Mark Twain-His Background. Mark Twain grew up in Missouri, a slave state. His father was a judge, but he was also traded in slaves at times. His uncle, John Quarles, owned 20 slaves; so Mark Twain witnessed the practice of slavery first-hand whenever he spent summers at his uncle's place.is father was a judge, but he was also traded in slaves at times. His uncle, John Quarles, owned 20 slaves; so Mark Twain witnessed the practice of slavery first-hand whenever he spent summers at his uncle's place.
Language proficiency or linguistic proficiency is the ability of an individual to speak or perform in an acquired language.As theories among pedagogues as to what constitutes proficiency go, there is little consistency as to how different organizations classify it.Additionally, fluency and language competence are generally recognized as being related, but separate controversial subjects.s theories among pedagogues as to what constitutes proficiency go, there is little consistency as to how different organizations classify it. Additionally, fluency and language competence are generally recognized as being related, but separate controversial subjects.
Common Underlying Proficiency Cummins feels that cognition and language fundamentals learned in a student's primary language, or L1, form a basis for further learning in any language. Or in other words, if a student has competence in their L1, they are more likely to achieve competence in a second language, the L2. This common underlying proficiency is often referred to as CUP; the CUP acts as a central operating system for both languages. (Cummins, 1981). In short, if a student can understand the water cycle in their L1, that knowledge transfers to learning about the water cycle in another language.