BTLPT Bilingual Education Pedagogy 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary goal of a dual-language (two-way immersion) bilingual program?
- Transition students to English-only instruction as quickly as possible
- Develop high levels of bilingualism, biliteracy, and cross-cultural competence in all students (Correct answer)
- Provide Spanish instruction only to English learners
- Separate English and Spanish speakers into different classrooms
Correct answer: Develop high levels of bilingualism, biliteracy, and cross-cultural competence in all students
Dual-language programs aim to develop full bilingualism and biliteracy in both native English and native Spanish speakers together.
Question 2: Which instructional approach involves giving the same lesson in two languages on alternate days?
- Preview-review model
- Alternate days model (Correct answer)
- Concurrent translation model
- Content-based instruction
Correct answer: Alternate days model
The alternate days model dedicates specific days entirely to instruction in one language, maintaining clear language separation.
Question 3: What does TEKS stand for in the context of Texas bilingual education?
- Texas Educator Knowledge Standards
- Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (Correct answer)
- Texas English and Knowledge System
- Texas Educator Keying Standards
Correct answer: Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) are the state curriculum standards that bilingual teachers must address in both languages.
Question 4: In bilingual education, 'scaffolding' refers to:
- Building physical classroom structures
- Temporary instructional support that helps students access content while developing language (Correct answer)
- A method of teaching only through visuals
- Testing students before instruction
Correct answer: Temporary instructional support that helps students access content while developing language
Scaffolding provides temporary, structured support (visuals, graphic organizers, sentence frames) that is gradually removed as students gain proficiency.
Question 5: Which researcher is most associated with the theory that language minority students need approximately 5–7 years to develop academic language proficiency (CALP)?
- Stephen Krashen
- Jim Cummins (Correct answer)
- Lev Vygotsky
- Noam Chomsky
Correct answer: Jim Cummins
Jim Cummins distinguished BICS (Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills) from CALP (Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency) and identified the 5–7 year timeline.
Question 6: What is the 'preview-review' instructional model in bilingual classrooms?
- Teach a lesson entirely in Spanish, then repeat it entirely in English
- Introduce the lesson in one language, teach in the other, then review in the first language (Correct answer)
- Preview vocabulary in English before all Spanish instruction
- Test students before and after every lesson
Correct answer: Introduce the lesson in one language, teach in the other, then review in the first language
Preview-review involves introducing concepts in one language, delivering main instruction in the other, then reviewing in the first, supporting comprehension across both languages.
BTLPT Bilingual Education Pedagogy 1
What is the primary goal of a dual-language (two-way immersion) bilingual program?