CTEL CTEL Academic Language and Content Integration 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In EL instruction, 'scaffolding' refers to:
- Permanent curriculum modifications
- Temporary supports gradually removed as learners gain independence (Correct answer)
- Separating ELs from native speakers
- Frequent standardized testing
Correct answer: Temporary supports gradually removed as learners gain independence
Scaffolding provides temporary instructional supports that are systematically withdrawn as students develop independence.
Question 2: Which approach simultaneously teaches academic content and language skills within meaningful subject-matter contexts?
- Grammar translation
- Content-based instruction (Correct answer)
- Audiolingual method
- Discrete language skills drill
Correct answer: Content-based instruction
Content-based instruction integrates language and content objectives so ELs learn English through authentic subject-matter tasks.
Question 3: Swain's 'output hypothesis' proposes that producing language helps ELs:
- Avoid errors entirely
- Notice linguistic gaps and develop greater accuracy (Correct answer)
- Replicate input without modification
- Focus only on listening skills
Correct answer: Notice linguistic gaps and develop greater accuracy
Swain's output hypothesis holds that speaking and writing push learners to notice gaps in their interlanguage and refine accuracy.
Question 4: Reciprocal teaching supports EL academic literacy by:
- Drilling grammar in isolation
- Having students take turns leading comprehension strategies such as summarizing and questioning (Correct answer)
- Assigning silent independent reading only
- Focusing exclusively on phonics
Correct answer: Having students take turns leading comprehension strategies such as summarizing and questioning
Reciprocal teaching uses structured strategies—summarizing, questioning, clarifying, predicting—to build reading comprehension collaboratively.
Question 5: Language objectives in sheltered content lessons should identify:
- Grammar rules only
- The specific language skills students need to access the content (Correct answer)
- Native-speaker benchmark performance
- Test preparation strategies
Correct answer: The specific language skills students need to access the content
Language objectives specify the listening, speaking, reading, or writing skills ELs must use to engage with the content objective.
Question 6: 'Frontloading vocabulary' before a lesson is intended to:
- Replace reading instruction
- Build background knowledge and comprehension by pre-teaching key terms (Correct answer)
- Assess prior knowledge formally
- Introduce grammar rules
Correct answer: Build background knowledge and comprehension by pre-teaching key terms
Pre-teaching essential vocabulary before a lesson primes ELs to comprehend new content when they encounter it in context.
CTEL CTEL Academic Language and Content Integration 2
In EL instruction, 'scaffolding' refers to: