FTCE ESOL K-12 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS WELL ELABORATED
Question: What is the core idea behind Noam Chomsky's "Universal Grammar"?
Answer: ✓✓ This theory posits that no language or dialect is inherently more
advanced than another. It suggests that humans are born with an innate, biological
capacity to acquire any language naturally without the need for formal schooling.
Question: What does the acronym "LAD" stand for in the context of language
acquisition?
Answer: ✓✓ Language Acquisition Device (the theoretical brain mechanism that
allows children to instinctively learn language).
Question: Define "Generative Grammar."
Answer: ✓✓ This refers to a specific system of internal rules that enables a
speaker to create an infinite variety of original, grammatically correct sentences.
Question: Explain the concept of "Deep Structure."
Answer: ✓✓ This represents the underlying abstract meaning or the "thought"
behind a message, which is often shaped and interpreted through social and
situational context.
Question: How is "Surface Structure" defined in linguistics?
Answer: ✓✓ This is the outward, literal form of a sentence—the actual words as
they are physically spoken or written.
,Natural Order Hypothesis -ANSWER ✔✔Krashen- grammatical structures aquired
in a predictable order, independent of the order grammar is taught
Stages of SLA -ANSWER ✔✔Krashen-Pre-production (silent period), early
production, speech emergence, intermediate fluency, advanced fluency
Input Hypothesis/Comprehensible Input -ANSWER ✔✔Krashen-i+1, language
input slightly above current level yields optimal growth
Affective Filter -ANSWER ✔✔Krashen-mental block can be produced by negative
factors such as anxiety, low motivation, self confidence
Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) -ANSWER ✔✔Vygotsky-distance between
developmental level and level of potential development. Area between independent
performance and assisted performance
Communicative Competence -ANSWER ✔✔learner's abiity to apply and use
grammatical uses, form correct utterances and know how and when to use them
appropriately. The ability to communicate effectively and to vary communication
styles appropriately in various contexts. Social and pragmatic competence.
Language Interference -ANSWER ✔✔effect of L1 on production of L2
Negative Transfer -ANSWER ✔✔interference of previous learning inprocess of
learning something new
Interlanguage -ANSWER ✔✔language system "inbetween" L1 & L2 that student
develops while learning the L2 but is neither L1 or L2
, SUP -ANSWER ✔✔Social underlying proficiency (conversational language)
CUP -ANSWER ✔✔Common underlying proficiency - commonalities between L1
& L2, skills, ideas, concepts that students learn in L1 transfer to L2
BICS -ANSWER ✔✔Cummins-Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills - social
setting language skills
CALP -ANSWER ✔✔Cummins-Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency -
languatge needed to acquire academic skills and concepts
Cummins Quadrant -ANSWER ✔✔A-cognitively undemanding/context
embedded; B-cognitively demanding/context embedded; C-cognitively
undemanding/context reduced; D-cognitively demanding/context reduced
Phoneme -ANSWER ✔✔class of speech sounds, ie. /t/ are the smallest unit o
sound that affects meaning.
Monothong -ANSWER ✔✔one part vowel
Reduced Vowel -ANSWER ✔✔occurs in unstressed word or syllable -schwa most
common
Phonology -ANSWER ✔✔organization of speech sounds
ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS WELL ELABORATED
Question: What is the core idea behind Noam Chomsky's "Universal Grammar"?
Answer: ✓✓ This theory posits that no language or dialect is inherently more
advanced than another. It suggests that humans are born with an innate, biological
capacity to acquire any language naturally without the need for formal schooling.
Question: What does the acronym "LAD" stand for in the context of language
acquisition?
Answer: ✓✓ Language Acquisition Device (the theoretical brain mechanism that
allows children to instinctively learn language).
Question: Define "Generative Grammar."
Answer: ✓✓ This refers to a specific system of internal rules that enables a
speaker to create an infinite variety of original, grammatically correct sentences.
Question: Explain the concept of "Deep Structure."
Answer: ✓✓ This represents the underlying abstract meaning or the "thought"
behind a message, which is often shaped and interpreted through social and
situational context.
Question: How is "Surface Structure" defined in linguistics?
Answer: ✓✓ This is the outward, literal form of a sentence—the actual words as
they are physically spoken or written.
,Natural Order Hypothesis -ANSWER ✔✔Krashen- grammatical structures aquired
in a predictable order, independent of the order grammar is taught
Stages of SLA -ANSWER ✔✔Krashen-Pre-production (silent period), early
production, speech emergence, intermediate fluency, advanced fluency
Input Hypothesis/Comprehensible Input -ANSWER ✔✔Krashen-i+1, language
input slightly above current level yields optimal growth
Affective Filter -ANSWER ✔✔Krashen-mental block can be produced by negative
factors such as anxiety, low motivation, self confidence
Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) -ANSWER ✔✔Vygotsky-distance between
developmental level and level of potential development. Area between independent
performance and assisted performance
Communicative Competence -ANSWER ✔✔learner's abiity to apply and use
grammatical uses, form correct utterances and know how and when to use them
appropriately. The ability to communicate effectively and to vary communication
styles appropriately in various contexts. Social and pragmatic competence.
Language Interference -ANSWER ✔✔effect of L1 on production of L2
Negative Transfer -ANSWER ✔✔interference of previous learning inprocess of
learning something new
Interlanguage -ANSWER ✔✔language system "inbetween" L1 & L2 that student
develops while learning the L2 but is neither L1 or L2
, SUP -ANSWER ✔✔Social underlying proficiency (conversational language)
CUP -ANSWER ✔✔Common underlying proficiency - commonalities between L1
& L2, skills, ideas, concepts that students learn in L1 transfer to L2
BICS -ANSWER ✔✔Cummins-Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills - social
setting language skills
CALP -ANSWER ✔✔Cummins-Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency -
languatge needed to acquire academic skills and concepts
Cummins Quadrant -ANSWER ✔✔A-cognitively undemanding/context
embedded; B-cognitively demanding/context embedded; C-cognitively
undemanding/context reduced; D-cognitively demanding/context reduced
Phoneme -ANSWER ✔✔class of speech sounds, ie. /t/ are the smallest unit o
sound that affects meaning.
Monothong -ANSWER ✔✔one part vowel
Reduced Vowel -ANSWER ✔✔occurs in unstressed word or syllable -schwa most
common
Phonology -ANSWER ✔✔organization of speech sounds
