‘We acquire … language by understanding input that is a little beyond our current level of (acquired) competence.’ What is this pedagogical concept known as ?

The correct answer is Input hypothesis.

Explanation:

The concept described in the question is a central component of Stephen Krashen’s Second Language Acquisition theory, known as the Input Hypothesis.

According to Krashen's Input Hypothesis, language learners acquire language most effectively when they are exposed to "comprehensible input." This input should be at a level slightly beyond their current level of language competence, often represented as $i+1$, where:

• $i$ represents the learner's current level of language proficiency.
• $+1$ represents the next stage of language acquisition just beyond their current capability.

Through context, background knowledge, and extra-linguistic cues, learners are able to comprehend this slightly advanced input, which facilitates natural language acquisition and progress.