*** YOU ARE WRONG! ***
Making errors are part of learning!
Let’s face it; hardly anybody likes others finding their errors/mistakes! However, there are several ways to treat errors/mistakes without having anyone hate you for it!Error: Lack of knowledge – Don’t know the correct version yet – Fossilised
Mistake: Slip of the tongue (ooops!)
A – English as a first language: We know how to correct our mistakes/errors and we can recognize our mistakes for what they are.
B – English as a second language: Not only do they not always recognize their mistakes, but when their attention is drawn to them they often cannot correct them; they may even commit another error in trying to do so. (Reference: S P Corder: Introducing Applied Linguistics pp.256/7)
TREATMENT:
* Concept Questions * Face expressions * Gestures * Re-formulation * Peer correction * Using the white board * Repeat sentence with a blank (beep) for them to fill in with correction etc.
The other day, during our error correction class, our tutor read intonation as in-te-nation. She was asking us whether any of us say it in another way. I told her that I say in-tow-nation! Canadians say it different!
Conclusion: It may not always be an error/mistake; it may be a pronunciation difference.
February 13th, 2007 at 4:13 am
Very true! Good job!
February 19th, 2007 at 4:20 am
Hi. Good post. I have a friend who is New Zealand-born, whose mother is from Gujurat. My friend told me that when she attempted to use her mother’s language, her mother would mock her for her mistakes. So in the end, she gave up. I feel so sad for her. It must have felt really upsetting and discouraging to have that happen and it has kept her out of touch with the language of her ancestors. When I was learning bits of Hindi from people I met in India, they were so encouraging and so pleased that I was trying. What a big difference positive feedback makes, huh?