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Second Language Acquisition Flashcards

7 cards from real TEFL practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Second Language Acquisition flashcards as text

  1. Which concept refers to the range of tasks a learner can accomplish with guidance but not yet independently?

    Answer: Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

    Vygotsky's ZPD describes the gap between what a learner can do alone and what they can do with scaffolded support from a more capable person.

  2. According to the Natural Order Hypothesis, grammatical structures are:

    Answer: Acquired in a predictable sequence regardless of L1 or instruction

    Research supports that certain grammatical morphemes (e.g., -ing before plural -s) are acquired in a consistent order across learners.

  3. What is 'scaffolding' in the context of SLA and language teaching?

    Answer: Temporary support provided to help learners perform tasks they cannot yet do independently

    Scaffolding involves providing structured support that is gradually removed as the learner gains competence, rooted in Vygotsky's sociocultural theory.

  4. Which term describes the output learners produce when they 'push' themselves to use more precise or complex language structures?

    Answer: Comprehensible output

    Swain's Output Hypothesis argues that producing 'pushed' output forces learners to notice gaps in their competence and develop accuracy.

  5. A learner who avoids using the subjunctive because they are unsure of it is demonstrating:

    Answer: Avoidance strategy

    Avoidance occurs when learners deliberately bypass difficult or uncertain structures, which can limit their interlanguage development.

  6. Which factor is considered an 'individual difference' that significantly affects the rate and success of SLA?

    Answer: Learner motivation and attitude

    Motivation and attitude are among the most influential individual factors affecting how successfully and quickly learners acquire a second language.

  7. What does 'noticing' in SLA refer to, as described by Richard Schmidt?

    Answer: A learner's conscious attention to specific features in the input

    Schmidt's Noticing Hypothesis states that learners must consciously attend to linguistic forms in the input for acquisition to take place.