What is the term used to describe the fifth and final stage of language acquisition where students perform near-native in content area learning?

The fifth and final stage of language acquisition is known as advanced fluency. At this stage, students display the ability to communicate and comprehend language with a level of proficiency that approaches that of native speakers. They are capable of engaging in complex discussions and can understand and produce nuanced language in various academic and social contexts. This level signifies that the learner has not only mastered vocabulary and grammatical structures but can also navigate content area learning effectively, making connections between ideas and expressing themselves clearly and coherently.

Basic proficiency refers to a much earlier stage where learners can handle simple conversations but lack the depth of understanding and fluency necessary for advanced academic or nuanced communication. Intermediate fluency is the stage preceding advanced fluency, where students are more comfortable expressing themselves but may still face challenges with more complex concepts or sophisticated language usage. Early production, likewise, represents a very early stage where students can use single words or short phrases but have not yet developed strong conversational or academic skills. Thus, advanced fluency accurately captures the level of language mastery that aligns with performing near-native abilities.