Listening & Speaking Fluency Flashcards

In the ELSA app, which skill does the 'shadowing' exercise primarily develop?

Answer: Spoken fluency and pronunciation accuracy

Shadowing asks learners to repeat spoken audio immediately, training both pronunciation and fluent delivery.

A speaker pauses too long between words when answering a question. Which ELSA fluency metric is most affected?

Answer: Speech rate / pace score

Excessive pausing between words lowers the speech rate metric, which reflects natural pacing and flow.

When ELSA evaluates 'connected speech,' what feature is it primarily measuring?

Answer: Linking, reduction, and blending of sounds across word boundaries

Connected speech refers to how sounds blend or reduce naturally between words, a key marker of native-like fluency.

Which of the following best describes 'prosody' as assessed in speaking fluency tests?

Answer: The rhythm, stress, and intonation patterns of spoken language

Prosody encompasses the melody of speech, including pitch variation, stress placement, and rhythmic patterns.

A test-taker scores high on pronunciation but low on fluency. What is the most likely explanation?

Answer: They produce sounds accurately but with frequent hesitations and filler words

High pronunciation with low fluency typically means sounds are clear but delivery is interrupted by pauses or fillers.

Which listening sub-skill is tested when a learner must identify the speaker's attitude from tone of voice?

Answer: Inferring speaker emotion and intent

Inferring emotion or attitude requires listeners to interpret tone, pitch, and word choice beyond literal meaning.

On the ELSA speaking assessment, what does a 'content word stress' error indicate?

Answer: The speaker placed emphasis on the wrong syllable of a key noun or verb

Content word stress errors occur when a speaker fails to naturally emphasize the nouns, verbs, or adjectives that carry the sentence's meaning.