Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Practice Test

What awareness are students likely to develop through role-playing conversations with different individuals?

1. Dialect differences.

2. Differences in register.

3. Nonverbal cues.

4. Useful idiomatic expressions.

The correct answer is: Differences in register.

Through role-playing conversations with different individuals, students are likely to develop an awareness of differences in register. Register refers to the level of formality or informality in language use based on context, audience, and purpose. By engaging in role-playing, students experience various scenarios that necessitate adjusting their language according to the social dynamics at play. For instance, they may adopt a more formal tone when interacting with a superior and a casual tone when speaking with friends. This practical application enhances their understanding of how to modify their language appropriately in real-life situations, making them more adept communicators in diverse contexts. In this context, while dialect differences, nonverbal cues, and useful idiomatic expressions are important linguistic components, they are not the primary focus of role-playing that specifically emphasizes the distinction in register. Role-playing does provide opportunities to observe and practice these elements, but the core learning objective revolves around adapting language use to fit different situational contexts, which is central to understanding register.