DUE DATE: 26 AUGUST 2025
QUESTION 1 (25 Marks)
1.1.1 A Language-Rich Environment (5 marks)
A language-rich environment refers to a classroom setting that intentionally
promotes the development and use of language through a wide range of verbal, non-
verbal, and written interactions, enabling learners to build vocabulary, enhance
comprehension, and develop communication skills across all subject areas. In such an
environment, language is not treated as an isolated skill taught only during formal
language lessons, but as a constant medium of learning and expression integrated
into every classroom activity. Teachers in language-rich classrooms create
opportunities for active listening, speaking, reading, and writing, thereby immersing
learners in meaningful linguistic experiences that connect directly to real-life contexts
(Neuman & Wright, 2014). This environment typically includes rich oral discussions,
exposure to diverse texts, visible print materials such as word walls, and
opportunities for learners to express themselves creatively and critically. The aim is to
ensure that learners from various linguistic and cultural backgrounds, including those
with limited prior exposure to academic language, can access, engage with, and
internalise language as both a tool for thought and a medium for learning (Tompkins,
2017). In essence, a language-rich environment is one where language learning
happens everywhere, all the time, with intentional scaffolding from the teacher to
ensure that all learners, regardless of background, can develop robust linguistic
proficiency.
1.1.2 Two Activities to Develop a Language-Rich Classroom (6 marks)
One highly effective activity is Interactive Storytelling, where the teacher reads or
narrates a story and involves learners in predicting outcomes, acting out characters,
and retelling events in their own words. This activity strengthens comprehension,
builds vocabulary, and encourages expressive language use. By engaging learners in
questioning, clarifying, and sequencing events, storytelling develops narrative skills,
oral fluency, and critical thinking (Isbell et al., 2004). Furthermore, the use of