Which term refers to academic language and terminology needed for academic success, typically developing over years?

• A. Bics
• B. Language Learning
• C. Calp
• D. Interlanguage

Answer: (C)

The term CALP, Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency, is the one that fits this description. It refers to the language students need for school tasks—understanding textbooks and lectures, grasping academic concepts, following disciplinary discourse, and producing organized written work. CALP develops gradually over many years as students encounter increasingly complex academic language and tasks.

This distinguishes it from everyday social language, which is described by BICS (Basic Interpersonal Communicative Skills) and often emerges earlier. The other options are more general or unrelated to the specific academic language demands of schooling, such as Language Learning (a broad term) or Interlanguage (the learner’s evolving internal system). So CALP is the term that best captures the academic language and terminology needed for academic success.