CLAD Factors Affecting Language Acquisition 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which affective factor most directly influences a language learner's willingness to take risks in communication?
- Self-esteem (Correct answer)
- Working memory capacity
- Phonological awareness
- Syntactic transfer
Correct answer: Self-esteem
Self-esteem affects how willing learners are to attempt communication and risk making errors.
Question 2: A student who arrived in the U.S. at age 4 is more likely to acquire native-like pronunciation than one who arrived at age 14. This is best explained by:
- The critical period hypothesis (Correct answer)
- Krashen's input hypothesis
- Cummins' threshold hypothesis
- The monitor hypothesis
Correct answer: The critical period hypothesis
The critical period hypothesis suggests there is an optimal biological window, typically before puberty, for acquiring native-like phonology.
Question 3: According to Krashen, which condition is essential for language acquisition to occur?
- Comprehensible input slightly beyond the learner's current level (Correct answer)
- Explicit grammar instruction before exposure
- Peer correction during conversation
- Bilingual instruction in the home language
Correct answer: Comprehensible input slightly beyond the learner's current level
Krashen's input hypothesis (i+1) states that acquisition occurs when learners receive input just beyond their current competence.
Question 4: Which sociocultural factor has the greatest impact on a child's rate of English language development in school?
- Socioeconomic status (Correct answer)
- Birth order
- Dominant hand preference
- Eye contact norms
Correct answer: Socioeconomic status
Socioeconomic status affects access to books, educational resources, and enriched language environments that accelerate development.
Question 5: A student who consistently avoids using complex sentence structures to prevent making errors is demonstrating:
- Communication avoidance strategy (Correct answer)
- Interlanguage fossilization
- Code-switching
- Subtractive bilingualism
Correct answer: Communication avoidance strategy
Communication avoidance occurs when learners deliberately sidestep linguistic forms they are not confident using.
Question 6: Research on the 'silent period' in second language acquisition suggests that teachers should:
- Allow time for receptive language development before requiring production (Correct answer)
- Immediately correct all errors to build accuracy
- Require daily oral responses from the first day
- Focus only on written language during this phase
Correct answer: Allow time for receptive language development before requiring production
The silent period is a natural phase where learners absorb input; pressuring production too early can increase anxiety.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes 'instrumental motivation' in language learning?
- Learning a language for practical goals such as employment or academic success (Correct answer)
- Learning a language to integrate into a new cultural community
- Learning a language to preserve heritage identity
- Learning a language due to parental pressure
Correct answer: Learning a language for practical goals such as employment or academic success
Instrumental motivation is driven by utilitarian goals like passing a test, getting a job, or fulfilling requirements.
CLAD Factors Affecting Language Acquisition 2
Which affective factor most directly influences a language learner's willingness to take risks in communication?