ESL Certification Questions and Answers
Updated 2026/2027 Version | Verified
Answers
1. English as a Second Language Standard I - ANSWER ✅ The ESL teacher
understands fundamental language concepts and knows the structure and
conventions of the English language.
2. English as a Second Language Standard II - ANSWER ✅ The ESL teacher
has knowledge of the foundations of ESL education and factors that
contribute to an effective multicultural and multilingual learning
environment.
3. English as a Second Language Standard III - ANSWER ✅ The ESL teacher
understands the processes of first- and second-language acquisition and uses
this knowledge to promote students' language development in English.
4. English as a Second Language Standard IV - ANSWER ✅ The ESL teacher
understands ESL teaching methods and uses this knowledge to plan and
implement effective, developmentally appropriate ESL instruction.
5. English as a Second Language Standard V - ANSWER ✅ The ESL teacher
has knowledge of the factors that affect ESL students' learning of academic
content, language and culture.
6. English as a Second Language Standard VI - ANSWER ✅ The ESL teacher
understands formal and informal assessment procedures and instruments
, (language proficiency and academic achievement) used in ESL programs
and uses assessment results to plan and adapt instruction.
7. English as a Second Language Standard VII - ANSWER ✅ The ESL
teacher knows how to serve as an advocate for ESL students and facilitate
family and community involvement in their education.
8. Competency 001: The ESL teacher understands fundamental language
concepts and knows the structure and conventions of the English language -
ANSWER ✅ The beginning ESL teacher:
A. Understands the nature of language and basic concepts of language
systems (e.g., phonology, morphology, syntax, lexicon, semantics,
discourse, pragmatics) and uses this understanding to facilitate student
learning in the ESL classroom.
B. Knows the functions and registers of language (e.g., social versus
academic language) in English and uses this knowledge to develop
and modify instructional materials, deliver instruction and promote
ESL students' English-language proficiency.
C. Understands the interrelatedness of listening, speaking, reading and
writing and uses this understanding to develop ESL students' English-
language proficiency.
D. Knows the structure of the English language (e.g., word formation,
grammar, vocabulary and syntax) and the patterns and conventions of
written and spoken English and uses this knowledge to model and
provide instruction to develop the foundation of English mechanics
necessary to understand content-based instruction and accelerated
learning of English in accordance with the English Language
Proficiency Standards (ELPS).
9. Competency 002: The ESL teacher understands the processes of first-
language (L1) and second-language (L2) acquisition and the interrelatedness
of L1 and L2 development. - ANSWER ✅ The beginning ESL teacher:
A. Knows theories, concepts and research related to L1 and L2
acquisition.
, B. Uses knowledge of theories, concepts and research related to L1 and
L2 acquisition to select effective, appropriate methods and strategies
for promoting students' English-language development at various
stages.
C. Knows cognitive processes (e.g., memorization, categorization,
generalization, metacognition) involved in synthesizing and
internalizing language rules for second-language acquisition.
D. Analyzes the interrelatedness of first- and second-language
acquisition and ways in which L1 may affect development of L2.
E. Knows common difficulties (e.g., idiomatic expressions; L1
interference in syntax, phonology and morphology) experienced by
ESL students in learning English and effective strategies for helping
students overcome those difficulties.
10.Competency 003: The ESL teacher understands ESL teaching methods and
uses this knowledge to plan and implement effective, developmentally
appropriate instruction. - ANSWER ✅ The beginning ESL teacher:
A. Knows applicable Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and
the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) and knows how
to design and implement appropriate instruction to address the
domains of listening, speaking and reading and writing.
B. Knows effective instructional methods and techniques for the ESL
classroom, and selects and uses instructional methods, resources and
materials appropriate for addressing specified instructional goals and
promoting learning in students with diverse characteristics and needs.
C. Applies knowledge of effective practices, resources and materials for
providing content-based ESL instruction, engaging students in critical
thinking and fostering students' communicative competence.
D. Knows how to integrate technological tools and resources into the
instructional process to facilitate and enhance student learning.
E. Applies effective classroom management and teaching strategies for a
variety of ESL environments and situations.
, 11.Competency 004: The ESL teacher understands how to promote students'
communicative language development in English. - ANSWER ✅ The
beginning ESL teacher:
A. Knows applicable Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and
the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) and knows how
to design and implement appropriate instruction to address the
proficiency level descriptors for the beginning, intermediate,
advanced and advanced-high levels in the listening and speaking
domains.
B. Understands the role of the linguistic environment and conversational
support in second-language development, and uses this knowledge to
provide a rich, comprehensible language environment with supported
opportunities for communication in English.
C. Applies knowledge of practices, resources and materials that are
effective in promoting students' communicative competence in
English.
D. Understands the interrelatedness of listening, speaking, reading and
writing and uses this knowledge to select and use effective strategies
for developing students' oral language proficiency in English in
accordance with the ELPS.
E. Applies knowledge of effective strategies for helping ESL students
transfer language skills from L1 to L2.
F. Applies knowledge of individual differences (e.g., developmental
characteristics, cultural and language background, academic strengths,
learning styles) to select focused, targeted and systematic second
language acquisition instruction to English-language learners in grade
3 or higher who are at the beginning or intermediate level of English-
language proficiency in listening and/or speaking in accordance with
the ELPS.
G. Knows how to provide appropriate feedback in response to students'
developing English-language skills.
12.Competency 005: The ESL teacher understands how to promote students'
literacy development in English. - ANSWER ✅ The beginning ESL teacher:
A. Knows applicable Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and
the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) and knows how
Updated 2026/2027 Version | Verified
Answers
1. English as a Second Language Standard I - ANSWER ✅ The ESL teacher
understands fundamental language concepts and knows the structure and
conventions of the English language.
2. English as a Second Language Standard II - ANSWER ✅ The ESL teacher
has knowledge of the foundations of ESL education and factors that
contribute to an effective multicultural and multilingual learning
environment.
3. English as a Second Language Standard III - ANSWER ✅ The ESL teacher
understands the processes of first- and second-language acquisition and uses
this knowledge to promote students' language development in English.
4. English as a Second Language Standard IV - ANSWER ✅ The ESL teacher
understands ESL teaching methods and uses this knowledge to plan and
implement effective, developmentally appropriate ESL instruction.
5. English as a Second Language Standard V - ANSWER ✅ The ESL teacher
has knowledge of the factors that affect ESL students' learning of academic
content, language and culture.
6. English as a Second Language Standard VI - ANSWER ✅ The ESL teacher
understands formal and informal assessment procedures and instruments
, (language proficiency and academic achievement) used in ESL programs
and uses assessment results to plan and adapt instruction.
7. English as a Second Language Standard VII - ANSWER ✅ The ESL
teacher knows how to serve as an advocate for ESL students and facilitate
family and community involvement in their education.
8. Competency 001: The ESL teacher understands fundamental language
concepts and knows the structure and conventions of the English language -
ANSWER ✅ The beginning ESL teacher:
A. Understands the nature of language and basic concepts of language
systems (e.g., phonology, morphology, syntax, lexicon, semantics,
discourse, pragmatics) and uses this understanding to facilitate student
learning in the ESL classroom.
B. Knows the functions and registers of language (e.g., social versus
academic language) in English and uses this knowledge to develop
and modify instructional materials, deliver instruction and promote
ESL students' English-language proficiency.
C. Understands the interrelatedness of listening, speaking, reading and
writing and uses this understanding to develop ESL students' English-
language proficiency.
D. Knows the structure of the English language (e.g., word formation,
grammar, vocabulary and syntax) and the patterns and conventions of
written and spoken English and uses this knowledge to model and
provide instruction to develop the foundation of English mechanics
necessary to understand content-based instruction and accelerated
learning of English in accordance with the English Language
Proficiency Standards (ELPS).
9. Competency 002: The ESL teacher understands the processes of first-
language (L1) and second-language (L2) acquisition and the interrelatedness
of L1 and L2 development. - ANSWER ✅ The beginning ESL teacher:
A. Knows theories, concepts and research related to L1 and L2
acquisition.
, B. Uses knowledge of theories, concepts and research related to L1 and
L2 acquisition to select effective, appropriate methods and strategies
for promoting students' English-language development at various
stages.
C. Knows cognitive processes (e.g., memorization, categorization,
generalization, metacognition) involved in synthesizing and
internalizing language rules for second-language acquisition.
D. Analyzes the interrelatedness of first- and second-language
acquisition and ways in which L1 may affect development of L2.
E. Knows common difficulties (e.g., idiomatic expressions; L1
interference in syntax, phonology and morphology) experienced by
ESL students in learning English and effective strategies for helping
students overcome those difficulties.
10.Competency 003: The ESL teacher understands ESL teaching methods and
uses this knowledge to plan and implement effective, developmentally
appropriate instruction. - ANSWER ✅ The beginning ESL teacher:
A. Knows applicable Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and
the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) and knows how
to design and implement appropriate instruction to address the
domains of listening, speaking and reading and writing.
B. Knows effective instructional methods and techniques for the ESL
classroom, and selects and uses instructional methods, resources and
materials appropriate for addressing specified instructional goals and
promoting learning in students with diverse characteristics and needs.
C. Applies knowledge of effective practices, resources and materials for
providing content-based ESL instruction, engaging students in critical
thinking and fostering students' communicative competence.
D. Knows how to integrate technological tools and resources into the
instructional process to facilitate and enhance student learning.
E. Applies effective classroom management and teaching strategies for a
variety of ESL environments and situations.
, 11.Competency 004: The ESL teacher understands how to promote students'
communicative language development in English. - ANSWER ✅ The
beginning ESL teacher:
A. Knows applicable Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and
the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) and knows how
to design and implement appropriate instruction to address the
proficiency level descriptors for the beginning, intermediate,
advanced and advanced-high levels in the listening and speaking
domains.
B. Understands the role of the linguistic environment and conversational
support in second-language development, and uses this knowledge to
provide a rich, comprehensible language environment with supported
opportunities for communication in English.
C. Applies knowledge of practices, resources and materials that are
effective in promoting students' communicative competence in
English.
D. Understands the interrelatedness of listening, speaking, reading and
writing and uses this knowledge to select and use effective strategies
for developing students' oral language proficiency in English in
accordance with the ELPS.
E. Applies knowledge of effective strategies for helping ESL students
transfer language skills from L1 to L2.
F. Applies knowledge of individual differences (e.g., developmental
characteristics, cultural and language background, academic strengths,
learning styles) to select focused, targeted and systematic second
language acquisition instruction to English-language learners in grade
3 or higher who are at the beginning or intermediate level of English-
language proficiency in listening and/or speaking in accordance with
the ELPS.
G. Knows how to provide appropriate feedback in response to students'
developing English-language skills.
12.Competency 005: The ESL teacher understands how to promote students'
literacy development in English. - ANSWER ✅ The beginning ESL teacher:
A. Knows applicable Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and
the English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS) and knows how
