Oregon Educator Licensure Assessments (ORELA) Practice Exam

How can familiarity with social variation improve teaching practices?

1. By ensuring all students use formal language

2. By creating lessons that resonate with students’ language use

3. By minimizing discussions around dialects

4. By promoting a single form of communication

The correct answer is: By creating lessons that resonate with students’ language use

Familiarity with social variation allows educators to tailor their lessons in a way that is relevant and relatable to their students’ experiences and linguistic backgrounds. Understanding the different dialects and language varieties that students may use helps teachers to create a more inclusive classroom environment. When lessons resonate with the language and communication styles of the students, it fosters engagement and encourages participation, as students can connect more deeply with the material. By acknowledging and respecting the diverse language backgrounds of students, teachers can also incorporate instructional strategies that enhance understanding and learning. This approach not only validates students’ identities but also promotes a richer learning experience that draws on their cultural and linguistic diversity. The focus shifts from enforcing a rigid standard of language to celebrating and leveraging the variety of dialects present in the classroom, which can significantly improve overall teaching effectiveness and student outcomes.