Stages of Language Acquisition
Silent Receptive Stage - 10 hours to 6 months
- 500 receptive words
- point to objects, act, nod, or use gestures
- say yes or no
- speak hesitantly
Early Production Stage - 6 months to 1 year
- 1000 receptive/active words
- produce one- or two-word phrases
- use short repetitive language
- focus on key words and context clues
Speech Emergence Stage - 1-2 years
- 3000 active words
- engage in basic dialogue
- respond using simple sentences
Intermediate Fluency Stage - 2-3 years
- 6000 active words
- use complex statements
- state opinions and original thoughts
- ask questions
- interact in more lengthy conversations
Intermediate Fluency Stage - 5-7 years
- content area vocabulary
- converse fluently
- understand grade- level classroom activities
- argue and defend academic points
- read grade- level textbooks
- write organized and fluent essays
*Krashen, Stephen D. 1982. Principles and Practice in Second Language Acquisition. New York: Prentice-Hall.