What stage of second language acquisition are students likely in if they are pointing to pictures when new vocabulary is introduced?

Students who are pointing to pictures when new vocabulary is introduced are typically in the pre-production stage of second language acquisition. During this initial stage, learners often have limited verbal output and may not yet feel comfortable speaking the new language. Instead, they rely on non-verbal communication methods, such as gestures, pointing to images, or using other visual aids to demonstrate their understanding of new words or concepts.

At this stage, learners are focused on absorbing language and building their vocabulary through contextual clues and visual representation, rather than engaging in conversation or producing complete sentences. This behavior indicates their efforts to connect the new vocabulary with the meanings associated with the pictures they are pointing to. The pre-production stage is crucial as it lays the foundation for deeper language acquisition and eventual verbal communication.