TExES Exam TExES English as a Second Language Supplemental 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A newly arrived ELL student rarely speaks in class but demonstrates understanding through nodding and pointing. The teacher should recognize this as:
- A learning disability that requires evaluation
- The silent/receptive period of language acquisition (Correct answer)
- Selective mutism requiring counseling
- Evidence of low intelligence
Correct answer: The silent/receptive period of language acquisition
The silent or receptive period is a normal stage in second language acquisition where learners build comprehension before producing output.
Question 2: Which ESL program model maintains instruction primarily in English while providing ESL support?
- Two-way immersion
- Late-exit transitional bilingual education
- Structured English Immersion (SEI) (Correct answer)
- Developmental bilingual education
Correct answer: Structured English Immersion (SEI)
Structured English Immersion delivers nearly all instruction in English, with the curriculum and teachers adapted to ELL proficiency levels.
Question 3: When pre-teaching vocabulary before a reading assignment, which approach is MOST effective for ELLs?
- Providing a list of words to look up in a dictionary
- Presenting words with visual support, context sentences, and student interaction (Correct answer)
- Reading the text aloud and defining words as they appear
- Asking students to infer all meanings independently
Correct answer: Presenting words with visual support, context sentences, and student interaction
Combining visuals, meaningful context, and interactive practice creates multiple exposures and connections that promote deep word learning.
Question 4: A teacher is designing a unit for TELPAS Advanced High ELLs. Which task is MOST appropriate for their proficiency level?
- Labeling a diagram with single words
- Matching pictures to vocabulary words
- Writing a persuasive essay citing textual evidence (Correct answer)
- Copying sentences from the board
Correct answer: Writing a persuasive essay citing textual evidence
Advanced High ELLs can engage with cognitively demanding, extended written tasks that parallel grade-level expectations with minimal support.
Question 5: The concept of 'comprehensible input' (i+1) in Krashen's model means:
- Input delivered at the learner's exact current level
- Input that is slightly above the learner's current level but still understandable (Correct answer)
- Input presented only in the learner's native language
- Input that includes explicit grammar rules
Correct answer: Input that is slightly above the learner's current level but still understandable
Krashen's i+1 refers to language input slightly beyond the learner's current competence, which promotes acquisition when made comprehensible through context.
Question 6: An ELL student reads independently at a second-grade level but can discuss complex ideas when they are read aloud. This gap reflects:
- A processing disorder
- The difference between decoding skills and oral language proficiency (Correct answer)
- Evidence of L1 interference in reading only
- A social emotional concern
Correct answer: The difference between decoding skills and oral language proficiency
ELLs often have oral language strengths that exceed their print literacy, reflecting the developmental lag between oral and written language acquisition in L2.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the role of home language surveys in Texas ESL programs?
- They determine which students receive special education services
- They identify students who may need English language proficiency assessment for ELL designation (Correct answer)
- They replace formal language proficiency tests
- They are used to place students in gifted and talented programs
Correct answer: They identify students who may need English language proficiency assessment for ELL designation
Home language surveys are the initial screening tool used to identify students who may need further language proficiency assessment to determine ELL eligibility.
TExES Exam TExES English as a Second Language Supplemental 4
A newly arrived ELL student rarely speaks in class but demonstrates understanding through nodding and pointing.
The teacher should recognize this as: