Praxis ESOL flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Phoneme
- Smallest unit of sound that can distinguish meaning in a language, such as /p/ versus /b/ in English pat and bat.
- Allophone
- Predictable phonetic variant of a phoneme that does not change meaning, such as the different p sounds in pin and spin.
- Morpheme
- Smallest meaningful unit of language; free morphemes stand alone, while bound morphemes must attach to other morphemes.
- Syntax
- Rules governing how words combine into phrases and sentences, including word order and grammatical relationships.
- Pragmatics
- Study of how context, speaker intent, and social norms shape meaning beyond literal word and sentence meaning.
- Cognate
- Word in two languages that shares form and meaning because of common linguistic ancestry, such as English mother and Spanish madre.
- Register
- Variety of language used for a particular audience, purpose, or setting, ranging from informal conversation to academic writing.
- Comprehensible input
- Language input slightly beyond the learner's current level that is made understandable through context, visuals, or simplification, often described as i+1.
- Affective filter
- Emotional factors such as anxiety, low motivation, or low confidence that can prevent learners from taking in comprehensible input.
- Output hypothesis
- Claim that producing language pushes learners to notice gaps in their knowledge and to test and refine their interlanguage.
- Interaction hypothesis
- Claim that negotiation of meaning during interaction provides feedback and modified input that support second-language development.
- BICS
- Basic interpersonal communicative skills; conversational language proficiency that typically develops within about two years of exposure.
- CALP
- Cognitive academic language proficiency; school-related language needed for abstract thinking and literacy, often taking five to seven years to develop.
- Interlanguage
- Learner's evolving internal rule system for the second language, containing target-like features, developmental errors, and first-language influence.
- SIOP
- Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol; lesson-planning framework with components such as content and language objectives, comprehensible input, interaction, and review.
- Language objective
- Observable lesson goal describing the language functions, vocabulary, or structures students will use to demonstrate content learning.
- Scaffolding
- Temporary support such as modeling, graphic organizers, or sentence frames that helps learners complete tasks they cannot yet do independently.
- Sheltered instruction
- Teaching grade-level content in English with language supports so English learners can access and master the same curriculum.
- Cooperative learning
- Instructional arrangement in which small heterogeneous groups work toward shared goals with structured roles and individual accountability.
- Wait time
- Brief pause after asking a question that gives English learners time to process and formulate a response.
- Formative assessment
- Ongoing checks during instruction used to adjust teaching and give feedback rather than to assign a final grade.
- Summative assessment
- Assessment administered after instruction to measure achievement or proficiency against standards, often for grading or accountability.
- Validity
- Degree to which an assessment measures the intended construct and supports the interpretations and decisions made from scores.
- Reliability
- Consistency and stability of assessment scores across tasks, occasions, and raters; a reliable test yields similar results.
- Accommodation
- Assessment support that removes barriers without changing the construct being measured, such as extended time or a bilingual glossary.
- Rubric
- Scoring guide listing criteria and performance levels used to evaluate student work consistently and provide descriptive feedback.
- Culturally responsive teaching
- Instruction that incorporates students' cultural references, values, and experiences into curriculum and uses them as resources for learning.
- Funds of knowledge
- Skills, knowledge, and experiences that students acquire in their households and communities and that teachers can connect to school learning.
- Equity
- Fairness in education that provides supports and resources according to students' needs so all can access learning.
- Lau v. Nichols
- 1974 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that English learners must receive meaningful education and cannot simply be placed in English-only classes without support.
- Castañeda standard
- 1981 legal standard requiring bilingual education programs to be based on sound theory, implemented effectively, and evaluated for effectiveness.
- Family engagement
- Partnership with families that uses respectful communication, interpreters, and cultural knowledge to support student learning.