Unit 4 - Activity 2: Acquisition or Noticing or Both?

Unit 4 - Activity 2: Explicit vs. Implicit language acquisition

I believe a combination of these two approaches seems ideal to acquire first, second, or any other number of languages. However, I believe the implicit approach via communication is most powerful and infers a more immersive "real world" experience. While explicit approaches are necessary to fully acquire any language I feel this is less impactful if "functional" acquisition is required.

We all share the personal experience of growing up with our L1's and understand the heavy emphasis on communication before undertaking more explicit approaches via formal schooling. The idea that language must be "meaningful" to be learned really resonated with me and I think implicit learning of our L1's demanded "meaningful" communication if we were to not just survive but thrive. Our acquisition of language combined with all the other sensory clues was implicit and "meaningful" as we transitioned from crying to fluency.

All grammar and language formalities aside, language acquisition can also be looked at using the child-parent relationship in reverse. Most parents will swear that the language of infants known was the "baby's cry" can *only* be acquired implicitly as they question "what is the meaning of this?". Who hasn't been in awe of parental language acquisition as when a parent immediately recognizes one type of "cry" as "the imperative demand for a diaper change" and another "the informal request to be fed". There is no grammar, no study, just a subconsious acquisition of the "baby's cry" language. Perhaps there is an explicit book that has already been written on how to interpret the "baby's cry" language but I expect they haven't sold out. My point is - implicit learning of a second language should be considered during the earliest stages of language acquisition if possible, and then complemented by explicit approaches which follow.

Unfortunately, some of you appear to have commented (made reference) that explicit approaches appear to have dominated lengthy terms of formal study (French for example) and resulted in knowledge about the language - but little to no fluency. 

For reasons stated - and perhaps in part, to my own learning bias/preference, I think implicit approaches should be emphasized (with meaningful messaging) at the start of any L1, L2, L3 > acquisition.