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

During which stage might a student show significant overgeneralization in language rules?

1. Fossilization

2. Interlanguage

3. Preproduction

4. Advanced Language Use

The correct answer is: Interlanguage

The stage where a student is likely to show significant overgeneralization in language rules is interlanguage. This phase is characterized by the evolving linguistic competence of an English learner as they transition from their native language structures to those of English. In interlanguage, students often apply regular grammatical rules too broadly, leading to errors such as the use of "goed" instead of "went" or the creation of non-standard plurals. This overgeneralization occurs because learners are actively trying to make sense of the new language patterns they're encountering. It's a natural part of the language acquisition process and indicates that the student is experimenting with and applying language rules they've learned, even if they are not yet fully grasping the exceptions. The other stages mentioned do not typically highlight such a significant degree of overgeneralization. For instance, during fossilization, a learner's errors become fixed and are less likely to change. Preproduction focuses on the silent period, where students are not yet producing much language. Advanced language use involves a higher level of proficiency where overgeneralization is less common.