UNIT 29

CATEGORISING LEARNERS´ MISTAKES

Mistakes are frequently made by EFF learners in the learning process. It is common to find them when learners tend to produce the language.

Within this unit is described the subdivision of mistakes. Those could be errors or slips. When a learner second-language production is interfered by his first language (L1 interference), it is considered as an error so that he cannot correct himself. It could happen because of his lack of knowledge. However, when a second language learner make slips is because of his lack of concentration or tiredness so that that could be corrected by himself.  

As a teacher I found out in my classes, different kind of mistakes that the students committed. For instance when they wanted to ask a question orally, they used to pronounce wrongly certain words like the auxiliary does for the third person. Most of the time they mispronounced words, but it is not just a matter of pronunciation but grammar, lexis and register. Moreover, my students also used to make mistakes when writing and they had the same problem all the time.

In short, based on my observation for my future plans I would try to fight against those committed mistakes with effective strategies in order to avoid fossilization. And it could be through the application of self or peer correction. The thing is that I cannot prohibit my students´ mistakes but I can reduce the inappropriate production of those mistakes.

Here you have a video showing the best way to correct errors in speaking. 

REFERENCE 

User, S. (2016). Heads Up English | ESL Lessons - How to Correct: Four Ways to Handle Mistakes. Headsupenglish.com. Retrieved 28 January 2016, from http://www.headsupenglish.com/index.php/esl-articles/feedback-and-correction/314-how-to-correct-esl-students

YouTube,. (2016). Error Correction in Speaking - The Fun Way: Herbert Puchta (Teaching Teenagers Tip #4). Retrieved 28 January 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znswuO4goYg