Silent period
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The silent period (also called pre-production period) is a phase reported to have been observed in second-language acquisition where the learner does not yet produce but is actively processing the L2 (second language).[1][2] This silent period has been claimed to be typically found in children and has been called the second stage of second language acquisition,[3] following the use of L1 (native language) and preceding productive use of L2, and can last between a few weeks to a year.[4] Generalizing how long this period may last is nearly impossible because it depends on many personal and individual variables that come into play.[5]
While the silent period has received much endorsement from researchers and educators, some argue against the validity of such a period. There are debates surrounding its significance in language acquisition, of how language teachers should address such a period in school curriculum, and what exactly language learners are processing (or not) during such a period. The phenomena of the silent period is a theory attributed to Stephen D. Krashen.[6]