Introducing the Natural Method: The Lost Secret to Language Learning
Countless language-learning methods exist, and due to their inherent subjectivity, it’s challenging to objectively declare one superior to another. However, long-term results reveal which approaches truly deliver.
We typically attend language classes or enroll in courses that teach grammar, require vocabulary memorization, and treat language learning like a science—a fundamental mistake, in my view. Beyond this, mandatory enrollment and expensive supplementary materials raise the barrier to entry, making it difficult for eager learners to simply begin. Thankfully, the solution democratizes language learning, making it accessible to anyone, anywhere, regardless of background.
American linguist Stephen Krashen argues that only one element is essential for language acquisition: comprehensible input. He asserts that language learning resembles skill acquisition far more than scientific study. While not the originator of the term, Krashen emphasizes that true language acquisition hinges solely on comprehensible input.
Krashen links his findings to Noam Chomsky's concept of the innate Language Acquisition Device (LAD). Chomsky proposed this mental faculty enables humans to acquire languages.
We witness the LAD most clearly in infants learning their mother tongue. Through prolonged exposure—without any grasp of grammar—they absorb the language. As the child develops, continued comprehensible input refines all linguistic abilities: speaking, listening, writing, reading, and crucially, understanding.
True proficiency doesn't stem from rote memorization of structures and vocabulary, as forced in schools (and evidenced by dysfunctional curricula) or most courses. It emerges from unconscious adaptation fueled by massive exposure, particularly to comprehensible input.
Imagine a child pointing at food and saying, "I'm hungry." Even without English knowledge, an observer would grasp the core meaning: hunger. Now, contrast this with a complex sentence like: "Let it be known, dearest birthgiver, that thy stomach consists of nothing. As such, I desire sustenance at once!" Repeated exposure to such incomprehensible input wouldn't help a beginner—it might even hinder progress.
I learned English naturally over seven years, much like an infant. The academically supported Natural Method, however, condenses that timeframe, eliminates plateaus, and preserves natural acquisition's benefits. Essentially, we're hacking our LAD!
The core principle? Use only the target language. Avoid translation ("tethering") by employing simple sentences, contextual clues (images, marginal hints), and inferable vocabulary. Complexity builds gradually from this foundation.
The best resource embodying this is English by the Nature Method (download at the end of the post) by Danish author Arthur M. Jensen, founder of the Nature Institute—which pioneered similar books like Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata. Read it without external references, including dictionaries. This self-contained book follows a family's story, immersing you in English as you learn. Don't underestimate the early "simple" chapters; skip ahead, and you'll encounter rapidly increasing complexity!
This method has two main shortcomings:
- Limited Awareness: It remains underpublicized. You can help by learning and sharing it.
- Lacking Audio: The 50+ year-old book predates modern audio resources, though it includes interlinear British pronunciation guides.
(I plan to address the latter by recording chapter voiceovers.)
The book spans 740 pages, 60 chapters, and introduces over 2,300 unique words. While fluency benchmarks vary, ~2,000 words enable conversational fluency—more than enough to grasp the language and consume further materials for improvement.
Each chapter includes exercises and grammatical explanations (in English). Master each chapter—reading, listening, and especially understanding—before proceeding. Maintain consistent exposure: review the previous chapter before starting a new one, and avoid long gaps between sessions. Initial awkwardness in sentence structure is intentional; simplicity scaffolds complexity.
The download link for the book (archive.org): https://archive.org/details/english-by-the-nature-method