Correcting learners’ errors

Pupils can correct their own mistakes if they are just a slip of the tongue or a slip of the pen.

Pupils cannot correct their mistakes if they don’t know the correct variant. Apart from this there are other reasons for making mistakes: carelessness, tiredness.

Errors can be systematic if the pupil missed the classes, didn’t understand the topic, didn’t have enough practice. Also it can be because of poor presentation of the material or negative influence of the native language.

Types of errors: vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, stylistic.

Techniques: 1) teacher correction, 2) peer correction and 3) self correction. 2 and 3 are good as pupils become less dependent on their teacher, everybody is involved, pupils cooperate, bright pupils get involved. The teacher should teach pupils how to do that not to offend the person who has made a mistake.

The teacher or other pupils shouldn’t interrupt the pupil who is speaking but give him a chance to finish the phrase and correct his mistake.

In writing we use special symbols for correcting pupils’ mistakes:

S – spelling

P – punctuation

V – vocabulary

WO – word order

WW – wrong word

Agr – agreement

Z – new paragraph

^ - something is missing

? – I don’t understand

J - I like it

For beginners: the aim of correcting errors is to enhance accuracy, to raise motivation to experiment with the language, to focus on what they can do correctly. First of all, the teacher should indicate those errors which interfere with understanding.

Intermediate learners: to give positive feedback, to help pupils to improve their fluency, to focus more on content and organization. Apart from indicating mistakes the teacher also should give reference notes.

Advanced learners: to promote self-correction and peer-correction, to focus on strong ideas, to give encouraging comments on accuracy, content and organization. Indicate mistakes and ask pupils to correct them and explain.

Pupils of all level should be aware of criteria of assessment that their teacher apply.

Giving a mark take into consideration only those mistakes which are in line with the object you are teaching.