The natural order hypothesis refers to the notion that there is a natural order of acquisition process.

Yes, the Natural Order Hypothesis is a concept in second language acquisition. It suggests that the acquisition of grammatical structures follows a natural and predictable order. This order is not determined by the simplicity or complexity of the structures, but rather it seems to be an inherent aspect of the way humans learn languages.

Here are the steps to understand this concept:

1. The Natural Order Hypothesis was proposed by Stephen Krashen, an expert in the field of linguistics, specifically in the area of second language acquisition.

2. According to this hypothesis, when learning a second language, learners will acquire grammatical structures in a specific order that doesn't necessarily correspond to the order in which they are traditionally taught.

3. For example, in English, learners might acquire the present progressive ("-ing") before the simple past tense, even though the simple past tense is often taught first in language classes.

4. This hypothesis is based on studies that have analyzed the errors of language learners. These studies have found consistent patterns in the order in which learners acquire certain grammatical structures.

5. However, it's important to note that while there is a general order of acquisition, there can be some variation among individual learners. Factors such as the learner's native language, age, and exposure to the second language can influence the acquisition process.

6. The Natural Order Hypothesis is one of five hypotheses that Krashen proposed to explain second language acquisition. The others include the Input Hypothesis, the Monitor Hypothesis, the Affective Filter Hypothesis, and the Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis.

7. The Natural Order Hypothesis has been influential in the field of second language acquisition and has implications for language teaching. It suggests that language instruction should be tailored to the learner's current stage of acquisition, rather than following a predetermined sequence.