How many children will be glad to know that, how many of us have sat through really boring lessons? I like Stephen Krashen’s theory because from my experiences it make sense. Learning in context, using prior learning as a bridge to the next piece of knowledge is how we all learn, yet these building blocks are sometimes forgotten as are the age and linguistic development of the learner at times.
I agree with all of these saying attributed Krashen below and still find it amazing that I have had arguments with head teachers who cannot see the benefit of a safe environment where it is ok to make mistakes. This particular head was definite that no one was allowed to make mistakes….well… we all know no one is perfect, so lets embrace this fact and make it safe to try, with the skills and backup to make sure the mistake is made once and learnt from. I ask all language teachers whatever your situation, Is your area safe to learn in?? I expect the knee jerk will be yes, but as reflective practitioners lets look at what our evidence tells us, if the children are cautious about trying, then you know deep inside that the ethos or atmosphere is wrong somewhere.
“Acquisition requires meaningful interaction in the target language – natural communication – in which speakers are concerned not with the form of their utterances but with the messages they are conveying and understanding.” Stephen Krashen
“The best methods are therefore those that supply ‘comprehensible input’ in low anxiety situations, containing messages that students really want to hear. These methods do not force early production in the second language, but allow students to produce when they are ‘ready’, recognizing that improvement comes from supplying communicative and comprehensible input, and not from forcing and correcting production.” Stephen Krashen
“In the real world, conversations with sympathetic native speakers who are willing to help the acquirer understand are very helpful.” Stephen Krashen
Wishing you all Happy Language Learning
Educationsupportuk 
Thank you for this excellent post! Meaningful interactions are important for all deep learning, not only language learning. We always build knowledge in context and interacting with even limited language skills is the best way to learn a new language.
One very easy way to make a language classroom an emotionally safe learning environment for students is to have them interact with each other in the target language. Reading or talking aloud to each other is less intimidating than reading/talking to the whole class, and as language learning requires the learner to engage with speaking, these small group exercises increase the much needed talking time for all students.
Thanks for sharing these helpful comments.