Foreign Language Education the Easy Way [Paperback]

Stephen D. Krashen (Author), Stephen D. Krashen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0965280837 | ISBN-13: 978-0965280839 | Edition: 1

In this little treasure, the world s leading second-language acquisition theorist expounds in brief his hypotheses, most notably that comprehensible input results in language acquisition. He proposes what he believes constitute the components of an effective foreign language program at various stages of acquisition, emphasizing ways to provide aural comprehensible input as well as reading. He deals with various practical issues, among them differences between foreign-language programs and second-language programs as well as activities that are effective for bringing about true competence in a second or foreign language and activities that are not.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stephen Krashen is professor emeritus at the University of Southern California. He was on the linguistics department faculty and later on the faculty of the School of Education. He is a linguist and educational researcher. Dr. Krashen has published more than 350 papers and books in the fields of second language acquisition, bilingual education, and reading. He has introduced many influential concepts and terms in the area of second language acquisition, including the acquisition-learning hypothesis, the input hypothesis, the monitor hypothesis, the affective filter, and the natural order hypothesis. He has said that free voluntary reading "is the most powerful tool we have in language education, first and second."

Product Details

• Paperback: 62 pages
• Publisher: Language Education Assocs; 1 edition (March 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965280837
• ISBN-13: 978-0965280839
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #773,241 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overview of the ideal foreign language classroom, February 27, 2000

By 

Reid Wilson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Foreign Language Education the Easy Way (Paperback)

I should begin by saying that I'm a huge fan of Stephen Krashen. I think this short, excellent overview of what every foreign language classroom should look like should be required reading for every language teacher and language learner.

The book isn't theory intensive but it does provide an overview of Dr. Krashen's provocative perspective on second language acquisition: comprehensible input is supreme; grammar study and even production are quite secondary. Dr. Krashen then applies this theory to the foreign language classroom. I especially enjoyed the discussion concerning teaching language through free reading and sheltered content--advice which is helpful to me both as a language teacher and a language learner.

I await the 500-page volume of the same topic! (Hint, hint, Dr. Krashen.)

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Easy-to-Read Primer on Foreign Language Education, December 30, 2001

By 

Daniel L. Berek (Flanders, NJ, United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Foreign Language Education the Easy Way (Paperback)

In a field where much of what is said is politically motivated hot air, Stephen Krashen is a welcome voice of common sense. Dr. Krashen, who holds a PhD in linguistics, has written many scholarly articles and books on all aspects of language learning, from teaching reading and basic literacy skills to second- and foreign-language learning.

"Foreign Language Education - The Easy Way follows in that proud tradition. Dr. Krashen gives a brief, but detailed, overview of theory before going into what a foreign- or second-language program should encompass. Finally, the author goes over issues in foreign language education, that is the conditions classroom teachers are likely to face in real life, such as a lack of opportunity to practice and communicate native speakers.

As in "The Natural Approach," which I recommend as a supplement to this short volume, Dr. Krashen urges teachers of students, elementary through adult, to provide as much exposure to the target language ("Comprehensible Input") as possible, definitely a commonsense and proven approach I plan to use with my elementary-school and adult ESL students in the future.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this should be the "common sense" of language teaching, May 11, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Foreign Language Education the Easy Way (Paperback)

...I've had to learn foreign languages three times in adult life - using teachers in the U.S. and in other countries - and the experiences have often been time-consuming and expensive while being of little help to me. What I heard about Dr. Krashen's ideas struck me as a reflection of my own experiences, and I was anxious to learn more about his work. From what I picked up reading this book and skimming another of his, I'd say he definitely knows what he's talking about.

Get a fast hold on basic grammar and a rudimentary vocabulary; then dive into those situations that you want to be in in your new language. The training in formal grammar can come along later to help tidy up your efforts. And if you want to learn really fast, don't hang out with your fellow English speakers or listen to English language radio or TV.

Send Dr. Krashen to the head of the class.