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

What phase involves knowledge that words consist of specific sounds?

1. Phonemic Awareness Phase

2. Transitional Literacy Stage

3. Early Stage Literacy

4. Intermediate Fluency Stage

The correct answer is: Phonemic Awareness Phase

The Phonemic Awareness Phase is crucial in the development of reading and writing skills, particularly for English language learners. This phase focuses specifically on the ability to recognize and manipulate individual sounds, or phonemes, in spoken words. When learners understand that words are made up of distinct sounds, they can more effectively decode and comprehend language, which is foundational for literacy. In this phase, learners are taught to listen for, identify, and produce the individual sounds in words. For example, understanding that the word "cat" consists of the sounds /k/, /æ/, and /t/ allows learners to break down words into their respective phonemes. This skill is vital for future reading development, as it supports the ability to blend sounds to form words and to segment words into sounds for spelling. The other stages mentioned—Transitional Literacy Stage, Early Stage Literacy, and Intermediate Fluency Stage—focus on different aspects of literacy development, such as transitioning from phonetic awareness to reading fluency and comprehension, rather than the specific recognition of sounds that characterizes the Phonemic Awareness Phase.