Question 1

Alberto speaks Italian with his grandmother and English with everyone else at home, but he is starting school and needs to use English at school. Based on research about bilingualism, what should Alberto be encouraged to do about developing skills in both languages?

Accepted Answer

Research shows that being bilingual actually increases cognitive abilities and does not interfere with language development. Therefore, Alberto should continue to develop skills in both languages.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT true of Indigenous languages in Canada?

Accepted Answer

Indigenous languages in Canada are not disappearing.

Question 3

Susana says "my backpack was forgotted", which is an example of what problem of learning grammar?

Accepted Answer

Susana overregularized the word "forget" by using the past tense form "forgotted", which is not correct in English. This is a common error in language learning where learners apply a rule to every situation, even when it's not applicable.

Question 4

Alexa yelled to her mother in the grocery store, "I want chips!" Her mother told her to use her small, indoor voice at the store. Alexa shows that she does not yet understand

Accepted Answer

Pragmatics of language refers to using language appropriately in different contexts and situations. In this case, Alexa is not using an appropriate tone or volume of voice for a grocery store setting, which shows a lack of understanding of pragmatics.

Question 5

Colton is almost four years old and has an expressive vocabulary of about 1000 words. Based on milestones in early childhood language, what should Colton's parents be doing to encourage Colton's language development

Accepted Answer

At almost four years old, Colton is at a stage where storytelling and social interactions can significantly enhance his language development. Encouraging him to tell stories and play with others helps build his vocabulary, narrative skills, and social communication abilities.

Question 6

Generally, students are not ready to study the rules of a language formally until about age five. This is when most students have started to gain

Accepted Answer

Metalinguistic awareness refers to the ability to think about language as a system and to analyze and manipulate it. This skill typically starts to develop around age five, which is when students are able to understand and apply formal rules of language. They may begin to notice and comment on the structure of sentences, recognize parts of speech, and understand how words can be combined and modified to create meaning. While literacy (A), semantic speech (C), and syntax (D) are all important aspects of language development, they are not necessarily indicators of a student's readiness to study language rules formally.

Question 7

An adolescent who knows how to keep a conversation going at an informal gathering is demonstrating good

Accepted Answer

Pragmatics refers to an individual's ability to use language appropriately in social situations. It involves understanding and using nonverbal cues, taking turns in conversations, and interpreting the meaning behind someone's words. Therefore, an adolescent who knows how to keep a conversation going at an informal gathering is demonstrating good pragmatic skills.

Question 8

Which one of the following statements is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

Decoding skills (the ability to sound out words) and oral language skills (the ability to understand and use spoken language) are both important components of emergent literacy, which is the process of developing literacy skills before formal instruction in reading and writing. Choices B, C, and D are all incorrect.

Question 9

Daniela is in the first grade. Her family left Mexico and moved to Vancouver one year ago. Daniela is having difficulty learning to speak and read in English. Based on bilingual emergent literacy research, what should her teachers prioritize to help Daniela at this stage of literacy?

Accepted Answer

Bilingual emergent literacy research suggests that prioritizing the growth of receptive vocabulary in both languages is effective in promoting eventual development of reading and writing skills. Daniela's difficulties with English may stem from limited exposure to the language, so focusing only on teaching her to speak English may not be effective in the long run. Building her vocabulary in both languages will help her to ultimately become literate in English as well.

Question 10

Which of the following situations is an example of subtractive bilingualism?

Accepted Answer

Subtractive bilingualism refers to a situation where a person loses their first language as they acquire a second language. In option D, Jasmina learned Croatian as a child, but as she became fluent in English, she eventually forgot her first language, which is a clear example of subtractive bilingualism. The other options either involve no loss of the first language (option B) or involve learning and maintaining two languages (options A and C).

Question 11

Which of the following most accurately represents research concerning the issue of critical periods for learning language?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that there is a critical period for learning accurate pronunciation in a language, typically ending around puberty, after which it becomes more difficult to achieve native-like pronunciation.

Question 12

Reese is a deaf one-year-old child. Her parents have been learning and using signed language since Reese's birth. What might they expect about their daughter's language skill development?

Accepted Answer

Reese's exposure to signed language from birth allows her to develop language skills at the same rate as hearing children, as language acquisition is not dependent on the modality (spoken or signed) but on consistent exposure and interaction.

Question 13

Children who are raised bilingual from birth can be expected to:

Accepted Answer

Children who are raised bilingual from birth can be expected to reach the language milestones in both languages at about the same time. Studies have shown that simultaneous bilinguals, who acquire two languages from birth, develop both languages at the same rate and in parallel.

Question 14

Ken believes reading is very important and is teaching his four-year-old son the letters of the alphabet. Knowing the letters of the alphabet is what type of foundational skill for reading

Accepted Answer

Knowing the letters of the alphabet is a skill in understanding codes, which is a foundational skill for reading. It allows children to understand that letters represent sounds and helps them decode written words. While oral language skills, knowledge of syntax, and metalinguistic awareness are also important for reading, they are not directly related to the skill of understanding codes.

Question 15

The area of language that specifically deals with the ordering of words is called

Accepted Answer

Syntax is the area of language that deals with the ordering of words within a sentence or phrase.

Question 16

Receptive vocabulary refers to:

Accepted Answer

Receptive vocabulary refers to the words that a student can understand in spoken or written form, even if they may not be able to produce those words themselves.

Question 17

By what age do most children master the sounds of their native language?

Accepted Answer

Most children master the sounds of their native language by the age of 5 years, as they have developed the ability to produce and understand the phonetic elements of their language.

Question 18

At home in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Shawn only speaks Inuktitut with his grandmother who has lived her entire life in Nunavut. When speaking with his grandmother in Nunavut, Shawn is using his

Accepted Answer

Shawn's language use with his grandmother in Nunavut is considered a heritage language as it is the language of his ancestors and cultural heritage.

Question 19

Researchers have found the best time for one to learn a second language on one's own is

Accepted Answer

Early childhood is considered the best time to learn a second language due to the brain's high plasticity and ability to absorb new information more easily.

Question 20

Which one of the following statements is TRUE of emergent literacy?

Accepted Answer

Emergent literacy refers to the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that are developmental precursors to conventional literacy. Preschool children's oral language skills are an important component of emergent literacy, and research has shown that oral language skills can predict later reading success. Therefore, choice D is the only true statement, while the other options are incorrect.

Quiz 5: Language Development, Language Diversity, and Immigrant Education