Output Hypothesis： Its History and Its Future

In this interview, Professor Swain discussed the history and future of the Output Hypothesis. First, she explained the context in which she proposed the Output Hypothesis in 1985. Then she stated that the Output Hypothesis proposes producing language (speaking or writing) as a part of the process of second/foreign language learning resulting from four functions of output processing. Next, she suggested that the Output Hypothesis is enriched by taking into consideration the perspective of Vygotsky's sociocultural theory of mind, in particular, the centrality of language as a tool of the mind, in addition to a means of communication. Finally, she pointed out the possibility of applying the Output Hypothesis into the Chinese EFL classroom.