FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

During which stage of ELL development might a teacher keep error correction to a minimum?

1. Stage 1: Pre-production

2. Stage 2: Early Production

3. Stage 3: Speech Emergent

4. Stage 4: Intermediate Fluency

The correct answer is: Stage 3: Speech Emergent

In the context of ELL (English Language Learner) development, minimizing error correction is most beneficial during the speech emergent stage. This stage is characterized by learners who have moved beyond the very early phases of language acquisition and are beginning to formulate more complex sentences. However, they may still struggle with vocabulary and grammar. At this point, the focus should be on encouraging communication and building confidence. Excessive correction can lead to discouragement and may inhibit students from practicing and using the language they are learning. Therefore, by keeping error correction to a minimum, teachers create an atmosphere where learners feel safe to express themselves, promoting their overall language development. This approach contrasts with other stages where students are still heavily reliant on memorized phrases or have not yet begun to use language creatively, making it more appropriate to provide targeted and constructive feedback to guide learning.