Focus on Form Versus Focus on Forms

Focus on form and focus on forms refer to differing instructional practices in the second language classroom. Focus on form consists of primarily meaning‐focused interaction in which there is brief, and sometimes spontaneous, attention to linguistic forms. In contrast, focus on forms involves a primary emphasis on linguistic structures, often presented as discrete grammar rules or other metalinguistic information. Focus on form assumes that acquisition occurs best when learners' attention is drawn to language items when they are needed for communication. Focus on forms emphasizes the role of explicit knowledge in the acquisition process. Types of focus on form include input flood, input enhancement, and corrective feedback. Types of focus on forms include present, practice, produce (PPP) and explicit language instruction. Instructional methods with aspects of both types of instruction include consciousness‐raising activities and input‐based instruction.