FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What does pre-production indicate in the stages of language acquisition?

1. Students start using simple sentences

2. Students are not yet speaking but are absorbing language

3. Students can communicate with complex vocabulary

4. Students are proficient and can express ideas freely

The correct answer is: Students are not yet speaking but are absorbing language

The term "pre-production" in the context of language acquisition refers to a crucial developmental stage where students are not yet verbalizing language, but instead, they are in the process of absorbing and internalizing it. During this phase, learners are typically focused on listening and understanding the language being spoken around them, which lays the foundational groundwork for future speech. They may demonstrate their comprehension through non-verbal communication, such as gestures or responding to visual cues, rather than verbalizing their thoughts through speaking. This stage is essential as it leads to increased familiarity with vocabulary, sentence structures, and the overall rhythm of the language before the student transitions into more active forms of communication.