Question

According to the Principle of Naturalness, which language skills should be developed first?

• A. Reading and writing
• B. Listening and speaking
• C. Writing and listening
• D. Speaking and reading

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Listening and speaking

Principle of Naturalness in Language Acquisition

• The Principle of Naturalness, often associated with the Natural Approach to language teaching, emphasizes mimicking the way children acquire their first language.
• This approach suggests that language learning is most effective when it follows a natural, subconscious process rather than a conscious, rule-based one.
• Key Tenets of the Natural Approach:
  • Comprehensible Input: Learners acquire language by understanding messages, not by focusing on form. This means exposure to language that is slightly above their current level but still understandable through context, gestures, or prior knowledge.
  • Low Affective Filter: Creating a relaxed and low-anxiety environment is crucial. When learners feel comfortable and less self-conscious, they are more receptive to learning.
  • Focus on Communication: The primary goal is to enable learners to communicate meaning, not necessarily to be grammatically perfect from the outset.

Language Skills Development According to the Principle of Naturalness

• First Skills: Listening and Speaking
  • The principle posits that, similar to first language acquisition, learners should first develop receptive skills (listening) before productive skills (speaking, reading, writing).
  • Listening Comprehension: This is the initial focus. Learners are exposed to a large amount of comprehensible input, allowing them to understand spoken language before they are expected to produce it. This builds a foundation for meaning.
  • Speaking: Once learners have a degree of listening comprehension, they begin to produce spoken language. This production is often gradual, starting with single words or simple phrases, and is not heavily corrected for grammatical accuracy in the early stages. The emphasis is on conveying meaning.
• Later Skills: Reading and Writing
  • The skills of reading and writing are typically developed after a solid foundation in listening and speaking has been established.
  • This sequence mirrors how children learn their native language: they listen and speak long before they learn to read and write.

Implications for Language Teaching (Competitive Exam Focus)

• Questions in competitive exams often test understanding of different language teaching methodologies.
• When asked about the Natural Approach or the Principle of Naturalness, recall the sequence: Listen → Speak → Read → Write.
• Be prepared to identify characteristics of the Natural Approach, such as the importance of comprehensible input and a low affective filter.
• Understand that this approach contrasts with methods that heavily emphasize grammar rules from the beginning.