104 TExES English as a Second Language (ESL)/Generalist EC - 4 Exam Practice Questions

1. Which steps are part of learning a language?

A. Memorizing words
B. Speaking in public
C. Learning the proper pronunciation
D. All of the above

2. Successful strategies for teaching English Language Learners might include:

A. Using historical facts and figures
B. Assigning a cultural study project
C. Requiring rote memorization
D. All of the above

3. Learning English can be a challenge due to:

A. Variety of subject matter
B. Stressed and unstressed vowels
C. 23 combinations of vowel sounds
D. All of the above

4. Potential problems in learning English grammar, spelling and vocabulary might include:

A. Public speaking
B. Same word with different meanings
C. Memorization
D. All of the above

5. Differences between written and spoken English include:

A. Speech patterns are based on country of origin
B. Personal background factors
C. Education of the reader/hearer
D. All of the above

6. Ideas that encourage cross-cultural understanding include:

A. Telling a story popular in the student's homeland
B. Ridiculing a clothing choice
C. Gathering opinions from the group
D. Laughing at inappropriate use of words or expressions

7. Which of the following does Bloom's Taxonomy not measure?

A. Comprehension
B. Application
C. Pronunciation
D. Analysis

8. Advantages of individual assessment include:

A. Creates a competitive environment
B. Provide insight into help needed
C. Time consuming to complete
D. All of the above

9. Which of the following is not a viable testing format?

A. Matching
B. Multiple choice
C. Guessing
D. Short answer

10. Reasons to share information with parents may include:

A. Prevent misunderstanding
B. Explain progress in intangible skills
C. Explain grading systems
D. All of the above

ANSWER KEY EXAM 104

1. Answer: C

Language development is basically the same whether learning the native tongue as an infant or a second language later in life. The person listens to the words, determines what objects or concepts they represent and learns to pronounce them, which leads to reading and writing them. The time it takes to learn any language is based on many factors; social, economic, personal and the unique situation of the person. No matter what age, mastering a second language takes contact with people who speak the language fluently and years of practice. Learning a second language using material that is interesting to and meaningful for the student in a stress-free environment is optimal.

2. Answer: B

Researchers have been unable to prove conclusively and empirically that any particular strategy for teaching English as a second language is effective in increasing retention, proficiency and fluency. Most successful methods incorporate several approaches and the effectiveness of each depends upon the age of the students and the degree of language proficiency already attained. Choices should be made based on the students involved and the environment in which the instruction takes place. No matter what the age or level of English proficiency, students come to school with knowledge and experience. The effectiveness of including the student's native culture in the classroom is well documented. Assigning a Culture Study project encourages students to share their heritage and requires research, interviewing family members, writing, creating visual aides and giving an oral presentation. Building on and accessing prior knowledge inspires students to explore new ideas and learn new concepts. It also builds bridges of understanding with other students.

3. Answer: D

Variations in consonant and vowel sounds can cause problems and make the pronunciation of ESL students sound stilted, monotone and flat. American English has sixteen different combinations of vowels with sometimes only slight variations in the sound of the spoken word. Many languages have very few vowel sounds which means students can have problems hearing; and consequently, pronouncing these sounds. English allows for clusters of consonants before a vowel is needed; several languages do not. Therefore, students may try to insert a vowel where there is none. Stressed and unstressed vowels can be very confusing. Native English speakers can determine the pronunciation by the word's placement in a sentence; ESL students sometimes can't distinguish the slight variations, i.e., able, enable, unable.

4. Answer: B

The English language has one of the largest vocabularies of any language currently in use. English has adopted, adapted and integrated words, phrases and expressions from many other languages. English uses more idiomatic words and phrases than most other languages and these idioms can be specific to a particular region of the country or a segment of the population. The same word can be used in multiple ways and have different meanings (to "spell" a word or come sit a "spell") or two words can sound alike but be spelled differently and have different meanings (wood and would). English uses articles (the, a, an) a lot; other languages may lack articles altogether or use their versions sparingly. There isn't just one rule to make a positive word into its negative counterpart i.e., unable, inappropriate, dishonest, amoral. All of these differences can make learning the English language a challenge. An ESL teacher must always be aware of these unique challenges and take measures to minimize their effect on students' ability to understand the material being studied.

5. Answer: A

Spoken English sounds different depending upon the country, geographic location, idioms used and the education and ethnicity of the speaker. Dialects, accents and slang all influence speech patterns. English speakers from different countries may have difficulty understanding each other because of these variations. A third party might think they were speaking totally different languages. Written English is based on a defined set of rules (grammar) so a document written in formal English does not indicate a specific country. The only clues might be spelling (colour instead of color) or context (lift instead of elevator). However, these variations usually don't cause problems understanding the material.

6. Answer: A

Society is diverse and schools reflect that diversity. Teachers play an important role in helping students understand and learn to appreciate various cultures. Asking an ESL student to tell a story, popular in his home country, in his native language and then translating it into English builds his confidence. Sharing a favorite object from his homeland and explaining what it is, how it's made and what it is used for encourages an appreciation for other cultures. It also generates questions that can lead to a lively discussion comparing and contrasting cultural mores and societal expectations that will lead to better understanding by all students.

7. Answer: C

An articulation matrix is the relationship between activities and outcomes. It is a defined set of goals and the methods used to reach them. Bloom's Taxonomy, a hierarchical classification system, is an articulation matrix that outlines six levels of cognitive learning. At each step students reach a predictable level of mastery:

• Knowledge Level: Ability to define terms
• Comprehension Level: Finish problems and explain answers
• Application Level: Recognizes problems and uses methods to solve them
• Analysis Level: Ability to explain why the process works
• Synthesis Level: Can use the process, or part of it, in new ways
• Evaluation Level: Creates different ways to solve problems and use designated criteria; selects the best method to obtain the correct solution

8. Answer: B

Individual assessments focus on the progress a student made during a defined period of time using a variety of activities (written assignments, oral presentations, class participation). It offers a broad, realistic view of the student's understanding of the material.
Advantages: Individual assessments are easily understood by students and parents. Self-referenced standards, which are based on previous progress, provide feedback about the student's strengths and weaknesses. They can help motivate him to take more responsibility for his learning. Students sometimes set personal goals. Individual assessments help them measure their success. They provide teachers insight into special help the student might need.
Disadvantages: Individual assessment can create a competitive environment in which some students are unable to compete. It makes it difficult to evaluate students' ability to work with a team and judge their interaction with others; both of which are important. Individual assessments are also time-consuming to complete fairly and accurately.

9. Answer: C

Matching and true/false questions are an excellent way to quickly assess how well students remember specific facts as well as their ability to memorize data. Multiple choice and short-answer questions require a little deeper knowledge of the subject and better reasoning and thinking skills. Short-answer questions also test the ability to use grammar and punctuation properly. These four testing options are reasonably quick and easy to grade. Open-response questions can be used to evaluate in-depth content knowledge, the use of critical thinking skills and the ability to communicate thoughts and ideas through the written word. This option requires more time, effort and concentration to evaluate fairly. It is a more effective tool in some situations and courses than it is in others.

10. Answer: B

Studies have shown the more parents are involved in their children's education, the better the students learn and the fewer the behavior problems. This is especially true with ESL students. Report cards are not designed to explain how well the student is progressing in intangible skills like critical thinking, reasoning ability, study habits, attitude, communication with adults and peers and other social and interactive development. It is the teacher's responsibility to make an effort to keep parents informed about the academic progress and social assimilation of their children by encouraging parents to come to school, ask questions and be a part of the educational experience of their children.

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