TExES ESL Supplemental (154) Study Guide 2025-2026

by Beatrice Mendez Newman PhD

Overview

REA's TExES ESL Supplemental (154) Test Prep with Online Practice Tests
Gets You Certified and in the Classroom!

This up-to-date second edition is designed to help teacher candidates excel on the TExES ESL Supplemental (154) exam. It’s perfect for college students, teachers, and career-changing professionals who are looking to teach ESL in Texas public schools.

Our comprehensive test prep contains a thorough review of all the domains and competencies tested. It also includes discussions of key educational concepts and theories. Two full-length practice tests deal with every type of question and skill assessed on the exam.

Special features include:

• Updated for the 2025-2026 exam and beyond
• Comprehensive review of all domains and competencies tested on the exam
•  2 full-length practice tests (both in the book and online) based on actual exam questions
•  Practice test answers explained in detail
•  Proven study tips, strategies, and confidence-boosting advice
•  Online practice tests feature timed testing, automatic scoring, and topic-level feedback

This test prep is a must-have for anyone who wants to teach ESL in Texas!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738612676
Publisher:	Research & Education Association
Publication date:	10/26/2020
Series:	TExES Teacher Certification Test Prep Series
Edition description:	Second Edition, Revised
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.70(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Beatrice Mendez Newman is Professor of Rhetoric and Composition in the Writing and Language Studies Department at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Her research has been published in collections on teaching writing at Hispanic Serving Institutions and writing center pedagogy; her work has appeared in the English Journal, Voices from the Middle, HETS Online Journal, and the Writing Center Journal. She has published REA guides in PPR and ESL as well as an Allyn & Bacon guide for English teacher certification in Texas. She recently received a UTRGV award for Excellence in Online and Hybrid Teaching. Dr. Newman is very active in the National Council of Teachers of English, serving as a certification program reviewer and a reader for NCTE journal manuscripts; in 2020 she was named to the NCTE EnglishJournal’s Editorial Review Board. She can be reached at [e-mail].

Table of Contents

About the Author ix

About REA x

Foreword xi

Introduction

Getting Started xvii

How to Use This Book + Online Prep xviii

About the REA Study Center xviii

Overview of the Test xix

Overview of ESL Pedagogy and Practice xx

ESL Supplemental Exam Study Plan xxi

Summary, Action Plan, and Introduction Wrap-Up xxvii

TExES ESL SUPPLEMENTAL (154) DOMAIN REVIEWS

Part I Domain I

Language Concepts and Language Acquisition 5

Overview of Domain I 5

Domain I Competencies 5

Core Content from Domain I Competencies 5

Chapter 1 Competency 001: Fundamental Linguistic Knowledge 7

Competency 001 Core Content 8

ESL, Linguistics, and Second Language Acquisition 8

Areas of Linguistics 9

Phonology 9

Morphology 13

Syntax 16

Semantics 19

Pragmatics 23

Discourse 24

Registers 25

English Language Proficiency Standards 26

Interrelatedness of Communicative Skills 27

Summary, Action Plan, and Chapter 1 Wrap-Up 28

Self-Check 29

Study Plan 29

Practice Items for Competency 001 30

Chapter 2 Competency 002: LI and L2 Acquisition 33

Competency 002 Core Content 33

Teaching ESL 34

Teaching ESL: Theories, Concepts, and Research 36

SLA Strategies 42

Best Practices for ESL Teaching 48

Summary, Action Plan, and Chapter 2 Wrap-Up 49

Self-Check 50

Study Plan 50

Practice Items for Competency 002 51

Part II Domain II

ESL Instruction and Assessment 55

Overview of Domain II 55

Domain II Competencies 55

Core Content from Domain II Competencies 56

Chapter 3 Competency 003: ESL Teaching Methods 59

Competency 003 Core Content 59

TEA Materials: TEKS and ELPS 60

Adapting Best Teaching Practices for ESL Environments 62

Special Circumstances of Content-Area Instruction 64

Linguistic Accommodations 65

Technology in the ESL Classroom 67

Managing the ESL Classroom 71

Summary, Action Plan, and Chapter 3 Wrap-Up 73

Self-Check 73

Study Plan 74

Practice Items for Competency 003 74

Chapter 4 Competency 004: Communicative Language Development 77

Competency 004 Core Content 78

Communicative Competence 79

Instructional Strategies for Listening and Speaking 81

Diversity 85

Feedback 87

Summary, Action Plan, and Chapter 4 Wrap-Up 89

Self-Check 89

Study Plan 89

Practice Items for Competency 004 90

Chapter 5 Competency 005: Literacy Development 93

Competency 005 Core Content 94

Teaching Reading in the Context of ESL 96

Teaching Writing in the Context of ESL 101

Accommodations and Adaptations for Literacy Instruction 105

Difference and Diversity 107

Summary, Action Plan, and Chapter 5 Wrap-Up 108

Self-Check 108

Study Plan 109

Practice Items for Competency 005 110

Chapter 6 Competency 006: Teaching ESL in Content Areas 113

Competency 006 Core Content 114

Teaching Content Areas in the Context of ESL 114

Content-Area Instruction + Language Development 116

Cross-Curricular Competencies 119

Diversity, Learner Circumstances, and Differentiation 120

Summary, Action Plan, and Chapter 6 Wrap-Up 122

Self-Check 122

Study Plan 122

Practice Items for Competency 006 123

Chapter 7 Competency 007: Assessment 125

Competency 007 Core Content 126

Mandated Assessment for EL students 126

The Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC) 128

TELPAS 129

Assessment-Driven Learning: Aligning Assessment to Classroom Instruction 131

Summary, Action Plan, and Chapter 7 Wrap-Up 137

Self-Check 137

Study Plan 137

Practice Items for Competency 007 138

Part III Domain III

Foundations of ESL Education, Cultural Awareness, and Family and Community Involvement 143

Overview of Domain III 143

Domain III Competencies 143

Core Content from Domain III Competencies 144

Chapter 8 Competency 008: Foundations of ESL Education 145

Competency 008 Core Content 146

Historical Framework for ESL Education 146

Types of ESL Programs 152

From Research to Effective ESL Programs 156

Summary, Action Plan, and Chapter 8 Wrap-Up 159

Self-Check 159

Study Plan 160

Practice Items for Competency 008 160

Chapter 9 Competency 009: Multicultural Environment 163

Competency 009 Core Content 164

Fostering Multiculturalism 165

The EL Student's Affective Needs 166

Activities that Promote Multiculturalism and Community 167

Learner Diversity 169

Summary, Action Plan, and Chapter 9 Wrap-Up 170

Self-Check 171

Study Plan 171

Practice Items for Competency 009 172

Chapter 10 Competency 010: Advocacy 175

Competency 010 Core Content 175

What Advocacy Means 176

ESL Teacher as Advocate for EL Student Success 177

State and Federal Policies 178

Supporting Families 179

Summary, Action Plan, and Chapter 10 Wrap-Up 181

Self-Check 182

Study Plan 182

Practice Items for Competency 010 183

TExES ESL Supplemental (154) Practice Tests

Practice Test 1 (also available online at rea.com/studycenter) 185

Answer Sheet 186

Answer Key 212

Answer Explanations 213

Practice Test 2 (also available online at rea.com/studycenter) 229

Answer Sheet 230

Answer Key 258

Answer Explanations 259

Glossary 277

References 295

Index 303