The natural approach was developed by Tracy Terrell, a Spanish teacher in California. Thus, this approach became very popular in California in the 1970's. The combined ideas of Terrell and Krashen became the natural approach to second language teaching. The natural approach is also based on the affective filter principle which states that students learn best when the affective filter is low. We can become competent by acquisition or learning.
Acquisition is an unconscious process through which students become proficient by using language.
Learning, on the other hand, is conscious and requires explicit teaching. Learning and acquisition, however, are not transferable. Learning does not become acquisition or vice versa. In the natural approach, students are asked to point first because this lowers students' anxiety and increases their confidence which are important prerequisites for language acquisition. The teacher waits until students are ready to respond.