Error Correction (Sorry I forgot to post this earlier in the week)

Error Correction (Sorry I forgot to post this earlier in the week)

I started learning a new language a couple of years ago and it was really good to help me remember how learners feel, for example, with regards to error correction.

There are times when after I'd been corrected that I still make the same mistake. Sometimes I'd forgotten but other times I knew I'd made a mistake. Having the teacher explain again what I did wrong and why in the latter case didn't help so much, and sometimes felt like a waste of time (which I politely and patiently smile through, admittedly with gritted teeth on occasion).

So, it reminded me that it’s valuable to know, as a teacher, how to identify performance errors vs those due to a lack of language or developing knowledge/competence. Sometimes, it's just a matter of seeing how students react themselves, or noting if it's a one-off or recurring mistake.

Comments

  1. Walton BurnsNovember 26, 2017 at 6:57 AM

    It’s interesting to think about our own language learning. Thinking about learning Russian, I remember sometimes experimenting with a new structure and being quite pleased with myself only to have the teacher correct an error elsewhere in my sentence. It was very frustrating. But I agree that we can’t have no error correction.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Phil BrownNovember 26, 2017 at 7:21 AM

    Walton Burns Indeed. I can relate to that. Personally, as a teacher and learner, I feel that feedback is much better received when there is specific praise and encouragement to balance error correction.

    I think there is a tendency for many teachers to look at language learners mistakes from a 'deficiency perspective' as opposed to a developmental one, and this can lead to overly focusing on mistakes or being too generous with a red pen ;-)

    However, on a related but slightly different note, in some ways, especially in the private sector, there seems to be a tension between helping learners to become autonomous yet still feeling like they need language classes and a teacher to help them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Day In Day OutNovember 30, 2017 at 7:12 AM

    Phil Brown You’ve nicely put many teachers’ thought into words.

    I think there is a tendency for many teachers to look at language learners mistakes from a 'deficiency perspective' as opposed to a developmental one.

    👏🏻👏🏻

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hannah McCullochDecember 2, 2017 at 9:27 AM

    I find it painfully frustrating going to German language classes now that I'm a teacher because I think that instructors focus too much on correcting or don't teach in a way that is motivating or engaging. I find that my students are not used to getting much praise for what they can do and are ever so careful not to make mistakes. Maybe it's a question of culture?

    ReplyDelete

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