CLAD Theories of Language Acquisition 5

Question 1

Krashen distinguishes 'acquisition' from 'learning' by stating that acquired language is:

Accepted Answer

Stored subconsciously through meaningful communication and exposure

Answer

Krashen argues that acquisition is an unconscious process resulting from meaningful interaction, while learning involves explicit, conscious knowledge of rules.

Question 2

When a teacher deliberately adjusts speech to use simpler vocabulary, slower pace, and contextual clues for English learners, this is called:

Accepted Answer

Comprehensible input / modified input

Answer

Comprehensible or modified input (also called 'teacher talk' or 'foreigner talk') makes language accessible by simplifying and contextualizing it for learners.

Question 3

According to Chomsky's Universal Grammar theory, all human languages share:

Accepted Answer

Deep structural principles that reflect the innate capacity for language

Answer

Universal Grammar proposes that all human languages share underlying abstract principles that reflect the innate, biological capacity for language.

Question 4

Which finding from second language acquisition research challenges a strict behaviorist explanation of language learning?

Accepted Answer

Children produce errors like 'goed' and 'mouses' that they have never heard, suggesting rule formation

Answer

Over-regularization errors (like 'goed') show that children generate novel rule-based forms they have never heard, which cannot be explained by imitation alone.

Question 5

In Cummins' framework, which statement best explains why ELLs may struggle academically even after achieving conversational fluency?

Accepted Answer

CALP, which underlies academic performance, takes 5–7 years to develop—long after BICS is established

Answer

Cummins showed that academic language proficiency (CALP) is deeper and more complex than social language (BICS) and requires years more exposure to develop.

CLAD Practice Test

CLAD Practice Test

CLAD Theories of Language Acquisition 5