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

Which stage of second language acquisition involves ELLs having a vocabulary of about 1,000 words and the ability to produce simple phrases?

1. Advanced Fluency

2. Speech Emergence

3. Intermediate Fluency

4. Generalization

The correct answer is: Speech Emergence

The stage of second language acquisition referred to in the question is characterized by English Language Learners (ELLs) having a vocabulary of approximately 1,000 words and the capability to produce simple phrases. This stage is known as Speech Emergence. At this level, learners can communicate in more complex sentences compared to earlier stages, though their language is still developing. They begin to generate short, simple sentences and respond to questions with phrases or even complete sentences, demonstrating a significant increase in their ability to convey meaning and engage in conversation. In this stage, students are also able to understand more language spoken around them, though they may not yet capture all vocabulary or more intricate language structures. The rapid expansion of their vocabulary and the ability to form basic sentences indicates they are transitioning towards greater fluency, setting the foundation for the subsequent stages in language acquisition.