DevOps has a notoriously steep learning curve. Getting started in the field can feel like being dropped in a foreign country without the ability to understand *anything* about the language.

A language is more than just the syntax and semantic rules of the words themselves. It also encompasses the shared culture of the speakers. With the proliferation of programming languages as well as the deeply held cultural beliefs of the community, it's easy to see that learning DevOps is like trying to learn a foreign language.

I will review five foundational hypotheses from the field of Second Language Acquisition and relate these hypotheses back to the world of DevOps. DevOps practitioners, trainers, tool builders, and learners should all come away with useful insights to apply to their practice.

The five hypotheses referenced in the talk description come from Krashen and are sometimes grouped under the Input Hypothesis.

The Input Hypothesis states that we optimally acquire language when we are exposed to new inputs of the size "i+1", where "i" represents already comprehensible input and the "1" or new input to the learner is as small as possible. How can we reconcile this theory against the many layers of knowledge now necessary for modern software development and operation?

The Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis theorizes about the roles of conscious learning and subconscious acquisition of knowledge through practice. This relates to the Monitor Hypothesis, which states that "Learning" can only be used as a feedback loop, not as a source of original or spontaneous speech. This clearly relates to the process of reading tutorials and learning about fundamental concepts in software development versus the process of applying that knowledge to solve specific tasks. How can we combine these two learning modalities for maximum effectiveness?

The Natural Order Hypothesis relates to the overarching linguistic concept of Universal Grammar. It states that all learners acquire language features in the same preset order. In my research for this talk I am still looking for examples from the world of devops that relate to this specific theory. In the absence of a specific connection, I could spend 60 seconds explaining Universal Grammar using the origin story of Nicaraguan Sign Langauge, an incredible story about human brains and socialization.

Finally, the Affective Filter Hypothesis tells us that our emotional state can be one of the largest factors in our ability to acquire new knowledge — an important reminder that we must always consider the humans that help make up our socio-technical systems.