Input Processing in Second Language Acquisition: A Discussion of Four Input Processing Models

Abstract

The importance of input has been a widely recognized concept in the field of second language acquisition. Much research has been conducted to examine how input is processed, the various facilitative attributes of input, and the effectiveness of pedagogies that directly manipulate input. Among these domains of input-related research, it is critical to first understand the very nature of input-processing. Hence, in this paper, four different models of input-processing are examined and compared side-by-side. The discussion aims to disambiguate discrepancies in terminologies, identify common emphases on gap-noticing and cognitive-comparison, and suggests the need for further research on the role of attention/consciousness in input-processing.