FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

Which skill is said to be acquired more easily than the productive skills of speaking and writing?

1. Listening skills

2. Receptive skills

3. Speaking skills

4. Writing skills

The correct answer is: Receptive skills

The response indicating that receptive skills are acquired more easily than productive skills is indeed a valid perspective on language acquisition. Receptive skills encompass listening and reading, which involve understanding and processing language that one receives. These skills tend to develop more naturally and with less conscious effort compared to productive skills like speaking and writing. Receptive skills are often practiced in more passive contexts, allowing learners to absorb language through exposure, such as listening to conversations or reading texts. This absorption allows for a greater focus on comprehension without the immediate pressure of producing language, which often requires a higher level of cognitive engagement and practice. Thus, the ability to understand language usually precedes the ability to produce it, aligning with language acquisition theories that emphasize the importance of listening and reading as foundational skills in the learning process.