Which scenario exemplifies an ELL's interlanguage?

Interlanguage refers to the evolving language system that second language learners create as they transition between their native language and the target language. This concept reflects the learner's current state of knowledge and understanding of the target language, which can include creative construction, errors, and influences from their first language.

The scenario where a student structures a sentence incorrectly as "I bathroom go?" exemplifies interlanguage because it highlights a stage of language development where the learner is experimenting with sentence structure. In this example, the student attempts to communicate a thought but applies an incorrect grammatical structure influenced by their native language or a misunderstanding of English syntax. This showcases the learner's active engagement in the learning process, as they are developing their language skills and working towards proficiency.

In contrast, the other scenarios do not illustrate the unique characteristics of interlanguage. For instance, correctly identifying an object points to comprehension rather than language development. Mixing languages is a different phenomenon related to code-switching, and engaging in slang also reflects fluency rather than the transitional language development process that interlanguage represents.