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Exploiting Learners' Errors

PostPosted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:44 am
by andreeabarbulete
3. I believe it's vital not to interrupt students while they're speaking in order to correct their errors.Firstly, you may break their fluency and concentration; they focus on how they say rather on what they say and the message becomes fragmentary and distorted. Secondly, in the long run, were they frequently interrupted, they 'd get discouraged to speak, so they'd simply keep silent.
4. Making mistakes can be a positive thing and I do try to convey this message to my students. I start by pointing out that even when speaking Romanian (their mother's tongue) they sometimes make mistakes, but that doesn't mean they stop speaking it. Then I show them that the message has gotten through - despite the mistakes - so they can communicate. Making mistakes means a student is trying; nobody can make a mistake if they never try to use the language; a mistake usually comes when students put into practice new language items, whose correct form or usage they do not completely master; but this is a good thing, because it means development. I also draw their attention to my own mistakes, if they happen to occur, to emphasize the idea that mistakes are common at any level and they are no reason to feel bad about your performance.