FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

Students with basic interpersonal communication skills (BICS) can effectively use English in what context?

1. Formal presentations

2. Casual conversations

3. Academic writing

4. Complex problem-solving

The correct answer is: Casual conversations

Students with basic interpersonal communication skills (BICS) can effectively use English in casual conversations. BICS refers to the language skills necessary for everyday communication, which typically involves informal, social interactions. These skills enable learners to engage in simple dialogues, understand everyday language, and navigate social situations. In contrast, contexts such as formal presentations, academic writing, and complex problem-solving require higher-level language proficiency, including advanced vocabulary, specialized knowledge, and the ability to construct well-structured arguments or narratives. These situations demand cognitive academic language proficiency (CALP), which goes beyond the basic conversational skills associated with BICS. Thus, recognizing that BICS is best suited for casual discourse helps to delineate the different levels of language proficiency and their appropriate applications.