FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What is the Monitor Hypothesis regarding second language acquisition?

1. A claim that learning grammatical rules enables future monitoring of language

2. A theory proposing that reading is more important than speaking

3. A method for teaching vocabulary effectively

4. A practice limited to native speakers only

The correct answer is: A claim that learning grammatical rules enables future monitoring of language

The Monitor Hypothesis is centered around the role of conscious knowledge of language in the process of second language acquisition. It posits that learners acquire the ability to speak and write in a second language primarily through natural communication and immersion — referred to as "acquisition." However, once learners have acquired a certain level of proficiency, they can use their understanding of grammatical rules to "monitor" their language use as they communicate. This monitoring occurs when learners apply newly learned language structures and rules to enhance accuracy and correctness in their spoken or written output. This concept emphasizes that while communicative fluency is developed through informal use of the language, the conscious application of grammar rules allows learners to correct or refine their language output. Therefore, they can produce more accurate language as they become more comfortable with the second language, highlighting the interaction between acquired knowledge and learned knowledge in language use. Other options do not adequately capture the essence of the Monitor Hypothesis. For example, the idea that reading is more important than speaking does not reflect the focus on monitoring language output through learned rules. Similarly, a method for teaching vocabulary or a practice limited to native speakers diverges from the core premise of the Monitor Hypothesis, which is explicitly concerned with the relationship between learning grammatical rules and