MTEL PREPARATION

Sample Study Questions

SubArea: Foundations of ESL Instruction
0001: Understand the process of Language Acquisition

Sub Area: Foundations of ESL Instruction
0002: Methods and Approaches

SubArea: Foundations of ESL Instruction
0003: Understand basic linguistic concepts related to ESL instruction

Sub Area: Developing English Language Skills
0007: Understand methods and techniques for developing the listening skills of ESL students

Sub Area: Developing English Language Skills
0009: Understand methods and techniques for developing the reading skills of ESL students.

Sub Area: The ESL Program
0013: Understand the philosophical, historical, legal, and administrative foundations of programs serving ESL students.

MTEL Test Information Booklet

EXCET Sample Questions

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ESL Sample test questions from different states.

This link below is for the PRAXIS study guide. It gives a comprehensive set of 10 questions, with an answer key and an explanation of the subareas the questions cover. ftp://ftp.ets.org/pub/tand/0360.pdf
(If you have trouble following this link, type Praxis into your search engine and follow the links till you get to the ESL subject area test questions, 0360).

The link below is for the EXCET study guide for Texas teachers. It is a very comprehensive document with an excellent introduction to the competencies and a good set of questions with answer key.
http://www.excet.nesinc.com/excetstudyguid/12%20English%20As%20a%20Second%20Language.html

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Jim Cummins: Links to websites about his SLA theories.

This is a very useful site, explaining the theories of BICS and CALP. Cummins’ theories are important in SLA, and the MTEL test requires knowledge of these theories.
http://www.iteachilearn.com/cummins/bicscalp.html

This site compares reactionary and progressive views (Cummins’) about SLA and literacy, and gives detailed information about the research that backs up his position.
http://www.iteachilearn.com/cummins/claims.html

A very readable essay about the value of bilingual education.
http://www.iteachilearn.com/cummins/mother.htm

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Stephen Krashen: links to websites about this important theorist.

The link below gives you a succinct definition of the main aspects of Krashen’s theories about SLA
http://www.sk.com.br/sk-krash.html

This link gives an article written by Krashen about the advantages of bilingual education. It outlines the major theories and research, and the pros and cons about the subject
http://www.ericfacility.net/ericdigests/ed403101.html

This link gives an excellent overview of behaviorist, psycholinguistic, and cognitive SLA theories and mentions Krashen’s theories in terms of how they relate to more recent cognitive research.
http://www.yoell.fsnet.co.uk/SLA%20ESSAY.htm

Here you will find a very comprehensive selection of Krashen’s short papers, editorials, responses to articles, etc.
http://www.azusausd.k12.ca.us/bilingual/Krashen.html

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Jim Crawford: Language Policy in the USA. History and philosophy of bilingual education.

Jim Crawford is one of the foremost writers on these topics, and this site links you to all of his papers and articles.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/JWCRAWFORD/

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Useful Web Sites to help you revise for the MTEL test

http://www.sil.org/linguistics- Provides a useful linguistic glossary.

http://www.doe.mass.edu/mtel- This takes you directly to the MTEL page.

http://www.unifon.org/research-reading-orthography- Useful discussions about dyslexia, teaching reading and spelling.

http://www.cset.nesinc.com/CS_SSprepguide_opener.htm- California Teacher Preparation and study guides with sample questions

http://www.eslcafe.com/- All things ESL, lots of links

http://www.tampareads.com/phonics/phonicsindex.htm- A goldmine of phonics worksheets to help you understand how phonics is taught

http://www.indiana.edu/~eric_rec/ieo/bibs/phonics.html- Links to scholarly articles on phonics and reading from ERIC clearinghouse.

http://eric.indiana.edu/ieo/digests/d119.html- Good ERIC article about phonemic/phonological awareness

http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/definitions.htm- Great site for grammar definitions

http://www.sk.com.br/sk-krash.html- Stephen Krashen’s theories about second language acquisition

http://www.hw.ac.uk/langWWW/icsla/ICSLAGLO.htm- Glossary of second language acquisition terms. Site is the International Commission for SLA

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Bibliography for MTEL, ESL Subject Matter Questions

Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching, by Larsen-Freeman, D. OUP 1986
Outlines all the major methods of language teaching from Grammar Translation to Communicate Approach.

Eight Approaches to Language Teaching by Doggett, G. ERIC Digest 1994
Short descriptions of each approach with a summary of each.

Language Teaching Methodology by Rodgers, T.S. ERIC Digest, 2001
Speech to Print: Language Essentials for Teachers, pp 229 – 236, by Moats, L.Cook.

Baltimore, Paul H. Books Publishing Co. 2000
Definitions of linguistic terms

Principles of Language Learning and Teaching by Brown, Douglas H. 4th Edition. Addison Wesley Longman, Inc. 2000

The Foundations of Dual Language Instruction by Lessow-Hurley, Judith. Addison Wesley Longman, Inc. 2000
Bilingual Education in Elementary and Secondary School Communities by Faltis, Christian, J. and Hudelson, Sarah, J. Allyn & Bacon, 1998

The Natural Approach by Krashen, Stephen D. and Terrell, Tracy, D. Alemany Press, CA. 1983