Which theory describes a set of five hypotheses about language acquisition, arguing no fundamental difference between first and subsequent languages?

Which theory describes a set of five hypotheses about language acquisition, arguing no fundamental difference between first and subsequent languages?

• A. Monitor model
• B. Input Hypothesis
• C. Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis
• D. Affective Filter Hypothesis

Answer: (A)

Think of this as Krashen’s umbrella theory about how language is learned. It describes a set of five ideas that work together to explain language development: language is acquired through meaningful input rather than by studying rules; there’s a separate system for learning explicit rules; there’s a natural sequence in how features are acquired; learners progress best when they receive comprehensible input slightly above their current level; and emotions can influence language uptake through the affective filter. Putting those pieces together, the model argues that the same underlying processes drive both first language and second language development, with differences mainly in exposure, opportunities for meaningful communication, and affective factors—not a completely different mechanism. That combination—the five hypotheses plus the claim about similar underlying processes for L1 and L2—matches the description in the question. The other options refer to individual ideas within that framework (for example, one focuses on input, another on rule learning, another on emotion) rather than the whole five-hypothesis theory, so they don’t fit as the full description.

Think of this as Krashen’s umbrella theory about how language is learned. It describes a set of five ideas that work together to explain language development: language is acquired through meaningful input rather than by studying rules; there’s a separate system for learning explicit rules; there’s a natural sequence in how features are acquired; learners progress best when they receive comprehensible input slightly above their current level; and emotions can influence language uptake through the affective filter.

Putting those pieces together, the model argues that the same underlying processes drive both first language and second language development, with differences mainly in exposure, opportunities for meaningful communication, and affective factors—not a completely different mechanism. That combination—the five hypotheses plus the claim about similar underlying processes for L1 and L2—matches the description in the question.

The other options refer to individual ideas within that framework (for example, one focuses on input, another on rule learning, another on emotion) rather than the whole five-hypothesis theory, so they don’t fit as the full description.