Question 12

Juan mispronounces an English word based on the pronunciation of a similar word in his native language.

Negative transfer occurs when prior learning interferes with the acquisition of new knowledge or skills. In this case, Juan's mispronunciation of an English word illustrates negative transfer, as his understanding of pronunciation from his native language adversely affects his ability to pronounce the English word correctly.

A) Sarah notices no improvement in her basketball skills after lifting weights for several weeks.

This option describes a scenario of lack of improvement rather than negative transfer. Sarah's experience may be attributed to insufficient training or other factors unrelated to the transfer of skills, making this example not representative of negative transfer.

B) Marissa is scolded for using a measuring tool incorrectly, and she remembers to use it correctly the next time.

This scenario reflects positive transfer, where Marissa learns from her mistake and applies the correct knowledge in future situations. The ability to improve based on prior experience signifies successful learning rather than negative transfer.

C) Amir learns a basic subtraction skill in math class and later uses the skill when shopping in a store.

Amir's application of a subtraction skill in a real-world context demonstrates positive transfer. This indicates that his previous learning effectively supports his ability to perform tasks outside the classroom, which is the opposite of negative transfer.

D) Juan mispronounces an English word based on the pronunciation of a similar word in his native language.

This is the correct representation of negative transfer, as Juan's prior knowledge interferes with his ability to learn a new pronunciation correctly. His experience with his native language leads to confusion and error in the new language context.

Conclusion

The correct answer illustrates negative transfer, where Juan's existing knowledge from his native language negatively impacts his English pronunciation. In contrast, the other options represent either a lack of transfer or instances of positive learning, emphasizing that they do not fit the definition of negative transfer. Thus, option D stands out as the best example.