter iPod touch which I use for listening while jogging. Everything is synced. Everything is available, portable, with me wherever I am. It’s so flexible. I don’t have to go to a classroom, with half an hour to get there, sit in the class for an hour, and then take a half an hour to come back home.
Also, in terms of effectiveness, I just wanted to mention if you’re listening or reading, you’re 100% with the language. In a classroom, half of the time you’re having to listen to other students who may not use the language as well as you do and so, to my mind, it’s much less effective than time you spend with the language.
You’re not making mistakes
A lot of people are afraid to make mistakes. If you’re forced to speak, you’ll make mistakes. You’re listening; you can’t make a mistake when you’re listening. You might misunderstand something. It might be a little fuzzy at times. You may have the wrong interpretation when there are words you don’t understand.
None of that matters. That’s part of the process and things that are unclear and fuzzy at an early stage will eventually start to become clearer. So you’re not really making mistakes, but you’re in that stage of your learning where the brain is gradually becoming more and more familiar with the language. You’re learning more and more words and, of course, things are going to be unclear to you.
So that’s an advantage.
Another benefit of listening and reading is the ability to engage with interesting content of your choice. While beginner material may not always be captivating at first, it’s important to progress to more engaging content early on. Finding topics that interest you can motivate you to push through even when faced with unfamiliar words. This allows you to explore subjects that intrigue you.
In my experience learning Czech and Russian, delving into the history and politics of these regions enriched my learning journey. By engaging with content that interests you, you not only learn the language but also gain knowledge in other areas. This makes the learning process more engaging than traditional classroom settings.
Since then, I have applied this approach to learning languages such as Korean, Portuguese, Greek, Ukrainian, Polish, Romanian, Arabic, and Persian. The addition of mini-stories to LingQ’s libraries in these languages has further accelerated my learning process. The repetition in these stories helps make intermediate content comprehensible even for beginners, allowing for quicker progress to more authentic material.
Learning via an input-based approach is cheaper
One advantage of this method is its cost-effectiveness. You can access resources from libraries, the internet, or platforms like LingQ without spending much. Supplementing with language books can enhance your learning experience without breaking the bank, unlike traditional classroom courses.
Effective learning through comprehensible input requires motivation and confidence. Many inexperienced language learners struggle because they lack the belief in their ability to become fluent. It’s crucial to visualize success and approach learning with a positive and confident mindset. Being an independent and motivated learner is key to success.
While a classroom setting can offer social interaction and feedback, the emphasis should still be on listening, reading, and vocabulary building through comprehensible input. Regardless of the learning environment, prioritizing these activities is essential for language acquisition.
Read the transcript on LingQ for a free trial and enhance your language skills.
