CLAD V4.0 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A teacher notices an ELL student is silent during class discussions but performs well on written assignments. This behavior is best described as:
- Language transfer interference
- The silent period (Correct answer)
- Selective mutism disorder
- Cognitive academic disengagement
Correct answer: The silent period
The silent period is a natural stage in second language acquisition where learners absorb input before producing output.
Question 2: Which instructional strategy best supports ELL students in developing academic vocabulary across content areas?
- Drill-and-repeat vocabulary memorization
- Context-embedded instruction with visual supports (Correct answer)
- Exclusive use of the native language
- Avoiding technical terminology until fluency is reached
Correct answer: Context-embedded instruction with visual supports
Context-embedded instruction with visuals provides comprehensible input that connects language to meaning in academic contexts.
Question 3: The BICS/CALP distinction developed by Jim Cummins suggests that academic language proficiency takes approximately how long to develop?
- 6 months to 1 year
- 1 to 2 years
- 5 to 7 years (Correct answer)
- 10 or more years
Correct answer: 5 to 7 years
Cummins found that CALP (Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency) typically takes 5–7 years to develop in a second language.
Question 4: A student who code-switches between English and their home language during instruction is demonstrating:
- A sign of language deficiency
- A cognitive and communicative resource (Correct answer)
- Resistance to English instruction
- An early stage that should be corrected immediately
Correct answer: A cognitive and communicative resource
Code-switching is a sophisticated linguistic skill that reflects bilingual competence, not a deficit.
Question 5: Which of the following is an example of a comprehensible input strategy for ELL students?
- Speaking faster to model fluency
- Using gestures, visuals, and realia alongside verbal explanations (Correct answer)
- Simplifying all academic content to basic vocabulary
- Requiring English-only responses from day one
Correct answer: Using gestures, visuals, and realia alongside verbal explanations
Gestures, visuals, and realia make input understandable by connecting language to concrete context.
Question 6: In the context of CLAD, 'sheltered instruction' refers to:
- Teaching ELLs in a separate classroom with no mainstream contact
- Content-area teaching adapted to make concepts accessible while developing English (Correct answer)
- Providing bilingual education in the student's home language
- Reducing academic expectations for English learners
Correct answer: Content-area teaching adapted to make concepts accessible while developing English
Sheltered instruction teaches grade-level content using strategies that make it comprehensible for ELL students while building English proficiency.
Question 7: Which assessment approach is most appropriate for evaluating the language development of ELL students?
- Standardized tests normed on native English speakers only
- Portfolio-based assessments that capture growth over time (Correct answer)
- Oral fluency tests administered only in English
- Grade-level reading tests without accommodations
Correct answer: Portfolio-based assessments that capture growth over time
Portfolio-based assessments document a student's language development trajectory and provide a fuller picture than a single standardized test.
CLAD V4.0 2
A teacher notices an ELL student is silent during class discussions but performs well on written assignments.
This behavior is best described as: