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

Which term is used for the academic language proficiency needed for subject area content?

1. Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP)

2. Basic Interpersonal Communicative Skills (BICS)

3. Common Underlying Proficiency (CUP)

4. Language Proficiency Development (LPD)

The correct answer is: Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP)

The term that refers to the academic language proficiency required for subject area content is Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP). This concept emphasizes the skills necessary for students to understand and use language in more complex academic contexts, such as those found in subject-specific learning. CALP involves the ability to interpret and produce language that is used in academic settings, including understanding vocabulary, syntax, and discourse specific to various subject areas. CALP is contrasted with Basic Interpersonal Communicative Skills (BICS), which pertains to the everyday conversational language used in social interactions. While BICS develops more quickly and is essential for basic communication, CALP takes longer to acquire because it encompasses deeper cognitive processing and the ability to engage with abstract concepts. Common Underlying Proficiency (CUP) relates to the theory that language skills develop in a way that knowledge gained in one language can support learning in another, but it does not specifically address the level of academic language proficiency needed for content learning. Language Proficiency Development (LPD) is a broader term that might encompass various strategies and phases of language learning, but it lacks the specific reference to academic proficiency required for subject areas that CALP provides. Thus, the distinction for academic language skills directly linking to content areas makes CAL