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

Krashen's i+1 formula states that learners acquire language when they understand input just one step beyond their current level, making it challenging but comprehensible.

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

BICS, the conversational fluency used in everyday social interactions, typically develops within 6 months to 2 years for most ELL students.

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

CALP, the academic language needed for school success, takes 5 to 7 years to develop because it requires mastery of abstract, discipline-specific vocabulary and complex text structures.

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

Stephen Krashen proposed the Affective Filter Hypothesis, which holds that high anxiety or low motivation creates a mental block that prevents comprehensible input from being internalized.

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

The silent period is a recognized developmental phase in second language acquisition during which learners absorb and process input before they feel ready to produce spoken output.

MTEL - Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure Practice Test

MTEL - Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure Practice Test

MTEL Sheltered English Immersion & Second Language Acquisition