Error correction can it be made fun?
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This document discusses ways to make error correction more constructive and fun for students. It notes that errors are a natural part of language learning and should be viewed as opportunities for feedback, not judged harshly. Various techniques are proposed to correct errors in a low-stress, game-like manner, such as using color coding, having students find errors in sample texts, or acting out incorrect sentences. Making the student being corrected "the expert" on their own common mistakes is recommended. The goal is to take the embarrassment out of errors and encourage experimentation in language use.
Error correction can it be made fun?
- 1. ERROR CORRECTION- CAN IT BE MADE FUN? ELTchat Summary for 20th May 2015
- 2. What is Error Correction? What are errors? Are we correcting: something said in the heat of the moment? something written as part of an exercise or task? = Both. But different techniques may be used in the context of the situation. Strictly speaking we should be discussing mistakes , which are performance errors and can be corrected. Real errors are things which have not necessarily been taught yet, and therefore are not easily self-corrected. D. Brown
- 3. Could we call them something else? Tongue –in-cheek from Marisa_C: Deviations ? Unfortunate episodes? Things we can improve on… Things we can say in a different way… (ShaunWilden)
- 4. DO WE USE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO CORRECT WRITTEN AND SPOKEN MISTAKES ? Strongminded, talkative students made it difficult to hear mistakes of the quiet sts. Using Screen casts (see links) or Jing short videos for written error correction works well (Marisa and Sue) Voice recording tools would be good for peer corrected speaking. Something like Vocaroo or Voxopop would make good homework tasks for sts to correct each other brokus_a : only outright corrects in writing. Without a tip it doesn’t stick in conversation Students enjoy having writing corrected, so it is easier than correcting fluency
- 5. RETHINK THE TEACHER’S ATTITUDE TO ERRORS Don’t think of it as ‘error correction’ but as giving students feedback (GlenysHanson) Errors are to be actually encouraged as part of learning ( Marisa_C) Don’t be judgemental and put sts on the spot (GlenysHanson) We need to take the shame out of making mistakes (Marisa_C) If our students don’t make errors- we don’t have jobs (SueAnnan) Errors are just part of the learning curve Look at Error Gravity; List of errors to mark 0-5 (Marisa) Would stop Students thinking that every problem is major. Some teachers are as scared of correcting as the students are of producing errors (Glenys)
- 6. HOW DO STUDENTS FEEL? Sts might arrive in class feeling ashamed of mistakes. Students can feel embarrassed at the beginning, but they end up enjoying the guesswork (MigueCorDi) Sts have fun if they create their own silly symbols for marking (Marisa_C) In groups they don’t feel stressed (GlenysHanson) If Teacher is not hypercritical, they don’t feel put on the spot Some students really ask to be corrected, especially in the run up to exams (Sunny_EvaS) (Ven_VVE) But it could be from habit (ShaunWilden)
- 7. DO STUDENTS ALWAYS WANT TO ‘GET IT RIGHT’? Sometimes they get to Intermediate level and stagnate (SueAnnan) Errors can be caused by lack of attention (MigueCorDi) When speaking it is more important to students that others understand their message,
- 8. How can we make error correction more fun? Take errors from student essays and ask the class to guess who made them. (MigueCorDi) Write up a mix of sentences which are correct and error-ridden and do a grammar auction (HanaHainsworth) Use colourful markers and give positive feedback (Sunny_EvaS) Colour-code errors- Sts correct in groups (Marisa_C) Put errors on Flipchart on wall for class to correct (GlenysHanson) Take an exercise and turn it into nonsense works well for LA and amuses students (Marisa_C) The Human Computer technique is fun (see links) Play devil’s advocate. Let them argue correctness with you (MigueCorDi)
- 9. And more ideas…. Make a student ‘the expert’ on a mistake they make frequently. Ask them for help if someone else makes the same error. (Glenys) Make mistakes, pretend you have forgotten the correct grammar and ask students to look it up (Sunny_EvaS) Come at the error from a different direction and make the lesson fun (brockus_a) Get the students to teach the class (brockus_a) ( Marisa)( Glenys)
- 10. What if the same students are making all the mistakes? Do delayed correction and respond to the content, not the student. Take care with sts who have low affective filters (HanaHainsworth) Be selective about what you correct and don’t over-face the students Remember to respond to the quiet ones- not the over-talkative students who monopolise.
- 11. Does Correction really work? If it does- what other factors might be at play?
- 12. LINKS The Human computer techniquehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di8TcpLY47g (watch from around 10 minutes in) Does Error Correction really work? Jeremy Harmer http://203.72.145.166/ELT/files/47-4-6.pdf Marisa’s Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/celtathens/errors- error-correction Screencasting by Russell Stannard http://www.teachertrainingvideos.com/screen- casting/jing.html http://203.72.145.166/ELT/files/47-4-6.pdf Scholarly article All images taken from CC licensed ELTpics on Twitter by @Senicko, @SandyMillin and @Karabetca