Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Practice Test

What is a way an elementary teacher can effectively promote academic language development during a math lesson?

1. By integrating students’ receptive and expressive language skills.

2. By supporting students’ learning through contextualized language.

3. By reinforcing recognition of English numbers.

4. By allowing practice with English plurals and their forms.

The correct answer is: By supporting students’ learning through contextualized language.

Supporting students' learning through contextualized language is essential in promoting academic language development during a math lesson. Contextualized language helps learners understand concepts by providing relevant and meaningful context in which the vocabulary and language structures are used. In math, this means integrating mathematical terms, symbols, and problem-solving processes in situations that students can relate to, thus enhancing their comprehension and ability to communicate mathematically. For example, when teaching addition or subtraction, using real-life scenarios or visual aids, such as pictures of fruits or toys, can help students grasp the concepts better and use appropriate mathematical language. Contextualized language also allows students to see how math is applied in everyday life, making the learning experience more engaging and relevant. While the other approaches mentioned can be beneficial in certain contexts, they do not directly emphasize the integration of language within meaningful contexts as effectively as contextualized language does. Overall, this method nurtures both their mathematical understanding and language skills simultaneously.