In addressing language variety, what should the teacher primarily focus on to help students improve their language skills?

Focusing on distinguishing between everyday and academic language is essential for helping students improve their language skills. Academic language often includes more complex vocabulary, structures, and forms that are not typically used in everyday conversation. This distinction is crucial because students need to navigate different contexts, such as casual conversations and formal academic settings, effectively.

By teaching students to recognize how language varies depending on the context, educators can equip them with the skills necessary to adapt their language appropriately. This differentiation fosters a deeper understanding of the expectations within academic environments and helps students to communicate their ideas more clearly and effectively in writing and speech.

Understanding idiomatic expressions, knowing everyday vocabulary, and using slang appropriately are all important aspects of language acquisition, but they do not directly address the critical difference between the language used in informal versus formal contexts that students must master for academic success. Therefore, emphasizing the distinction between everyday and academic language helps prepare students for the challenges of higher-level language use.