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

Which language acquisition stage follows preproduction and involves learners beginning to produce short phrases?

1. Beginning production

2. Intermediate stage

3. Fluent stage

4. Advanced fluency

The correct answer is: Beginning production

The stage that follows preproduction in language acquisition is characterized by learners starting to generate short phrases and basic sentences in the target language. This is known as the beginning production stage. During this phase, students begin to actively engage in using the language they have been exposed to, moving beyond simple responses and demonstrating a growing ability to communicate their thoughts and ideas, albeit in a limited manner. In the beginning production stage, learners typically experiment with the language, using a combination of vocabulary they have learned and grammatical structures they are starting to grasp. This growth indicates significant progress from the preproduction stage, where the focus was primarily on listening and understanding without active speaking. The shift to producing short phrases reflects a developing confidence and ability to convey meaning, setting the foundation for further language development.