TKT Background to Language Learning 2 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: What does the term 'interlanguage' refer to in second language acquisition?

The learner's developing language system that differs from both L1 and target language (Correct answer)
A language used between two native-speaker groups
A simplified form of English used internationally
The learner's mother tongue influencing the target language

Correct answer: The learner's developing language system that differs from both L1 and target language

Interlanguage is the learner's own developing linguistic system that has features of both the first language and the target language, and has its own unique features.

The concept of interlanguage, developed by Larry Selinker, describes the linguistic system a language learner creates as they progress toward the target language. It is not simply the L1 or the L2, but a dynamic, evolving system with its own grammar rules. It may include errors from L1 transfer, overgeneralisation of target language rules, and unique forms not found in either language. Understanding interlanguage helps teachers appreciate that learner errors are often systematic and represent developmental stages.

Question 2: Which learning strategy involves a learner deliberately paying attention to how a word is spelled or pronounced in order to remember it?

Affective strategy
Memory strategy (Correct answer)
Compensation strategy
Social strategy

Correct answer: Memory strategy

Memory strategies (also called mnemonic strategies) involve techniques for storing and retrieving new information, such as visualising spelling or using rhymes.

Memory strategies are a category of learning strategies identified by researchers such as Oxford. They include creating mental links, applying images and sounds, reviewing, and employing action. For example, a learner might visualise a word's spelling, create an association with a known word, or use a rhyme to remember a grammatical rule. TKT Module 1 covers learning strategies as part of the background to language learning, and teachers should be aware of them to help learners develop autonomy.

Question 3: What is 'fossilisation' in the context of second language acquisition?

A learner's tendency to stop making progress and keep using incorrect forms permanently (Correct answer)
The process of memorising vocabulary lists
A method of error correction used by teachers
The stage when a learner first starts to produce the target language

Correct answer: A learner's tendency to stop making progress and keep using incorrect forms permanently

Fossilisation occurs when non-target-like linguistic features become permanently embedded in a learner's interlanguage, even after instruction and correction.

Fossilisation is a term from SLA theory referring to the cessation of development in a learner's interlanguage. Certain non-target forms become permanent features despite continued exposure and instruction. For example, a learner may persistently say 'he go' instead of 'he goes' even at advanced levels. Factors contributing to fossilisation include lack of motivation, reduced input, or L1 influence. Teachers should understand this phenomenon to have realistic expectations and adapt their correction strategies.

Question 4: Which type of learner motivation involves studying a language because it is useful for getting a job or passing an exam?

Intrinsic motivation
Integrative motivation
Instrumental motivation (Correct answer)
Extrinsic motivation

Correct answer: Instrumental motivation

Instrumental motivation refers to the desire to learn a language for practical, functional purposes such as career advancement or exam success.

Instrumental motivation, as described by Gardner and Lambert, is focused on the practical benefits of learning a language — such as passing an exam, getting a higher-paying job, or gaining access to academic resources. It contrasts with integrative motivation, which involves wanting to identify with or integrate into the target language community. Both types can be effective drivers of language learning, and teachers benefit from understanding which type motivates their particular learners in order to design appropriate tasks and rewards.

Question 5: What does 'transfer' mean in second language acquisition?

Moving students from one class to another
The influence of a learner's first language on the target language (Correct answer)
The process of teaching grammar rules explicitly
Translating texts from L2 to L1

Correct answer: The influence of a learner's first language on the target language

Transfer refers to the influence of the learner's first language (L1) on their second language (L2) production. It can be positive (helpful) or negative (causing errors).

Transfer in SLA refers to the application of L1 patterns when producing or interpreting L2 language. Positive transfer occurs when L1 and L2 share similar structures, making learning easier. Negative transfer (or interference) occurs when L1 structures differ from L2 structures, leading to errors — for example, a Spanish learner of English placing adjectives after nouns. Awareness of likely transfer errors helps TKT candidates predict difficulties learners may face and plan targeted instruction.

Question 6: Which term describes a learner's instinctive awareness of how language works, developed through exposure rather than formal study?

Declarative knowledge
Language awareness
Implicit knowledge (Correct answer)
Metalinguistic knowledge

Correct answer: Implicit knowledge

Implicit knowledge is unconscious, automatic language knowledge developed through exposure and use, not through formal rule learning.

Implicit knowledge refers to the unconscious, intuitive knowledge of language that allows speakers to use it fluently without consciously applying rules. It is built up through extensive exposure and use of the language, similar to how native speakers acquire their mother tongue. In contrast, explicit knowledge involves consciously known rules. The distinction between implicit and explicit knowledge is important in language teaching because fluency typically depends on developing strong implicit knowledge, while explicit knowledge can support monitoring and accuracy.

TKT Background to Language Learning 2

What does the term 'interlanguage' refer to in second language acquisition?