NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

At which stage do learners begin identifying letters, sounds, and basic patterns in reading?

1. Early Stage Literacy

2. Emergent Literacy Phase

3. Transitional Literacy Stage

4. Advanced Fluency Stage

The correct answer is: Emergent Literacy Phase

The Emergent Literacy Phase is characterized by learners beginning to identify letters, sounds, and basic patterns in reading. During this phase, children develop foundational skills that precede conventional reading and writing. They become familiar with the alphabet, learn to recognize print, and start to understand that letters represent sounds, which are essential components of reading. Learners in this stage often engage with books, exploring pictures and layers of meaning beyond just the text; they might also begin to associate sounds with letters and recognize repetitive patterns in language, contributing to their phonological awareness. This is an exciting time when they start making connections that lead to more advanced reading skills in subsequent stages. Other stages, such as Early Stage Literacy, the Transitional Literacy Stage, and the Advanced Fluency Stage, represent different phases of literacy development where learners use skills they've already acquired or develop more complex reading and writing abilities. While these stages are vital to overall literacy development, it is specifically the Emergent Literacy Phase where the initial skills of letter and sound identification are formed.