FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What are the stages in Willig and Lee's model for language development?

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

2. Listening, speaking, reading, writing

3. Basic, intermediate, advanced

4. Introductory, developing, proficient

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

Willig and Lee's model for language development outlines a series of distinct stages that learners typically progress through as they acquire a new language, particularly in the context of English language learning. The stages identified are: pre-production, early production, speech emergence, and intermediate fluency. In the pre-production stage, learners are not yet producing the language actively but may be listening and understanding a limited amount of vocabulary. This is often referred to as the "silent period." As they move into early production, they start to use simple phrases and respond to questions. The speech emergence stage sees learners gaining more confidence and beginning to communicate in longer sentences, while the intermediate fluency stage marks a point where learners can express more complex ideas and thoughts but are still refining their linguistic abilities. The other options present different frameworks or categorizations that do not align specifically with Willig and Lee’s focus on the progressive stages of language acquisition. Understanding these stages is crucial for educators as they help tailor instruction to meet the needs of learners at different proficiency levels. This structured approach aids in developing effective teaching strategies and providing appropriate support for students on their language learning journeys.