Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Assessment of Professional Knowledge Practice Exam

Which of the following best describes the pre-production stage?

1. Active participation in discussions

2. Observing body language and nonverbal cues

3. Fluent in spoken language

4. Full comprehension of academic content

The correct answer is: Observing body language and nonverbal cues

The pre-production stage, often associated with language acquisition, primarily refers to the phase where learners are beginning to understand and process a new language, but are not yet speaking fluently. During this stage, individuals focus on observing and absorbing the language around them, paying close attention to body language and nonverbal cues that accompany spoken language. This phase is crucial as it allows learners to pick up on contextual clues, gestures, and the rhythms of communication that will help them as they progress toward producing language themselves. The other options indicate levels of language proficiency that are characteristic of more advanced stages. Active participation in discussions typically occurs after some fluency has been developed, whereas being fluent in spoken language and having full comprehension of academic content are indicators of a much later stage in language acquisition, where students can confidently communicate and understand complex ideas.