Which stage follows the Early Production Stage in the described sequence of language development?

• A. Speech Emergence Stage
• B. Morpheme acquisition order
• C. Natural Order Hypothesis
• D. Monitor Model

Answer: (A)

After Early Production, learners typically enter the Speech Emergence Stage. In Early Production, students generally use short phrases or one- to two-word responses and rely on memorized chunks. Moving into Speech Emergence, they begin to form longer sentences, ask more questions, and express ideas more clearly, though they may still make errors and rely on scaffolding. This marks a shift from limited expressive output to more sustained, meaningful communication as both speaking and listening skills improve. The other concepts describe theories about how language is learned or the order in which grammatical elements are acquired, not a developing stage in the sequence: morpheme acquisition order focuses on grammar pieces, the Natural Order Hypothesis suggests a predictable pattern of grammar learning, and the Monitor Model is a broader theory about conscious learning and usage.