Error correction

Teacher talk - Error correction

In this video, the theme is ways of correcting mistakes. Rachael Roberts, David Petrie, Sylvia Guinan, Lizzie Pinard and David Dodgson give practical tips and strategies we can use to help our learners notice their own mistakes and encourage self-correction. Throughout this video, they provide a number of useful activities that can be used to help students in this area.

What activities do you use to help your students notice their mistakes? Why not write some of your favourite activities below in the comments.

Teacher talk is a series of videos featuring some of our TeachingEnglish Associates speaking about important teaching issues.

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Profile picture for user Kero

Hey! I'm Oscar, an ESL teacher from Venezuela. Throughout my experience, I've noticed that students are much more motivated to speak spontaneously when we create a safe environment free from judgment. Giving them the opportunity to self-correct—by presenting both what they said and a grammatically stronger option—helps them reflect on better ways to express their thoughts. It speeds up the correction process and provides a guided discovery path for effective communication.

Hi I'm Raquel and I'm from Mexico, and I think error correction is very important when learning English. Teachers should help students identify their own mistakes instead of correcting everything inmediately. In my opinion, self- correction can help students become more confident and improve their learning.

As an ESL teacher, I keep a journal of my students most common mistakes. However, there are two different moments of the learning process I take into consideration for error reflection: at the end of an activity or class in around 5 to 10 minutes because students learn more with short and simple learning information bites; and before a project presentation or exam so learners are aware of their own difficulties in order not to forget. I align my ideas with the ones from other teachers who have asked about what to do when students don't receive immediate feedback since, giving answers or explanations immediately during feedbaack sessions could take a long time and time-managing is fundamental, so it's best if we do it at the end of a class. There's more information to better adapt and learn more from encouraging error analysis, but do you recommend any books about this topic?

I use all the ways of error correction depending on the situation and d then I see what works best with the particular learner

Profile picture for user Anygail

Hi, I’m Analía from Argentina, and I teach at a secondary school. In my classroom, there are 30 or 31 students, so error correction is not individualised. We correct everything together, and students self-correct. If I notice a common error, I explain it again. Sometimes, I go over to shy students to clarify things for them.

I use the technique of self-correction and peer correction.

I am Amalachukwu Oduko, from Nigeria. In error correction, I use peer and self correction while I give clue to identify yhe error and avoid correcting on the spot.

Thanks for sharing your advice. Do you find your students get used to not getting immediate feedback? 

I tend to let the students repeat what they said or recheck what they wrote to accomplish the first step of self-correction.

I used to ask students to repeat what they said or recheck what they wrote to achieve the first step of self-correction.

Allowing learners to correct themselves teachers give them a useful tool for future learning processes.

I give the students to correct the mistakes, sometime give them hints or clues to identify the errors

I give the students self correct the mistakes, somtimes give them clues to identify the mistakes

nice ideas

I make my students to self correct by themselves.

i use repetition and self - correction

Good ideas,thanks.

It depends on the activity and the time I have available. I tend to correct students on the spot and take notes. Then, I either read or write key points on the board and elicit responses from the class.

Used to echo students upon their mistakes yet this didn't always seem to work as students sometimes may not even realize they are being corrected

Hi Zukhriddin

That’s a good point - it’s important that if you use echoing you vary your intonation and make it clear to learners that you are prompting them to self-correct. You can even be explicit about this if they don’t realise. You can also try reframing what they have said. It’s a good idea to try different techniques to see what works best with your particular learners.

Thanks,
Cath

TeachingEnglish team

Hello! I correct my students when I notice that they boost their confidence in the second language - English. Learning acquisition is more important than correcting learners. Do not correct the students on the spot allow them to process their thoughts or maybe you can use the sandwich strategies.

Most of my students are able to self correct themselves sometimes personally and at times when prompted. When challenge persist, peers immediately come in to help correct the error.

Profile picture for user hoangkieu

- divide students into groups to discuss their mistakes. that will help them to self - correct
- if they have mistakes in speaking. we can ask them to record and correct them.

Profile picture for user syedasapnafarooq4@gmail.com

I am an English teacher in Pakistan and I am very concerned about error correction. I used the technique of self correction, peer correction and repeat and it really works.

Hello everyone!
We must be very careful with error correction. I usually return to peer and self correction, and avoid correcting on the spot.

Hi. I am Guillermo Isaac Villar Mamani. I am from Peru. One of my dreams is teaching the English language because I would like to transmit all the knowledge I have. Greetings from Peru.
Hello, My name is Santiago Antonio Gutierrez Leiva and I am a second Semester Student of the Universidad de El Salvador (San Vicente) and we are learning how planning lesson for 10th grade and from first to eleventh and I would want to know some mistakes when teachers are planning lessons in public and private school.