Cambridge TKT: Teaching Knowledge Test, Modules 1–3
Background to language learning: practice questions
Our TKT Modules 1–3 bank has 20 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.
Question 1
A business learner needs to write emails to clients in English. This is mainly a...
- personal learning preference
- professional (future) need
- developmental error
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B. professional (future) need — Learner needs include personal, learning and professional needs; writing work emails is a professional need.
Question 2
Picking up language naturally, through exposure, without conscious study is called...
- drilling
- focus on form
- acquisition
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C. acquisition — Acquisition is learning language through exposure and use, as children do with their first language.
Question 3
A French learner says 'I have 20 years' meaning 'I am 20'. This is most likely...
- a slip
- L1 interference
- a developmental error
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B. L1 interference — Interference is when the learner's first language influences their English (French 'J'ai 20 ans').
Question 4
A learner usually says 'she goes' correctly but says 'she go' once when tired. This is...
- an error
- a slip
- interlanguage fossilisation
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B. a slip — A slip is a mistake learners can correct themselves because they know the correct form.
Question 5
A learner says 'He goed to school'. This kind of error is usually described as...
- an L1 interference error from the mother tongue
- a developmental error (overgeneralisation)
- a slip the learner cannot correct
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B. a developmental error (overgeneralisation) — Applying the regular -ed rule to an irregular verb is a typical developmental error made while learning the system.