FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What are the stages in Willig and Lee's Four Stages of Development in ESOL?

1. Pre-production, early production, speech emergence, intermediate fluency

2. Listening, speaking, reading, writing

3. Comprehension, consolidation, fluency, mastery

4. Planning, execution, assessment, reflection

The correct answer is: Pre-production, early production, speech emergence, intermediate fluency

The correct answer identifies the four stages of language acquisition as outlined by Willig and Lee, specifically tailored for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). These stages reflect the progression that learners typically go through as they acquire English. In the pre-production stage, students may be silent and focus on listening and comprehension rather than speaking. This stage is characterized by the absorbing of new vocabulary and structures. The early production stage marks the point where learners begin to use short phrases and simple sentences. They start to experiment with the language they have been exposed to, laying the groundwork for more complex communication. In the speech emergence stage, students become more active in producing longer sentences and can engage more in conversation. Their vocabulary expands significantly, allowing them to express more complex thoughts. Finally, the intermediate fluency stage is where learners have a greater command of the language and can communicate effectively in a broader range of contexts. They are able to handle more complicated sentences and discussions. This framework emphasizes the gradual progression of language skills, highlighting the importance of each stage in developing proficiency in English. Other options presented do not capture the specific developmental framework that Willig and Lee describe for ESOL learners.