The idea that learners do not like to be corrected by peers should be given more attention as it is often overlooked...
The idea that learners do not like to be corrected by peers should be given more attention as it is often overlooked by teachers.
Talking from my personal experience, when I was a student, I refused to participate in any whole class discussions or even share my opinions during group works in English lessons. The reason was because of my classmates who kept on correcting me. Honestly, I felt threatened ... and stupid.
Unlike most of my classmates, both my parents weren’t well-educated thus English is an alien language at home. I learn English solely by reading hence my poor pronunciations and grammar. So when my classmates kept on correcting me, I was demotivated.
Fast forward few years later, I went abroad and mixed with people of different nationalities. They have never corrected me and this helps me gain my confidence to use English.
How did I improve?
When I’ve gained my confidence to use English, I become aware with how the language is used and also its pronunciation.
Hence it’s true that learners do not like to be corrected by their peers.
Talking from my personal experience, when I was a student, I refused to participate in any whole class discussions or even share my opinions during group works in English lessons. The reason was because of my classmates who kept on correcting me. Honestly, I felt threatened ... and stupid.
Unlike most of my classmates, both my parents weren’t well-educated thus English is an alien language at home. I learn English solely by reading hence my poor pronunciations and grammar. So when my classmates kept on correcting me, I was demotivated.
Fast forward few years later, I went abroad and mixed with people of different nationalities. They have never corrected me and this helps me gain my confidence to use English.
How did I improve?
When I’ve gained my confidence to use English, I become aware with how the language is used and also its pronunciation.
Hence it’s true that learners do not like to be corrected by their peers.
I sort of agree with you here. In fact they do not like to be corrected as they tend to feel stupid or lacking in smarts. I do feel that this is due to the class atmosphere and when created the students can actually develop faster but they do need that supporting and safe environment. I think it is generally just easier for the teacher and more of a long term goal in getting the student's to peer correct so in that regards yes it is not worth the costs of the time and effort when the teacher can do it easier and where the students have a more innate belief and confidence in that answer. For the long term I do believe peer correction has a place in learning. That being said it follows that Penny is ever about doing things in clearheaded manner with thought and not that it is something to avoid just that there are more useful and beneficial practices you should do first.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. I do not think that peer evaluation is very helpful at least for the students. On the contrary, is very useful for the teacher, but again I disagree. A helping hand for the teacher could be to split students into teams which every one will have a 'leader' who has to assist the teacher ( gather questions, give out the leaflets, gather homewok, etc). Every week the leader will change allowing to every student to take that place.
ReplyDeleteThat assistant idea might be useful for peer correction, too Vasiliki Tzotziou. Instead of relying on the same stronger or confident students to correct. assign a different student every lesson, giving them a quick idea of what they could do. I've never tried it myself, but with practice, It might give them the confidence to have their say?
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