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

Which group of English Language Learners does not primarily require explicit instruction on discourse patterns?

1. Spanish speakers

2. Students with strengths in mathematics

3. Students at younger ages

4. Visual learners

The correct answer is: Students at younger ages

Younger learners often acquire language naturally and through immersion in communicative contexts, where they can pick up discourse patterns organically. At this developmental stage, children are typically engaged in social interactions and language use in playful or meaningful ways, which allows them to intuitively grasp language rules and patterns without the need for direct, explicit instruction. In contrast, other groups, such as Spanish speakers or visual learners, may benefit significantly from explicit instruction on discourse patterns due to differences in language structure or learning preferences. Students with strengths in mathematics may also need guided instruction to navigate linguistic frameworks that are less familiar to them. Thus, younger learners are generally more adept at acquiring these patterns through less formal, experiential learning.