Praxis 5362 Review: SLA

When providing content and language instruction, which of the following should NOT be done for the ELL students?

• Adjust the materials to be culturally relevant

• Lower the level of the academic content

• Make accommodations during assessments

• Differentiate the instruction of the content based on the student level

Answer explanation

The level of academic content should not be lowered for ELL students, although the manner of instruction might need to be adjusted. ELL students should not fall behind their classmates academically.

Which of the following terms best describe a bilingual or ELL student who is well adjusted in his/her home culture and the culture of the school?

• Assimilation

• Well-behaved

• Acculturation

• Culturally disciplined

Answer explanation

Acculturation refers to a person who has adopted the traits of one culture while maintaining the characteristics of the original culture.

When a teacher is working with students on their intonation pattern, the teacher is dealing with which level of language?

• semantics

• morphology

• syntax

• pragmatics

Which of the following opinions supports The critical period hypothesis popularized by linguist and neurologist Eric Lenneberg?

• Older learners do not acquire languages as well as younger learners because of external and internal factors, not because of a lack of ability.

• Second-language proficiency is determined by the time and effort put into the learning process, and not the learner's age.

• A strong foundation in one's native language is key to development of a second language.

• Older learners rarely achieve a near-native accent.

Answer explanation

The critical period hypothesis states that it is only possible to acquire full native competence in a language during the period from early childhood to adolescence.

Which of the following is a five-step systematic instructional model to teach English learners how to use learning strategies for both language and content?

• the natural approach

• sheltered instruction observation protocol (SIOP)

• Task-based language teaching (TBLT)

• cognitive language learning approach (CALLA)

Answer explanation

The CALLA Approach focuses on learning strategies that can be used to integrate content and language. This integration occurs through a five‐stage cycle involving preparation, presentation, practice, evaluation, and expansion.

Niko is an English learner from Germany. He arrived in the US with a strong knowledge of English, and after a year he is close to native language fluency. Which of the following characteristics is Niko likely to display?

• He communicates well, but might often become overwhelmed when communicating in English all day.

• He has advanced cognitive language skills, but does not yet perform at the same academic level as native-speaking peers.

• He has high levels of comprehension, but may not understand all academic language.

• His vocabulary is near that of native speakers, but he still translates everything from German.

Answer explanation

This is common for a student in the advanced fluency stage of second-language acquisition, where Niko is likely to be.

Which of the following statements provides a research-backed explanation for why ELLs in additive bilingual programs demonstrate increased academic achievement in L2?

A

• The continued development of ELLs' native language serves as a foundation for L2 academic language.

• A

  The use of effective study habits is learned, which results in higher L2 academic achievement.

• The use of English (L2) for social communication is enforced as a way of preparing students for academic language acquisition.

• The exclusive use of L1 for language arts and L2 for other content instruction helps ELLs avoid confusion between language structures.

Answer explanation

Additive bilingual programs focus on continually providing instruction in L1 and L2 so the students become equally proficient in both languages. The belief is that continued development of ELLs' L1 facilitates the acquisition of L2.

Which of the following theorists developed the concept of cognitive academic language proficiency (CALP)?

• Noam Chomsky

• BF Skinner

• Jim Cummins

• Stephen Krashen

Answer explanation

Dr. Jim Cummins' main contribution to the TESL community is the concept of cognitive academic language proficiency (CALP). CALP refers to formal academic learning as opposed to conversational languages. Cummins was one of the first to note the difference between the two.

Which TWO strategies can teachers use with ELLs who are in the production stage of language acquisition? 

Select all answers that apply.

• Ask students to point to pictures and say new words.

• Gesture, point, and show as much as possible.

• Avoid excessive error correction.

• Ask questions that require a short answer and are fairly literal.

An ESL teacher has a class of students who fall into the pre-production stage of second-language acquisition. All of the following teaching strategies should be used with this group EXCEPT:

• speaking slowly and using shorter words and simple sentences.

• modeling language by saying and showing the meaning.

• gesturing, pointing, and using visuals as much as possible.

• encouraging speaking with classmates in small groups.

Answer explanation

During the pre-production stage, students are often silent as they take in new language. Speaking with classmates should not yet be the focus.