CLAD Second Language Acquisition 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'comprehensible input' (i+1) mean in Krashen's Input Hypothesis?
- Input perfectly matched to the learner's current level
- Input slightly beyond the learner's current competence but still understandable (Correct answer)
- Input delivered only in the learner's native language
- Input that focuses exclusively on grammar rules
Correct answer: Input slightly beyond the learner's current competence but still understandable
The i+1 formula means language input should be one step ahead of the learner's current proficiency to promote acquisition.
Question 2: Which scenario represents 'positive transfer' from L1 to L2?
- A French speaker incorrectly uses gender agreement in English
- A Spanish speaker correctly uses cognates like 'hospital' in English (Correct answer)
- A Mandarin speaker omits verb tense markers in English
- A Korean speaker places adjectives after nouns in English
Correct answer: A Spanish speaker correctly uses cognates like 'hospital' in English
Cognates shared between Spanish and English allow correct application of L1 knowledge, producing accurate L2 output.
Question 3: A teacher uses gestures, visuals, and hands-on activities to make content understandable for ELLs. This set of strategies is best called:
- Submersion
- Sheltered instruction (Correct answer)
- Pull-out ESL
- Grammar translation
Correct answer: Sheltered instruction
Sheltered instruction uses visual, contextual, and interactive supports to make grade-level content accessible to ELLs.
Question 4: The 'Critical Period Hypothesis' (Lenneberg) suggests that after puberty, SLA becomes more difficult primarily because of:
- Decreased motivation to learn languages
- Loss of neurological plasticity that facilitated early language acquisition (Correct answer)
- Increased negative transfer from L1
- Reduced access to comprehensible input
Correct answer: Loss of neurological plasticity that facilitated early language acquisition
Lenneberg proposed that the brain's plasticity for language acquisition diminishes after puberty, making native-like attainment harder.
Question 5: Which assessment practice best reflects understanding of ELL language development stages?
- Grading early production students on written grammar accuracy
- Using picture-based prompts and allowing L1 responses for preproduction students (Correct answer)
- Applying the same rubric to all students regardless of proficiency
- Requiring full paragraph writing before speech production
Correct answer: Using picture-based prompts and allowing L1 responses for preproduction students
Assessments should be matched to students' language proficiency stage, allowing alternative demonstrations of knowledge for early-stage learners.
Question 6: Long's 'Interaction Hypothesis' adds to Krashen's theory by emphasizing that acquisition is enhanced when learners:
- Study grammar rules in isolation
- Negotiate meaning during communication breakdowns (Correct answer)
- Read silently without discussion
- Receive only teacher-directed instruction
Correct answer: Negotiate meaning during communication breakdowns
When communication breaks down and learners negotiate meaning, they receive modified, comprehensible input that accelerates acquisition.
Question 7: Which statement best describes the role of error correction in communicative SLA approaches?
- All errors must be corrected immediately to prevent fossilization
- Selective, meaning-focused correction is preferred to avoid disrupting communication (Correct answer)
- Errors should never be corrected so learners feel safe
- Only written errors should be corrected; oral errors should be ignored entirely
Correct answer: Selective, meaning-focused correction is preferred to avoid disrupting communication
Communicative approaches favor recasts and selective correction that maintain the flow of communication while addressing significant errors.
CLAD Second Language Acquisition 5
What does 'comprehensible input' (i+1) mean in Krashen's Input Hypothesis?