Error Correction in the English Language Classroom

Error correction plays a key role in helping learners progress and become more accurate, fluent, and independent in their use of English. The challenge for us as teachers is how and when to correct to support our students in their goals. In this workshop we’ll consider strategies and techniques to handle written and spoken error correction effectively. We’ll practice error corrections techniques and reflect on their usefulness.

We’ll explore:

- How to identify different types of learner errors and the reasons for them - slips, mistakes and systematic errors in grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

- How and when to correct errors in accuracy and fluency tasks.

- Our role as teacher. Teacher correction, peer-correction and self- correction.

- The importance of correcting appropriately and sensitively and how this can create a positive, supportive classroom environment which builds student confidence and autonomy.

- Taking into account student preference. Some want to be corrected immediately, some are happy with delayed correction.

- Feedback and follow up tasks.

Through demonstrations and group activities, you'll come away from this workshop with strategies to recognise and deal with learner errors in an effective and supportive manner.