English Pedagogy (Language Skills) - Software Development MCQ

Language provides a bank of memories and symbols inherited from one's fellow speakers and created in one's own lifetime. It helps an individual to communicate with others effectively. 

• Speaking is a crucial part of second language learning and teaching. It is not merely a repetition of drills or memorization of dialogues. Instead, it helps to improve one's communicative skills, because, only in that way, people can express themselves.

Key Points

• Such an activity where the students are allowed to speak is the characteristic of a successful speaking activity as it makes students able to relate language learning with real-life situations and:
  • promotes learners to encounter real-life situations.
  • emphasizes the functional use of language in the < />real context.
  • prepares the learners for meaningful and authentic communicative activity.
  • lays emphasis on using language to communicate meaningfully in the target language.

  Hence, it could be concluded that such an activity where the students are allowed to speak is the characteristic of a successful speaking activity.

A 'listening stimulus' typically involves presenting auditory input to students, which they listen to and then discuss or share their understanding.

Key Points

• It describes a scenario where students are divided into separate groups, provided with the listening stimulus, and then come together again to share and discuss what they listened to.
• This process allows for collaboration, reflection, and sharing of perspectives based on the auditory input.

Hint

• An information gap activity is a teaching technique where students have different pieces of information, and they need to communicate or share their information with others to complete a task.
• Listening to a good commentary involves students listening to a spoken commentary or analysis on a particular topic, such as a sports game, current event, or academic subject.
• Enabling students to discuss a set of criteria which they prioritize to complete and present a task describes an activity where students discuss and prioritize a set of criteria that are relevant to completing and presenting a task.

Hence, the correct answer is 'presents the input to separate groups of students who gather again to share what they listened'.

Writing is the act of using visible symbols (letters, numbers, characters) to communicate thoughts, ideas, and information. It's a complex cognitive activity that involves various stages.Key Points

• Brainstorming is the stage of the writing process that involves generating ideas, gathering information, and exploring different perspectives related to the topic.
• In this scenario, the student is jotting down different aspects of climate change, collecting data, and exploring different viewpoints, which aligns with the activities typically done during the brainstorming stage. 

Hint

• Proofreading involves reviewing the written work to identify and correct errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and formatting.
• Drafting is the stage of the writing process where the writer puts their ideas into a coherent written form.
• Peer-evaluation involves seeking feedback from peers or colleagues to get insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the writing.

Hence, the correct answer is brainstorming.

Comprehension involves understanding the literal meaning of the text, but it is equally important to assess the readers' ability to make inferences, draw conclusions, and critically evaluate the information presented in the text.

• A comprehensive reading comprehension test goes beyond surface-level understanding and delves into higher-order thinking skills.

Key Points

• A good test on reading comprehension will have questions that test inferences, interpretations, and evaluation besides comprehension.
• By including questions that test inferences, interpretations, and evaluation, the test assesses the readers' ability to analyze the text, connect ideas, make logical deductions, and form opinions.
• This type of questioning prompts deeper engagement with the text and encourages critical thinking and analysis.
•  This type of test encourages critical thinking, deep engagement with the text, and a comprehensive assessment of the readers' reading comprehension skills.

Hint

• On the other hand, a test that primarily focuses on the structures and words used in the text may assess language knowledge and vocabulary but may not capture the full range of reading comprehension abilities.

Hence, a good test on reading comprehension will have questions that test inferences, interpretations and evaluation besides comprehension.

An organized form of communication is called a language. The grammar and free elements of a language are its vocabularies. Languages are the main form of human communication, and they can be expressed orally, symbolically, or in writing.

Key PointsThe four basic language skills are listening-speaking-reading-writing. These foundational skills of language are divided into two categories which are receptive and productive skills. 

• Receptive skills: The receptive skills of language are listening and reading because these skills don't require the production of language. These skills focus on an individual's ability of understanding and comprehend language.
  • ​Reading and listening are receptive skills because students receive and understand language rather than produce it.
  • These abilities are sometimes referred to as passive skills.
  • The skills can be contrasted with speaking and writing, which are active or productive abilities.
  • The receptive skill in the oral mode is listening comprehension. It strengthens our pronunciation abilities.
  • The receptive skill in the written mode is reading. Later stages of listening comprehension can be aided by a stronger vocabulary.

Hence, we can conclude that both A and B are receptive skills.

Hint

• Productive skills: The productive skills of language are speaking and writing because these skills can measure learners' ability to produce language. Both skills are concerned with language product or output through speech or written tests.  

Extensive reading refers to reading longer texts, usually for one's own pleasure. This is a fluency-based activity, mainly involving global understanding.

Key Points

• Extensive reading involves reading in quantity without bothering to check every unknown word or structure.
• Its main purpose is to train them to read fluently in English for their own pleasure/enjoyment and without the aid of a teacher.
• Students are encouraged to read widely on subjects that interest them personally (artistic, political, social, scientific) and share what they have enjoyed with their fellow students.
• They are expected to be able to discuss not only the content but also the implications of what they have read.

Hence, we conclude that extensive reading is done for pleasure and global understanding.

The process of writing is generally a way to put abstract thoughts, ideas, and concepts into words, and to bring imagination into reality with the help of proper words of a particular language. The writing skills of students usually improve naturally with their experiences, maturity, and practice.

Key Points

• Writing should be self-expressive and original. It should create unique ideas that are imaginative and innovative.
• In writing, the expression of different ideas should be emphasized by the teacher for good writing practice.
• Writing about their experiences is the best way to assess the writing skill of students as:
  • it will encourage children to exercise their creative minds by using their imaginations.
  • It will help children to express their experiences and thoughts beautifully and to convey the information in the best way.
  • It will develop creative writing skills which go beyond the simple academic or technical form of literature that attracts people.

Hence, we can conclude that 'they should write their experiences' is the most important for evaluating students' writing skills.

Effective communication refers to the ability to transmit messages or information clearly, accurately, and efficiently, as well as to receive and comprehend messages from others.

Key Points

• Assertion (A) states that speaking and listening skills are crucial in communication, which is true because effective communication requires both transmitting information (speaking) and receiving information (listening).
• Reason (R) explains that effective communication requires the abilities to convey and comprehend information accurately, which is also true and provides an explanation for why speaking and listening skills are crucial in communication.

hence, the correct answer is both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Reading sub-skill refers to the well-planned reading approach which helps the learners to comprehend and perceive the meaning of the text effectively. There are different kinds of reading sub-skills and 'scanning' is one of them.

Key Points

• Scanning is a reading technique where the reader searches for specific information or keywords without reading the entire passage thoroughly.
• It involves quickly running one's eyes over the text to locate relevant details.
• This approach is particularly useful when one needs to find particular facts, figures, or specific pieces of information within a text.

Hint

• Critical reading involves analyzing and evaluating a text deeply to understand its meaning and implications.
• Skimming is another reading technique where the reader quickly glances through the text to get a general idea of its content.
• Shared reading refers to a cooperative reading activity where individuals read a text together, often taking turns or discussing it collaboratively.

Hence, the correct answer is Scanning.

Language has been defined as a system of symbols that are used to communicate, it could be spoken, written, or in the form of signs.

• It is an integral part of our lives and if we think about it, apart from communicating with others, we use language even to think.
• The words we use can influence our thought process and the way in which we make sense of the experiences around us. 
• Every language consists of a set of rules for varying and combining different words.
• language whether it is written or spoken intended to convey meaningful messages. 

Key PointsOral language, often known as a spoken language, is a complicated system that combines sounds and meanings and allows humans to interact with one another.

• Interaction skills involve knowing what to say, how to say this, and how to establish and maintain contact with the other person. 
• Semantics, phonology, syntax, morphology, and pragmatics are five components of oral language that serve as the foundation for reading and writing skills, and thus are essential for literacy learning.
• Language abilities enable people to
  • exchange information,
  • express their views,
  • give advice
  • persuade and entertain etc.
• Effective oral language use is crucial for each person's well-being since it allows him to communicate his wants and desires to others.

Thus, it can be inferred that oral language is essential for literacy learning, and successful use of language is critical for students' well-being. 

Hint 

• The term "home language" refers to a child's first language or mother tongue, which he learns at home. It is a language that a child learns in an informal context just by observing and listening.
• Standard language refers to the usage of language in formal settings, such as composing letters, newsletters, media, and publications.
• Written language refers to the written representation of our thoughts.