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Section 4: Sample Multiple-Choice Questions
WEST–E Designated World Languages (100)

The sample test questions in this study guide are designed to give you an introduction to the nature of the questions included in the Washington Educator Skills Tests—Endorsements (WEST–E). They represent the various types of questions you may expect to see on an actual test in this test field; however, they are not designed to predict your performance on the test as a whole.

Work through the sample questions carefully before referring to the answers. The correct response and test objective being assessed are provided for each question. When you are finished with the sample questions, you may wish to review the test objectives and descriptive statements provided in the test framework for this test field.

In addition to reading and answering the sample questions, you should also utilize the following preparation materials available in this study guide:

Practice Questions

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Language and Language Development

Objective 0001: Understand the structure, purposes, and uses of language.

1. Which of the following activities would best help world language students learn pragmatic information about a new vocabulary word?

  1. seeing or hearing several occurrences of the vocabulary word in different contexts
  2. writing the vocabulary word in a vocabulary notebook
  3. copying definitions of the vocabulary word from multiple dictionaries
  4. identifying the etymological history of the vocabulary word
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

2. A teacher shows students a short video in which actors use the target language to convey conversational expressions such as requesting, apologizing, advising, greeting, and complimenting. The teacher would most effectively use the video in a lesson on which of the following topics related to the uses of language?

  1. speech acts
  2. sentence parts
  3. dialectal variation
  4. intonation patterns
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.
Objective 0002: Understand processes and sequences in language development and concepts related to second language acquisition.

3. Use the dialogue below to answer the question that follows.

Which of the following language acquisition processes is best illustrated by this exchange between a parent and child?

Child: cake Peter house

Parent: We had cake at Peter's house.

Child: Peter toy

Parent: Peter got a new toy, didn't he?

Which of the following language acquisition processes is best illustrated by this exchange between a parent and child?

  1. The parent is using a stimulus-response-reinforcement approach to encourage language development.
  2. The child is overregularizing previously applied language rules.
  3. The parent is using conversational scaffolding to promote language development.
  4. The child is testing a grammatical hypothesis through experimentation.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

4. According to Cummins' Common Underlying Proficiency theory, learning a second language is primarily supported by the learner's:

  1. implicit cultural knowledge.
  2. innate language faculty.
  3. cognitive maturation.
  4. metalinguistic skills.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.
Objective 0003: Understand major concepts related to child and adolescent development and the individuality of language learners in the world language classroom.

5. Which of the following teaching strategies best promotes equity in world language instruction?

  1. leading students on trips abroad during school vacation periods
  2. inviting language experts to address students during school assemblies
  3. encouraging students from all backgrounds to enroll in world language classes
  4. providing opportunities for world language students to collaborate with English language learners
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

6. According to Vygotsky's theory of cognitive development, adults primarily enhance children's acquisition of new conceptual knowledge in which of the following ways?

  1. modeling intellectual skills
  2. providing explicit instruction
  3. creating a safe learning environment
  4. reinforcing correct behavioral responses
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.
Objective 0004: Understand the role of developmental stages and sequences in creating an appropriate and positive learning environment to meet the needs of all students.

7. Which of the following activities would be most appropriate for promoting meaningful communication in an intermediate world language class at the high school level?

  1. holding a contest for the most new vocabulary words learned in the target language at the end of each textbook chapter
  2. having students watch video recordings of native speakers of the target language describing their lives and write summaries for the teacher
  3. holding a focused target-language discussion after a field trip to a museum exhibit of art from a target-language-speaking culture
  4. having students work in pairs to complete workbook exercises that reinforce newly-learned grammatical concepts in the target language
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

8. A teacher routinely uses a variety of strategies to enhance students' body language awareness during instruction that aims to develop their speaking skills for social purposes. In addition, the teacher often has students participate in role-play activities, engage in nonverbal communication, and exchange nonverbal cues during conversations. The teacher's approach primarily promotes students' language learning by helping students:

  1. strengthen classroom solidarity.
  2. acquire metacognitive strategies.
  3. integrate speech with physical movement.
  4. take active part in small-group discussions.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.

Principles of World Language Instruction, Assessment, and Professional Development

Objective 0005: Demonstrate knowledge of principles of instruction in the world language classroom.

9. A world language teacher learns that several members of a local orchestra are speakers of the target language. The teacher invites the musicians to visit the classroom and participate in a question-and-answer session in the target language with students. This activity best illustrates the teacher's awareness of the importance of:

  1. providing a model of lifelong language learning.
  2. appealing to students' interests in the language classroom.
  3. scaffolding students' language development.
  4. involving communities beyond the language classroom.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.

10. When planning a lesson, a teacher would differentiate instruction to address the linguistic needs of all students by taking which of the following steps first?

  1. selecting a variety of assessments to use during the lesson
  2. identifying reading materials written for diverse skill levels
  3. determining relevant language objectives for the lesson
  4. reviewing the content-relevant state learning standards
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: C.
Objective 0006: Demonstrate knowledge of principles of assessment in the world language classroom.

11. Which of the following types of student assessment during the term would best indicate the effectiveness of instruction in a world language classroom?

  1. oral interviews
  2. formative assessments
  3. standardized tests
  4. summative assessments
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

12. A high school teacher wants to assess the progress of students' writing skills over time and use the assessment when sharing information on each student's progress with parents/guardians and other teachers who work with the student. Which of the following assessment strategies would be the most appropriate for this purpose?

  1. maintaining individual portfolios of student writing samples that can be added to on a regular basis
  2. recording videos of students presenting formal writing pieces at various stages of the writing process
  3. completing classroom observation checklists that indicate student mastery of specific writing conventions
  4. conferencing with students about their writing assignments and taking notes on the conference on a quarterly basis
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.
Objective 0007: Understand language proficiency guidelines, performance characteristics of language learners, and the integration of standards in the world language classroom.

13. Which of the following best summarizes the goals of the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st Century?

  1. to prepare students to participate in multilingual communities in culturally appropriate ways
  2. to mandate target-language curriculum content and recommended sequence of study
  3. to determine reasonable target-language expectations for individual districts and schools
  4. to provide diverse scenarios that ensure impartial assessments of students' linguistic performance
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: A.

14. According to American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency guidelines, a student at the novice proficiency level should be expected to achieve which of the following goals in using the target language for speaking and writing?

  1. compose several sentences to ask and answer questions about familiar topics
  2. communicate spontaneously on everyday topics by using memorized phrases
  3. express ideas and opinions about familiar topics by a series of connected sentences
  4. prepare and deliver a brief presentation on everyday topics using various time frames
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.
Objective 0008: Demonstrate knowledge of strategies for professional development.

15. A group of world language teachers is discussing a variety of methods and activities for their continued professional development. The teachers are considering self-directed activities such as case studies, action research, journal writing, and support meetings. These activities would best assist professional development if they are:

  1. individual.
  2. group-based.
  3. one-on-one.
  4. institutional.
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: B.

16. A teacher's goal is to identify professional strengths and weaknesses in order to improve teaching. The teacher would most effectively achieve this goal by taking which of the following actions on a regular basis?

  1. reading newsletters from professional associations
  2. asking students' families for constructive feedback
  3. seeking advice from other school staff members
  4. examining lessons through a self-reflection log
Enter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded
Correct Response: D.