English Language Learners & ESL Flashcards

A Spanish-speaking first grader reads 'ship' as 'chip.' What is the most likely explanation?

Answer: The /sh/ phoneme does not exist in most Spanish dialects, so the student substitutes a close sound

Spanish lacks the /sh/ phoneme, so speakers often substitute the nearby /ch/ sound.

Which pair of words is an example of false cognates between Spanish and English?

Answer: embarazada / embarrassed

Embarazada means pregnant in Spanish, not embarrassed, so the words look alike but differ in meaning.

According to Cummins, what does the term BICS refer to?

Answer: Basic interpersonal communicative skills used in everyday social conversation

BICS is the conversational, context-embedded language that typically develops within about two years.

An ELL converses fluently with classmates but struggles to explain a science concept in writing. This best illustrates:

Answer: The difference between BICS and CALP

Social fluency (BICS) develops faster than cognitive academic language proficiency (CALP), which can take 5-7 years.

A teacher shows a picture, models the word 'harvest,' and has students act it out before reading. This practice primarily provides:

Answer: Comprehensible input

Visuals and gestures make new language understandable, which Krashen calls comprehensible input.

Which instructional strategy best lowers an ELL's affective filter?

Answer: Allowing partner rehearsal before sharing with the whole class

Low-risk rehearsal reduces anxiety, which lowers the affective filter and supports acquisition.

Which English phonics skill is most likely to transfer positively for a student literate in Spanish?

Answer: Recognizing that letters represent sounds in a consistent left-to-right order

The alphabetic principle and left-to-right print directionality are shared by Spanish and English and transfer readily.