ESE Communication & Language Development 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following BEST distinguishes language from speech?
- Speech refers to the symbolic system used to convey meaning, while language refers to the physical production of sound
- Language is a broader symbolic system for communication, while speech is the physical, motor act of producing sounds (Correct answer)
- Speech encompasses reading and writing, while language is limited to verbal production
- Language is the same as speech; the two terms are interchangeable in ESE settings
Correct answer: Language is a broader symbolic system for communication, while speech is the physical, motor act of producing sounds
Language is a rule-governed symbolic system for communication (which includes speaking, reading, writing, and signing), while speech specifically refers to the physical, motor process of producing oral sounds.
Question 2: The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is designed to:
- Teach students to write picture-based stories for literacy development
- Train students to initiate communication by exchanging picture cards for desired items or outcomes (Correct answer)
- Provide teachers with visual cues for delivering differentiated instruction
- Replace a student's speech-language IEP goals with a picture dictionary system
Correct answer: Train students to initiate communication by exchanging picture cards for desired items or outcomes
PECS is an AAC approach that teaches students — particularly those with autism — to initiate communication by physically handing a picture card to a communication partner in exchange for a desired item or activity.
Question 3: Receptive language refers to:
- A student's ability to produce grammatically correct sentences
- The ability to understand and process incoming language from others (Correct answer)
- The fluency and rate at which a student reads aloud
- A student's use of appropriate social language during peer interactions
Correct answer: The ability to understand and process incoming language from others
Receptive language is the ability to understand and comprehend language that is heard or read, including following directions, understanding vocabulary, and processing spoken messages.
Question 4: A low-tech AAC option that would be appropriate for a student with limited verbal communication is:
- A speech-generating device with voice output capability
- An iPad application with dynamic display and text-to-speech
- A communication board with symbols or pictures that the student can point to (Correct answer)
- A computerized eye-gaze system for environmental control
Correct answer: A communication board with symbols or pictures that the student can point to
A communication board with symbols or pictures is a low-tech AAC option because it requires no batteries, electricity, or electronic components, making it durable, portable, and accessible.
Question 5: Which strategy is MOST effective for supporting a student who relies on AAC during classroom instruction?
- Requiring the student to attempt verbal speech before allowing AAC device use
- Providing aided language stimulation by modeling AAC use during natural interactions (Correct answer)
- Limiting AAC use to designated communication periods outside the general classroom
- Assigning a peer to operate the AAC device on behalf of the student
Correct answer: Providing aided language stimulation by modeling AAC use during natural interactions
Aided language stimulation (ALS) involves communication partners modeling the use of the AAC system during natural interactions, which supports the student's understanding and use of the device.
Question 6: Phonological awareness MOST directly supports a student's development of:
- Social communication and turn-taking skills
- Vocabulary and concept knowledge
- Early reading and spelling skills (Correct answer)
- Expressive language syntax and grammar
Correct answer: Early reading and spelling skills
Phonological awareness — the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate sounds in spoken language — is a foundational pre-literacy skill strongly predictive of reading and spelling success.
Question 7: When a student's home language is different from the language of instruction, an ESE teacher should FIRST:
- Refer the student immediately for a full ESE evaluation to rule out language-based disabilities
- Determine whether the student's language difficulties are due to a language difference versus a language disorder (Correct answer)
- Provide intensive English-only speech therapy to accelerate language acquisition
- Remove the student's IEP language goals until English proficiency is established
Correct answer: Determine whether the student's language difficulties are due to a language difference versus a language disorder
ESE teachers must distinguish between a language difference (due to English learning) and a language disorder (an underlying disability) before making referral or eligibility decisions, to avoid misidentification.
ESE Communication & Language Development 2
Which of the following BEST distinguishes language from speech?