CLAD Culture and Academic Achievement 3

Question 1

Cummins' distinction between BICS and CALP predicts that ELL students typically develop conversational fluency in approximately how many years, while academic language proficiency takes:

Accepted Answer

2-3 years conversational; 5-7 years academic

Answer

Research consistently shows ELLs develop BICS in 2–3 years but require 5–7 years to achieve the CALP needed to perform at grade level in academic settings.

Question 2

Which instructional strategy BEST addresses the cultural mismatch between home discourse patterns and school discourse expectations?

Accepted Answer

Using culturally familiar discourse patterns as bridges to academic discourse

Answer

Bridging familiar home discourse patterns to academic discourse respects students' cultural identities while explicitly teaching the new discourse norms required for academic success.

Question 3

The 'subtractive bilingualism' model describes a situation where:

Accepted Answer

Students lose their home language as they acquire English, often resulting in cognitive and cultural losses

Answer

Subtractive bilingualism occurs when the acquisition of a second language replaces rather than adds to the first language, often leading to loss of heritage culture and cognitive resources.

Question 4

Which assessment accommodation is MOST appropriate for an ELL student who is being evaluated for a potential learning disability?

Accepted Answer

Using assessments in the student's home language and English to distinguish language difference from disability

Answer

Assessing in both languages helps determine whether difficulties stem from a genuine learning disability or from the normal process of second language acquisition.

Question 5

How does 'funds of knowledge' theory, developed by Moll and colleagues, inform culturally responsive teaching?

Accepted Answer

It identifies household knowledge and practices as valuable academic resources teachers should incorporate

Answer

Funds of knowledge theory holds that all families have accumulated culturally developed knowledge and skills that teachers can draw on to make academic content meaningful and relevant.

CLAD Practice Test

CLAD Practice Test

CLAD Culture and Academic Achievement 3