FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

Which statement best describes the Affective Filter?

1. It is unrelated to language acquisition

2. It must be down for positive factors to aid acquisition

3. It only affects beginner language learners

4. It is a fixed trait that does not change

The correct answer is: It must be down for positive factors to aid acquisition

The Affective Filter hypothesis, proposed by Stephen Krashen, posits that emotional factors such as anxiety, motivation, and self-confidence can significantly influence the process of language acquisition. When learners are anxious or lack motivation, the affective filter is "up," creating a barrier that prevents language input from being effectively processed and acquired. Conversely, when learners are relaxed, motivated, and confident, the filter is "down," allowing for better reception and retention of new language information. The key point is that a lowered affective filter facilitates the positive factors—such as supportive learning environments and engaging materials—needed for successful language acquisition. Therefore, the idea that the filter must be down for positive factors to aid acquisition accurately reflects how emotional states impact the learning process. In contrast, the other statements suggest that the affective filter is either unrelated to language acquisition, applies only to beginner learners, or is a fixed trait, which oversimplifies the concept and overlooks its dynamic nature in language learning.