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English Sociolinguistics — LET Practice Questions

This English Sociolinguistics section of the LET English Major exam covers 8 expert-reviewed practice questions. Each question has a plain-English explanation and notes on why the wrong answers are wrong.

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Sample questions with answers and explanations

Sample 1

What refers to the language that is spoken first in the home and is often the basis for a child's early cognitive development?

Answer: C

The mother tongue (also called L1, native language, or first language) is the language a child learns from birth at home, before any formal schooling. It's the language they think in, dream in, and develop early concepts in. In the Philippines, this is often Cebuano, Ilokano, Hiligaynon, Tagalog, etc., depending on where the child grows up — and current MTB-MLE policy uses it as the medium of instruction in early grades for that reason.

Why the other choices are wrong
  • A. A second language (L2) is one a person learns AFTER their mother tongue, often in school or through migration.
  • B. Target language is the language being studied or being translated into. It describes a learning goal, not the home language.
  • D. A foreign language is one not commonly spoken in the learner's country (e.g., Japanese for a Filipino learner). It's a more specific kind of L2.

Sample 2

Which is an effective strategy for promoting language diversity among learners?

Answer: C

Promoting language diversity means valuing and using MANY languages, not just one. Giving learners chances to actually use and learn multiple languages directly nurtures diversity in the classroom. Option D supports first languages, which is part of this, but C is broader because it covers multiple languages, not only the home one. The goal is plural exposure and use, not assimilation into one language.

Tip: Diversity = multiple languages used and learned; not 'one language wins.'

Why the other choices are wrong
  • A. Pushing only the dominant language reduces, not promotes, diversity.
  • B. Translating everything into one language erases the others; opposite of diversity.
  • D. Helpful, but narrower than C, which covers multiple languages, not just the first.

Sample 3

Which of the following is a strategy that English language teachers can use to promote positive intercultural communication in the classroom?

Answer: C

Intercultural communication grows when students see, hear, and respect each other's cultures. Letting them share their own foods, festivals, languages, and stories builds curiosity and empathy. So opening space for students to share their backgrounds is the right strategy.

Tip: For intercultural questions, choose the option that INCLUDES and CELEBRATES diverse cultures.

Why the other choices are wrong
  • A. An English-only rule silences other cultures and languages.
  • B. Ignoring differences erases student identity and blocks intercultural learning.
  • D. Using only one cultural perspective limits exposure to other worldviews.
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