An ELL writes 'latter' as 'larer'. What is the best response from the teacher?

The best response from the teacher is the option that addresses the specific phonetic issue that the English Language Learner (ELL) is facing, which is related to their background knowledge of sounds in their primary language. In this case, the ELL is confusing the medial sound in "latter" with a sound they may associate with the letter 'r' due to influence from their native language.

Explaining that the medial Spanish 'r' is represented by the letter 't' in the middle of English words helps the student understand the differences in phonetic representations between languages. This approach acknowledges the learner's linguistic background and addresses a specific phonological transfer issue that might be occurring. Understanding that different languages use letters to represent sounds in diverse ways can help the ELL adjust their pronunciation and spelling in English accordingly.

The other options focus on explaining the sounds and their respective letters but do not connect directly with the potential confusion stemming from the student's linguistic background. This makes the chosen response more effective in addressing the root of the misunderstanding.