Krashen and Second Language Acqusition

Krashens article “Second Language Aqusition” inspired by work in bilingual education, presents a different view, one in which the first language can accelerate second language acquisition. This happens in two ways: First, and most relevant for this discussion, education in the first language supplies background knowledge, which can help make input in the second language more comprehensible. Second, as long as literacy in the first language is a short cut to second language literacy. Furthermore once one learns to read in any language, it is much easier to learn to read in another; developing reading ability in one language is a short-cut to developing reading ability in any other language, even when the writing systems are different. Some of the facts supporting these points come from evaluations of bilingual programs in which minority language children are provided with subject matter knowledge and literacy in the first language, along with plenty of comprehensible input in the second language. Students in these programs gain at least as much of the second language as those in non- bilingual programs in which all instruction is in the majority language, and regularly acquire more. This position also explains the success of children who arrive as immigrants in another country while of school age, and who do well in school, succeeding academically and acquiring the majority language well. These children, in every case, had a good education in their own country before emigrating.