ESL TExES Preparation Test
What is the best reason why ESL teachers should spend time developing students' awareness
and understanding of cultural values and practices? ** Answer ** Language and culture are
intertwined and cultural education reinforces language education
Books, magazines and videos related to students' home cultures would be most effective to use
as resources for which of the following purposes? ** Answer ** To integrate cultural content
into language arts and content-area instruction throughout the curriculum
During the first half of the twentieth century, most states in the US passed laws mandating
English as the language of instruction for public schools. These actions were largely in response
to which of the following events or trends? ** Answer ** Massive immigration around 1900
provoked concerns among US citizens about the loss of a common language and loss of control
of society to foreigners
Research has shown that in addition to promoting English language learning, sheltered
instruction also has which of the following benefits for language-minority children? ** Answer
** Students gain content area language and skills and have equal access to the curriculum
A research study of Southeast Asian students found a positive correlation between higher
grades and maintenance of pride in ethnicity. These results suggest that academic success for
language-minority students can best be achieved through which of the following? ** Answer
** A dual-language classroom in which language minority and language majority students
learn together using both languages and learning about each others' cultures
A third grade ESL teacher focuses primarily on accurate decoding and literal comprehension
when providing reading instruction and feedback to students who have had limited prior
experience with reading. Research has shown that this practice will most likely have which of
the following effects on the students? ** Answer ** They will tend to develop a narrow
concept of the nature, uses and value of reading.
, In an optimal second-language learning environment, most students take an average of five to
seven years to develop ** Answer ** Academic-language proficiency
A student says, "I like to play floor." The problem with this sentence can best be described using
which of the following areas of linguistics? ** Answer ** Semantics
Before having her students read an English passage about transportation in social studies, a
teacher initiates a discussion about vehicles and other craft in which students have traveled. In
this activity, the discussion is most likely intended to promote the students' ESL development by
helping them: ** Answer ** Apply their vocabulary knowledge to new contexts
An ELL is experiencing difficulty with an aspect of English phonology. In order to address a
difficulty in this area, the students' teacher should initially focus instruction on the associated:
** Answer ** Target sound
A student begins a sentence in English, inserts a Spanish phrase, and then finishes the sentence
in English. The student is demonstrating which of the following language phenomena? **
Answer ** Code-switching
Which of the following language learning strategies is most likely to help ELLs increase their oral
fluency in English? ** Answer ** Initiation frequent interactions with English-speaking peers
Students who have already acquired academic language skills and concepts in their L1 tend to
develop which of the following more rapidly in their L2? ** Answer ** Reading
comprehension skills
Spanish, Vietnamese and English all share the same alphabet. However, the corresponding
sounds and symbols of Spanish are close to those of English, while those of Vietnamese are
closer to French. How would this situation likely affect the English language development of
Vietnamese and Spanish speakers ** Answer ** Spanish speakers will have less difficulty
than Vietnamese speakers in transferring their graphophonic knowledge and skills to English
What is the best reason why ESL teachers should spend time developing students' awareness
and understanding of cultural values and practices? ** Answer ** Language and culture are
intertwined and cultural education reinforces language education
Books, magazines and videos related to students' home cultures would be most effective to use
as resources for which of the following purposes? ** Answer ** To integrate cultural content
into language arts and content-area instruction throughout the curriculum
During the first half of the twentieth century, most states in the US passed laws mandating
English as the language of instruction for public schools. These actions were largely in response
to which of the following events or trends? ** Answer ** Massive immigration around 1900
provoked concerns among US citizens about the loss of a common language and loss of control
of society to foreigners
Research has shown that in addition to promoting English language learning, sheltered
instruction also has which of the following benefits for language-minority children? ** Answer
** Students gain content area language and skills and have equal access to the curriculum
A research study of Southeast Asian students found a positive correlation between higher
grades and maintenance of pride in ethnicity. These results suggest that academic success for
language-minority students can best be achieved through which of the following? ** Answer
** A dual-language classroom in which language minority and language majority students
learn together using both languages and learning about each others' cultures
A third grade ESL teacher focuses primarily on accurate decoding and literal comprehension
when providing reading instruction and feedback to students who have had limited prior
experience with reading. Research has shown that this practice will most likely have which of
the following effects on the students? ** Answer ** They will tend to develop a narrow
concept of the nature, uses and value of reading.
, In an optimal second-language learning environment, most students take an average of five to
seven years to develop ** Answer ** Academic-language proficiency
A student says, "I like to play floor." The problem with this sentence can best be described using
which of the following areas of linguistics? ** Answer ** Semantics
Before having her students read an English passage about transportation in social studies, a
teacher initiates a discussion about vehicles and other craft in which students have traveled. In
this activity, the discussion is most likely intended to promote the students' ESL development by
helping them: ** Answer ** Apply their vocabulary knowledge to new contexts
An ELL is experiencing difficulty with an aspect of English phonology. In order to address a
difficulty in this area, the students' teacher should initially focus instruction on the associated:
** Answer ** Target sound
A student begins a sentence in English, inserts a Spanish phrase, and then finishes the sentence
in English. The student is demonstrating which of the following language phenomena? **
Answer ** Code-switching
Which of the following language learning strategies is most likely to help ELLs increase their oral
fluency in English? ** Answer ** Initiation frequent interactions with English-speaking peers
Students who have already acquired academic language skills and concepts in their L1 tend to
develop which of the following more rapidly in their L2? ** Answer ** Reading
comprehension skills
Spanish, Vietnamese and English all share the same alphabet. However, the corresponding
sounds and symbols of Spanish are close to those of English, while those of Vietnamese are
closer to French. How would this situation likely affect the English language development of
Vietnamese and Spanish speakers ** Answer ** Spanish speakers will have less difficulty
than Vietnamese speakers in transferring their graphophonic knowledge and skills to English
