What Is Comprehensible Input?
Comprehensible input comes from the five input hypotheses by the linguist Stephen Krashen. It states that “learners progress in their knowledge of the language when they comprehend language input that is slightly more advanced than their current level.”
It’s part of the language acquisition theory (as opposed to language learning). In language acquisition, the emphasis is on subconscious processing of the new language and not worrying too much about trying to consciously learn all the grammar rules as with traditional language learning methods.
When learners are exposed to language input that is slightly above their current level of proficiency, they are able to make connections, understand the meaning, and acquire new vocabulary and grammar naturally.
It’s okay to not know all the words and structures being used. Eventually they will become clear through repetitions in different contexts and they brain will recognize the patterns.
Where To Get Comprehensible Input for Spanish?
One effective method for providing comprehensible input in Spanish is through the use of graded readers or simplified texts. These materials are specifically designed to be accessible to learners at different proficiency levels, allowing them to engage with the language in a meaningful way.
In addition to using adapted materials, incorporating comprehensible spoken input is also essential. This can be achieved through listening to authentic Spanish resources, such as podcasts, interviews, or audio recordings, where the language is used naturally and in context.
For example, The Bilingual News in Spanish podcast is especially designed for comprehensible input. It provides short form news in Spanish but are narrated in English for additional context and understanding. They also provide the freedom of choice - you should only listen to those podcasts that you’re actually interested in to keep the motivation up.
Similarly, tools such as Duolingo Ninja help learners translate words into Spanish on the websites they visit anyway - thus providing relevant vocabulary within real content.
Lingo Champion is another tool that provides you comprehensible input in Spanish through news articles, texts, books etc.