Comprehensible input and learning outcomes

Abstract

In Krashen’s terms, optimal input has to be comprehensible to the learner if we want acquisition to take place. An overview of the literature on input indicates two ways of making input comprehensible: the first one is to premodify input before it is offered to the learner, (premodified input), and the second one is to negotiate the input through interaction (interactionally modified input). The aim of the present paper is twofold: on the one hand, we shall discuss the two types of input mentioned above; on the other hand, the major findings that both premodified input and interactionally modified input have on second language acquisition will be reported. Further research is suggested to establish the direct or indirect relationship between comprehensible input and the acquisition of an L2.