ALT Teaching English Language Learners 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A newcomer ELL student becomes visibly withdrawn and refuses to participate in school activities after two months. This behavior most likely reflects:
- Oppositional defiant disorder requiring behavioral intervention
- Culture shock and acculturative stress common in newcomer students (Correct answer)
- An intellectual disability that was undiagnosed in the home country
- Deliberate non-compliance with classroom rules
Correct answer: Culture shock and acculturative stress common in newcomer students
Acculturative stress and culture shock are normal responses to a new environment and can cause withdrawal, anxiety, and disengagement in newcomer students.
Question 2: Which strategy best supports ELL students' content-area vocabulary development?
- Assigning vocabulary lists for rote memorization
- Pre-teaching key vocabulary using visuals, context, and multiple exposures (Correct answer)
- Requiring students to look up all unknown words in a dictionary independently
- Avoiding technical vocabulary until students reach proficiency Level 4
Correct answer: Pre-teaching key vocabulary using visuals, context, and multiple exposures
Pre-teaching key vocabulary with visuals and multiple exposures activates prior knowledge and builds word meaning before students encounter terms in context.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a home language survey at enrollment?
- To determine whether a student qualifies for special education services
- To identify students who may need English language proficiency screening (Correct answer)
- To assess academic achievement in the student's native language
- To place students in a bilingual program automatically
Correct answer: To identify students who may need English language proficiency screening
Home language surveys identify students exposed to a language other than English, triggering further ELP screening to determine the need for language support services.
Question 4: A teacher is concerned an ELL student may have a learning disability. Which step should come FIRST?
- Immediately refer the student for a psychoeducational evaluation
- Rule out language acquisition factors by reviewing the student's progress in L1 and the time in the country (Correct answer)
- Place the student in a resource room while evaluation is pending
- Require the student to complete all assessments in English only
Correct answer: Rule out language acquisition factors by reviewing the student's progress in L1 and the time in the country
Before referring for special education, teachers must consider whether difficulties stem from language acquisition rather than a disability, per IDEA and best practice.
Question 5: In a dual language immersion program, what is the typical target language distribution in early grades?
- 100% English instruction to build literacy first
- 50% English and 50% target language, or 90% target language and 10% English (Correct answer)
- Target language for social activities only, English for academics
- Equal distribution determined solely by student preference
Correct answer: 50% English and 50% target language, or 90% target language and 10% English
Dual language programs typically use either a 50/50 or 90/10 model, with the latter emphasizing the minority language more heavily in early grades.
Question 6: A teacher wants to use cooperative learning with ELLs effectively. Which practice is most important?
- Grouping only ELLs together so they feel comfortable
- Assigning meaningful roles with clear language supports so all students can participate (Correct answer)
- Allowing ELLs to observe but not contribute until they reach Level 3
- Using only native-language groups to prevent miscommunication
Correct answer: Assigning meaningful roles with clear language supports so all students can participate
Assigning structured roles with language scaffolds ensures ELLs have meaningful participation opportunities that promote both language and content learning.
Question 7: Which component of language proficiency refers to a student's ability to use language appropriately in different social contexts?
- Phonological awareness
- Pragmatic competence (Correct answer)
- Morphological knowledge
- Syntactic accuracy
Correct answer: Pragmatic competence
Pragmatic competence involves knowing how to use language appropriately for different purposes, audiences, and social situations.
ALT Teaching English Language Learners 4
A newcomer ELL student becomes visibly withdrawn and refuses to participate in school activities after two months.
This behavior most likely reflects: