FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

Which of the following skills does BICS primarily pertain to?

1. Formal academic discussions

2. Casual social conversations

3. Technical writing

4. Public speaking

The correct answer is: Casual social conversations

BICS, or Basic Interpersonal Communicative Skills, primarily pertains to casual social conversations. This term was introduced by linguist Jim Cummins to describe the language proficiency required for everyday communication. BICS encompasses the informal language skills necessary for students to interact with peers in social settings, such as conversing during recess or participating in simple discussions. These skills are typically developed in a relatively short time frame, often within a few years of exposure to a new language. In contrast to BICS, CALP, or Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency, refers to the more complex language skills required for academic success, including understanding and producing formal academic discussions, engaging in technical writing, and excelling in public speaking. Since BICS focuses on social interaction rather than academic proficiency, it is essential for educators to differentiate these two types of language skills when assessing students' language development.