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

During which stage are learners likely to participate more with native speakers and demonstrate confidence?

1. Generalization

2. Speech Emergence

3. Advanced Fluency

4. Intermediate Fluency

The correct answer is: Intermediate Fluency

The stage known as Intermediate Fluency is characterized by learners showing increased participation and confidence when interacting with native speakers. At this point, learners have developed a substantial vocabulary and a grasp of more complex sentence structures, which allows them to express their thoughts more clearly. They are able to engage in conversations on various topics, understanding both social and academic language. This engagement and confidence often come from their ability to understand and produce language with more fluency, leading to richer interactions with native speakers. In contrast, during earlier stages such as Speech Emergence, learners might still be hesitant and rely heavily on basic vocabulary and simpler sentence structures. They lack the confidence and proficiency required to engage deeply in conversations, which can limit their opportunities to interact with native speakers. While in the Advanced Fluency stage, learners would be expected to perform at a level comparable to native speakers, demonstrating a high degree of proficiency in various forms of communication and less reliance on support.