MTEL Sheltered English Immersion & Second Language Acquisition

Question 1

According to Krashen's Input Hypothesis, language acquisition is most effective when learners receive input that is:

Accepted Answer

Slightly above their current level (i+1)

Answer

Below their current level of proficiency

Answer

Exactly at their current level

Answer

Far above their current comprehension level

Question 2

BICS (Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills) typically takes English language learners approximately how long to develop?

Accepted Answer

6 months to 2 years

Answer

Less than 6 months

Answer

5 to 7 years

Answer

8 to 10 years

Question 3

Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP), as defined by Jim Cummins, typically requires how long to develop in a second language?

Accepted Answer

5 to 7 years

Answer

1 to 2 years

Answer

2 to 3 years

Answer

10 to 12 years

Question 4

Which researcher proposed the 'Affective Filter Hypothesis,' suggesting that emotional factors such as anxiety and low motivation can block language acquisition?

Accepted Answer

Stephen Krashen

Answer

Lev Vygotsky

Answer

Noam Chomsky

Answer

Jim Cummins

Question 5

The 'silent period' observed in some second language learners is best understood as:

Accepted Answer

A natural phase of internalizing language before producing output

Answer

A sign of a learning disability requiring formal assessment

Answer

A refusal to participate that requires behavioral intervention

Answer

A symptom of inadequate instruction that must be corrected

Question 6

Cummins' Common Underlying Proficiency (CUP) model, visualized as an iceberg, suggests that:

Accepted Answer

Academic skills and knowledge developed in one language transfer to support another language

Answer

Each language a person knows is stored in a completely separate cognitive system

Answer

Surface fluency in two languages is the best predictor of academic success

Answer

Students should be immersed in English only to avoid cognitive confusion

Question 7

When an ELL student alternates between their home language and English within the same conversation or sentence, this phenomenon is known as:

Accepted Answer

Code-switching, a natural and purposeful bilingual communication behavior

Answer

Language interference that an educator should immediately correct

Answer

A sign of language regression requiring specialized intervention

Answer

Semantic confusion resulting from insufficient English exposure