NES ESOL Exam Questions & Answers
2025/2026
Morpheme - ANSWERSin a language, the smallest unit that carries meaning; may be a word or a
part of a word (such as a prefix)
Acculturation - ANSWERSBorrowing culture traits from another group. Incorporating new traits
WITHOUT altering its own culture.
Register - ANSWERSThe form of a language that is appropriate to a given situation. Varies
depending on setting, relationships, linguistic interaction. Often students learn classroom
langauge and are unable to speak in informal settings.
Slang - ANSWERSAny nonstandard form of a language. Derogative sense (words & phrases not
proper for social interaction). Gives sense of community.
Phonology - ANSWERSSOUNDS of a langauge. The smallest unit of sound that can hold meaning
is a (phoneme).
Phonemic Awareness vs. Phonics - ANSWERSPhonemic awareness precedes phonics instruction.
Phonics = direct correspondence between letters & sounds (require presence of print).
Alphabetic principle.
Both needed as child prepares to read.
Phonemes & Graphemes - ANSWERSPhonetic alphabet /k/. Alphabetic symbols used to describe
phoneme.
Graphemes - an illustrative series of lettesr to describe sounds (phonemes). C in cold. K in
kilogram. Long "i" as in "fly" or "igh" in sigh.
,Morphology - ANSWERSthe study of the structure of words. Words are constructed out of
letters. The smallest meaningful unit of a morphological system is a (morpheme). EX: Boy can
stand alone or boys with other letters. (Many English exceptions: man --- men).
Syntax - ANSWERSBasic structure of a sentence. Order of words to make sense.
Phonetics - ANSWERSThe study of the sounds of language. Phones have distinct properties with
respect to production. Real measureable sounds rather than sound unites (phonemes).
Minimal Pairs - ANSWERSA pair of words that differ by only a single sound and are recognized by
speakers as different words. i.e. bat/cat or hare/dare
Onset & Rime - ANSWERSThe sound that initiates a syllable while the vowel & any consonants
after the vowel are called the rime.
i.e. "Boy" - "B" is onset, "oy" is rime.
Intra-language - ANSWERSConcerns the differences within a language, such as over-
generalizations about plurals, tenses,
etc.
Inter-language - ANSWERStransitional system in which a person uses rules from two or more
languages simultaneously
a jumble of rules from both languages
Sociolect - ANSWERSa social dialect or variety of speech used by a particular group, such as
working-class or upper-class speech.
, Idiolect - ANSWERSan individual's accent and dialect features, as a result of their personal
upbringing and experiences. Be careful not to pre-judge a student due to a dialect.
Semantics - ANSWERSMeanings of the words. Denotations (primary meaning) & Connotations
(personal feelings) of words.
Consonant diagraph - ANSWERSDiagraphs are "voiceless" combinations of two consonants.
Following are examples: st, ch, sh, th, wh.
Pragmatics - ANSWERSThe appropriate use of language in different contexts. Intuitive
understanding of different meanings "Will you go out with me?"
Dialect - ANSWERSA form of language spoken by people in a particular region or group.
Zone of Proximal Development - ANSWERSDescribes the difference between what a person
knows & what he would know if given assistance. Vygotsky. The process of giving temporary aid
to facilitate language learning (Scaffolding). Modeling, cues, encouragement.
Affective Filter - ANSWERSKrashen-mental block can be produced by negative factors such as
anxiety, low motivation, self confidence. Goal is to lower affective filtures. Cannot incorporate
comprehensible input w/ anxiety & lack of motivation. Establishing welcoming environment
helps.
Aspiration - ANSWERSPronunciation accompanied by breathing out.
Consonant voicing - ANSWERS-consonants use voice when sounded
-Touch vocal cords- hear vibration:
B-D-TH (then)-V-L-R-Z-J (jane)
2025/2026
Morpheme - ANSWERSin a language, the smallest unit that carries meaning; may be a word or a
part of a word (such as a prefix)
Acculturation - ANSWERSBorrowing culture traits from another group. Incorporating new traits
WITHOUT altering its own culture.
Register - ANSWERSThe form of a language that is appropriate to a given situation. Varies
depending on setting, relationships, linguistic interaction. Often students learn classroom
langauge and are unable to speak in informal settings.
Slang - ANSWERSAny nonstandard form of a language. Derogative sense (words & phrases not
proper for social interaction). Gives sense of community.
Phonology - ANSWERSSOUNDS of a langauge. The smallest unit of sound that can hold meaning
is a (phoneme).
Phonemic Awareness vs. Phonics - ANSWERSPhonemic awareness precedes phonics instruction.
Phonics = direct correspondence between letters & sounds (require presence of print).
Alphabetic principle.
Both needed as child prepares to read.
Phonemes & Graphemes - ANSWERSPhonetic alphabet /k/. Alphabetic symbols used to describe
phoneme.
Graphemes - an illustrative series of lettesr to describe sounds (phonemes). C in cold. K in
kilogram. Long "i" as in "fly" or "igh" in sigh.
,Morphology - ANSWERSthe study of the structure of words. Words are constructed out of
letters. The smallest meaningful unit of a morphological system is a (morpheme). EX: Boy can
stand alone or boys with other letters. (Many English exceptions: man --- men).
Syntax - ANSWERSBasic structure of a sentence. Order of words to make sense.
Phonetics - ANSWERSThe study of the sounds of language. Phones have distinct properties with
respect to production. Real measureable sounds rather than sound unites (phonemes).
Minimal Pairs - ANSWERSA pair of words that differ by only a single sound and are recognized by
speakers as different words. i.e. bat/cat or hare/dare
Onset & Rime - ANSWERSThe sound that initiates a syllable while the vowel & any consonants
after the vowel are called the rime.
i.e. "Boy" - "B" is onset, "oy" is rime.
Intra-language - ANSWERSConcerns the differences within a language, such as over-
generalizations about plurals, tenses,
etc.
Inter-language - ANSWERStransitional system in which a person uses rules from two or more
languages simultaneously
a jumble of rules from both languages
Sociolect - ANSWERSa social dialect or variety of speech used by a particular group, such as
working-class or upper-class speech.
, Idiolect - ANSWERSan individual's accent and dialect features, as a result of their personal
upbringing and experiences. Be careful not to pre-judge a student due to a dialect.
Semantics - ANSWERSMeanings of the words. Denotations (primary meaning) & Connotations
(personal feelings) of words.
Consonant diagraph - ANSWERSDiagraphs are "voiceless" combinations of two consonants.
Following are examples: st, ch, sh, th, wh.
Pragmatics - ANSWERSThe appropriate use of language in different contexts. Intuitive
understanding of different meanings "Will you go out with me?"
Dialect - ANSWERSA form of language spoken by people in a particular region or group.
Zone of Proximal Development - ANSWERSDescribes the difference between what a person
knows & what he would know if given assistance. Vygotsky. The process of giving temporary aid
to facilitate language learning (Scaffolding). Modeling, cues, encouragement.
Affective Filter - ANSWERSKrashen-mental block can be produced by negative factors such as
anxiety, low motivation, self confidence. Goal is to lower affective filtures. Cannot incorporate
comprehensible input w/ anxiety & lack of motivation. Establishing welcoming environment
helps.
Aspiration - ANSWERSPronunciation accompanied by breathing out.
Consonant voicing - ANSWERS-consonants use voice when sounded
-Touch vocal cords- hear vibration:
B-D-TH (then)-V-L-R-Z-J (jane)
