Question

What is the primary function of the 'monitor' in Krashen's Monitor Hypothesis?

• A. To enable spontaneous speech production without conscious thought.
• B. To provide the learner with comprehensible input at the i+1 level.
• C. To check and correct language output using learned explicit rules.
• D. To lower the affective filter and reduce anxiety during communication.

Answer 1

Answer:

C. To check and correct language output using learned explicit rules.

Krashen's Monitor Hypothesis: The Role of the 'Monitor'

• The Monitor Hypothesis is one of the five core hypotheses proposed by Stephen Krashen in his influential theory of second language acquisition, often referred to as the 'Input Hypothesis' or 'Monitor Model'.
• This hypothesis states that conscious 'learning' (formal study of grammar rules) acts as a 'monitor' or 'editor' for language produced through subconscious 'acquisition' (natural exposure to language).
• The primary function of the 'monitor' is to check and correct language output, specifically focusing on grammatical accuracy, vocabulary choice, and discourse features. This correction happens *before* or *after* the utterance is produced.
• For the monitor to be effective, three conditions must be met:
  • Time: The language user must have sufficient time to think about and apply the rules.
  • Focus on Form: The language user must be consciously thinking about correctness or form, rather than just conveying meaning.
  • Knowledge of Rules: The language user must know the specific explicit rules to apply.
• The monitor is generally used for fine-tuning or editing, not for initiating spontaneous language production. Language fluency primarily stems from acquired knowledge.
• Krashen suggests that the monitor is used more by 'over-users' (those who constantly self-correct), 'under-users' (those who rarely use it), and 'optimal users' (those who use it appropriately, balancing fluency and accuracy).

• Key Concepts in Krashen's Theory (for competitive exams):

  • Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis: Distinguishes between subconscious acquisition and conscious learning. Acquisition is more vital for fluency.
  • Monitor Hypothesis: Explains the relationship between acquisition and learning.
  • Natural Order Hypothesis: Suggests that learners acquire grammatical structures in a predictable sequence.
  • Input Hypothesis (i+1): Learners progress by receiving comprehensible input slightly beyond their current level (i).
  • Affective Filter Hypothesis: Emotional factors (motivation, self-confidence, anxiety) can impede or facilitate language acquisition by creating a 'filter'.
• The Monitor Hypothesis emphasizes the limited role of explicit grammatical knowledge in spontaneous communication, suggesting its main utility is for editing and refining output.