TESL EXAM STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Question: What are the six classifications within Olson’s English Learner
Typologies?
Answer: ✔️✔️ This framework identifies diverse student profiles—including Non-
English Dominant, those with Limited Formal Schooling, Balanced Bilinguals,
Advanced Bilinguals, those with Limited English Proficiency, and those requiring
SDAIE—to help teachers customize their instructional strategies.
Question: What are the primary drivers or "causes" behind migration and
immigration?
Answer: ✔️✔️ Movement is typically fueled by Push Factors (negative conditions
like war, poverty, or persecution) and Pull Factors (positive attractions such as job
opportunities, political freedom, or better education).
Question: How does the "Balanced Bilingual" typology differ from other learner
profiles?
Answer: ✔️✔️ Unlike learners struggling with a primary language, Balanced
Bilinguals demonstrate relatively equal and high levels of proficiency in both their
native tongue and English.
Question: In the context of migration, what is the difference between economic
and social motivations?
Answer: ✔️✔️ Economic migration is driven by the search for better wages and
career prospects, whereas social migration involves moving for family
reunification or a higher quality of life.
,Assimilation -ANSWER ✔️✔️Assimilation refers to the process by which
individuals or groups adopt the cultural, social, and behavioral norms of a different
culture or group. It involves the integration of newcomers or outsiders into the
prevailing culture of a society, often resulting in the loss or modification of some
aspects of their original culture. Assimilation can occur in various contexts, such as
when immigrants adopt the language and customs of their host country, or when
individuals from a minority group gradually adopt the practices and values of the
dominant culture. It's important to note that assimilation is a complex and
multifaceted process that can have both positive and negative consequences, and it
often raises questions about cultural identity and diversity.
Acculturation -ANSWER ✔️✔️It acknowledges that individuals or groups may
adopt some elements of the host culture while retaining aspects of their original
culture. This process can be more flexible and allows for cultural exchange and
adaptation.
Additive Bilingualism -ANSWER ✔️✔️Learning a second language while
maintaining the first one.
assimilationist discourses -ANSWER ✔️✔️discourses that devalue ELLS home
language and culture, seeing them as problems to overcome (also called forcing
monolingual discourses) practices that privilege English over other languages
(leads to subtractive bilingualism) . immigrants must give up native culture and
adopt dominant culture of new place
emergent bilingual -ANSWER ✔️✔️learning native and dominate language at the
same time
ESL -ANSWER ✔️✔️( English as a Second Language) A programming model in
which linguistically diverse students are instructed in the use of English as a means
, of communication and learning. This model is often used when native speakers of
multiple first languages are present within the same classroom.
ELL -ANSWER ✔️✔️student who is in the process of attaining proficiency in
English as a new additional language Extremely diverse group.
FEP -ANSWER ✔️✔️Fluent-English Proficient - Formally ELL, but now fluent in
English listening, speaking, reading, writing
heritage language -ANSWER ✔️✔️The language spoken in the student's home or by
members of the family.
language-as-problem orientation -ANSWER ✔️✔️A point of view in which the
home language of ELLs is viewed as a problem to be overcome as students learn
English and academic content through English.
Language-as-resource orientation -ANSWER ✔️✔️A point of view in which the
native language of ELLs is viewed as a strength to be developed and built on to
help the students learn English and academic content.
language majority students -ANSWER ✔️✔️Describes students who are native
speakers of the standard language variety spoken by the dominant group of a given
society. In the United States, the term covers students who speak standard English.
Language Minority Students -ANSWER ✔️✔️Describes students who are not native
speakers of the language spoken by the dominant group of a given society. In the
United States the term covers all students who speak languages other than standard
English.
AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS
Question: What are the six classifications within Olson’s English Learner
Typologies?
Answer: ✔️✔️ This framework identifies diverse student profiles—including Non-
English Dominant, those with Limited Formal Schooling, Balanced Bilinguals,
Advanced Bilinguals, those with Limited English Proficiency, and those requiring
SDAIE—to help teachers customize their instructional strategies.
Question: What are the primary drivers or "causes" behind migration and
immigration?
Answer: ✔️✔️ Movement is typically fueled by Push Factors (negative conditions
like war, poverty, or persecution) and Pull Factors (positive attractions such as job
opportunities, political freedom, or better education).
Question: How does the "Balanced Bilingual" typology differ from other learner
profiles?
Answer: ✔️✔️ Unlike learners struggling with a primary language, Balanced
Bilinguals demonstrate relatively equal and high levels of proficiency in both their
native tongue and English.
Question: In the context of migration, what is the difference between economic
and social motivations?
Answer: ✔️✔️ Economic migration is driven by the search for better wages and
career prospects, whereas social migration involves moving for family
reunification or a higher quality of life.
,Assimilation -ANSWER ✔️✔️Assimilation refers to the process by which
individuals or groups adopt the cultural, social, and behavioral norms of a different
culture or group. It involves the integration of newcomers or outsiders into the
prevailing culture of a society, often resulting in the loss or modification of some
aspects of their original culture. Assimilation can occur in various contexts, such as
when immigrants adopt the language and customs of their host country, or when
individuals from a minority group gradually adopt the practices and values of the
dominant culture. It's important to note that assimilation is a complex and
multifaceted process that can have both positive and negative consequences, and it
often raises questions about cultural identity and diversity.
Acculturation -ANSWER ✔️✔️It acknowledges that individuals or groups may
adopt some elements of the host culture while retaining aspects of their original
culture. This process can be more flexible and allows for cultural exchange and
adaptation.
Additive Bilingualism -ANSWER ✔️✔️Learning a second language while
maintaining the first one.
assimilationist discourses -ANSWER ✔️✔️discourses that devalue ELLS home
language and culture, seeing them as problems to overcome (also called forcing
monolingual discourses) practices that privilege English over other languages
(leads to subtractive bilingualism) . immigrants must give up native culture and
adopt dominant culture of new place
emergent bilingual -ANSWER ✔️✔️learning native and dominate language at the
same time
ESL -ANSWER ✔️✔️( English as a Second Language) A programming model in
which linguistically diverse students are instructed in the use of English as a means
, of communication and learning. This model is often used when native speakers of
multiple first languages are present within the same classroom.
ELL -ANSWER ✔️✔️student who is in the process of attaining proficiency in
English as a new additional language Extremely diverse group.
FEP -ANSWER ✔️✔️Fluent-English Proficient - Formally ELL, but now fluent in
English listening, speaking, reading, writing
heritage language -ANSWER ✔️✔️The language spoken in the student's home or by
members of the family.
language-as-problem orientation -ANSWER ✔️✔️A point of view in which the
home language of ELLs is viewed as a problem to be overcome as students learn
English and academic content through English.
Language-as-resource orientation -ANSWER ✔️✔️A point of view in which the
native language of ELLs is viewed as a strength to be developed and built on to
help the students learn English and academic content.
language majority students -ANSWER ✔️✔️Describes students who are native
speakers of the standard language variety spoken by the dominant group of a given
society. In the United States, the term covers students who speak standard English.
Language Minority Students -ANSWER ✔️✔️Describes students who are not native
speakers of the language spoken by the dominant group of a given society. In the
United States the term covers all students who speak languages other than standard
English.
