How does Krashen describe the affective filter in language learning?

How does Krashen describe the affective filter in language learning?

• A. A high anxiousness barrier that hinders L2 acquisition, while a low anxiety environment facilitates it.
• B. A cognitive overload phenomenon that improves accuracy when high.
• C. A neutral factor with no impact on acquisition.
• D. A mechanism that only affects reading skills.

Answer: (A)

Krashen’s affective filter is about how emotions shape how much language input a learner actually notices and processes. When anxiety is high, self-confidence is low, and motivation is weak, the affective filter is high and it blocks much of the input from being absorbed into learning. In a low-anxiety environment with higher motivation and confidence, the filter lowers, more comprehensible input gets through, and acquisition proceeds more readily. This idea applies to all language skills, not just reading, because it concerns how learners attend to and internalize language you expose them to. So, the correct description is that high anxiety hinders L2 acquisition while a low-anxiety environment facilitates it.

Krashen’s affective filter is about how emotions shape how much language input a learner actually notices and processes. When anxiety is high, self-confidence is low, and motivation is weak, the affective filter is high and it blocks much of the input from being absorbed into learning. In a low-anxiety environment with higher motivation and confidence, the filter lowers, more comprehensible input gets through, and acquisition proceeds more readily. This idea applies to all language skills, not just reading, because it concerns how learners attend to and internalize language you expose them to. So, the correct description is that high anxiety hinders L2 acquisition while a low-anxiety environment facilitates it.