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

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What is the term for combining words from a first language with the language being learned?

  1. Phonemic awareness

  2. Code-switching

  3. Divergent questioning

  4. Task analysis

The correct answer is: Code-switching

The term for combining words from a first language with the language being learned is called code-switching. This practice is common among bilingual speakers, who fluidly switch between languages depending on the context, audience, or to express ideas for which there may not be an exact translation. Code-switching can occur at various levels, including individual words, phrases, or even whole sentences. It reflects the speaker's linguistic competence and cultural identity, allowing them to navigate different social environments effectively. Phonemic awareness refers to the understanding of the individual sounds in spoken words and is primarily relevant to literacy development. Divergent questioning involves prompting students to generate multiple responses or solutions to a question and is more about critical thinking and creativity rather than language use. Task analysis is a systematic approach to breaking down tasks into smaller components for better understanding or teaching, and does not pertain to language mixing in the same way.