Experimenting with Error Correction

Having been teaching for over 25 years, I guess I have experimented with most of the techniques in error correction. Generally speaking, I tend to do on the spot correction (mostly recasting) whenever I am presenting new language and focusing on form. My main aim in using this technique is to avoid stopping the flow and to maintain good rapport with the students, as I consider the latter of utmost importance in the class. As to the use stage, I do delayed correction using the interactive whiteboard to show examples of both impeding mistakes and great use of the language. In fact, I must admit that I correct a lot less nowadays as I have realized that, because mistakes are an essential component of learning, and genuine communication is always based on improvisation, they will continue to happen. I believe that focusing on the content and effective communication is much more meaningful and motivating for students.

One of the few resources I had not used for error correction was recording. After reading Steven Herder's description of an error correction activity on his post on the iTDi blog, I decided to use recording with a group of teenagers preparing for the FCE exam. After the students had practised describing a picture in pairs, they were asked to record the description of another pair of pictures using their smart phones or any other device. I then asked them to take their recording home, listen to it and transcribe their description as graphically as possible. They were then to use a different colour pen to correct it and bring the material in the following class.

To my surprise, not only did the students enjoy the activity, they were also able to correct most of their mistakes and were interested in finding out how many right corrections they had made and how many mistakes they hadn’t corrected. To give them answers to their questions, first they were asked to sit with a partner, swap transcripts and try to correct mistakes that had been left uncorrected. As they did this, I walked around and offered help. Then I put the most significant/impeding mistakes on the IWB and elicited the correction from the whole class. If no one was able to correct the mistake, I inductively made them realize what the mistake was (eg by asking questions). The rationale for this is my belief that the class as whole can learn from mistakes made by other students.

The class asked me to use this technique in the following class again, a fact which I took as a positive outcome. I now want to try this technique with another group and I do hope they enjoy the activity and benefit from it as much as my exam preparation class did.

My "secret" to language learning

Thomas Edison once wisely stated that “success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.” Empirical evidence seems to suggest that success in language learning is somewhat the same. If you are not one of those few lucky gifted learners you might agree with me that success is 10% gift, 20% motivation and 70% perspiration. While gift does improve the outcome of perspiration (or perhaps the other way around!), motivation has a major role not only in success in language acquisition, but in most achievements. Research findings show that there is a circular cause and effect relationship between success and motivation: the more motivated you are, the more you succeed. Success, in turn, leads to still greater motivation!


My secret to language learning was perspiration, really! I always had to be very systematic about what I was to learn: I diligently listened to audio cassettes (if you are old enough to understand what I mean by cassettes) in English and wrote down the tapescript (it must be said that this was not as fun as listening to songs and writing down the lyrics, but just as effective!). I also wrote word lists and illustrated the meaning of the words with pictures and/or sentences and memorized loads of chunks of language. Yes, memorization!!! I memorized lists of vocabulary, phrasal verbs and even interviews in English: questions and looooong answers. I can’t say I enjoyed the memorization process, but when I succeeded, I felt really proud and challenged myself with further memorization. I wasn’t aware of the role of memorization in foreign language learning back then... I was just a teen, but I was able to enjoy its benefits anyway. Today, if asked for advice, I’d certainly say: be systematic about what you learn.

My first PLN love!

My first PLN ♥love♥!

Earlier this month Brad Patterson @brad5patterson proposed a blog challenge on Twitter. I'm not a real blogger, the only blogging I do is adding some activities for my young learners here, but I liked the idea so much that I decided to take the plunge. So here is the outcome: 
                                An interview with Carla Arena @carlaarena

Some Background:

It was a Sunday, 14 November, 2010, when my life started to change. And it was all Carla's "fault"! Searching the net, I came across Carla’s blog post on elearning speedgeeking and that led me to her twitter account (or was it the other way around?) The truth is, it was then that I fell in love with Carla, who was the first member of my adorable PLN and to whom I owe having become a more engaged and techy teacher. Therefore, my interviewee couldn’t be anyone else, but her. Without further ado, I share, with enormous pleasure,  a bit more of this incredible human being with you.

About Carla

Besides her family, the trio teaching, cooking and photography are part of Carla’s true passions in life. They are all related to magic moments in life, alchemy, creativity. Carla was once  just another government worker working a long day. Her life really turned upside down when she taught her first class in a methodology class at Casa Thomas Jefferson, in Brasilia. From that day on, she became a teacher. And, what a great teacher! From the beginning, she found the power of technology as a connective and transformative tool in the classroom. Nowadays, more than tech in class, she’s excited about the new possibilities of its way beyond the four walls. That's why for the past years she has dedicated herself to the eLearning program at the Casa and to volunteer work in the Electronic Village Online (a TESOL-CALL-IS project) Coordinating Team and as an online moderator of free training sessions for educators.

Carla’s blog: http://collablogatorium.blogspot.com/

Carla’s wiki: http://brazilbridges.pbworks.com/

The 5 Standard Questions:

If your students were to label you with 3 adjectives, what might they be?
Geeky, loud and all smiley

What would we find in your refrigerator right now?
Juicy fruits, vegetables, cheese, ham, wine (always!), beer for my husband

If you weren’t a teacher, what might your profession be?
A National Geographic Photographer or a chef?

What has been your most difficult class as a teacher?
The most difficult class for me was when a very dear teenage student died in a car crash. I was devastated, but had the tough task to be the support for all those wonderful, helpless teenagers in class...It was one of the most demanding days in my teaching profession.

What was the last book/movie you read/saw, and what have you seen/read way too many times?
Books? I'm reading three now. Just finished Seth Godin's "Poke the Box". I'm finishing Malcolm Gladwell's "Outliers' and just started "Digital Education. Opportunities for Social Collaboration", edited by Michael Thomas.

About my favorite movies of all times? "Cinema Paradiso". It is just a portrait of my own Sicilian family.

Extra Question:

How different is Carla, the mother from Carla, the teacher?
Carla, the mother, is very demanding, but caring. Always alert. Carla, the mother, is as close to her kids as one can be.

As for Carla, the teacher, she's softer, always cheerful, demanding, but not pushy. More understanding.

Both Carlas care for the other, are totally passionate about life, and try to inspire others to do their best, to pursue their dreams.

Ping Pong

Day or night? Both

Salt or sugar? Sugar

Air, fire, earth or water? Air

Hot or Cold? Hot

The city or the country? Urban

Modern or Classical? Modern

Film or book? Film and book

Say the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear these prompts:

My family: my balance, my passion

Favourite quote: "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." Einstein

A role model: Dennis Oliver, an incredible friend and educator

A dream: democratizing access to education in Brazil

Brazilian Educational System: still has a long way to go. We need transformation.

I hate: injustice

I love: cooking, traveling and taking photos

My PLN: lifelong learning and connections

Other interviews in the challenge:

@Brad5Patterson         and          @CeciELT

don’t CC ceci, send ‘er a TO

@CeciELT       and      @Shellterrell

Getting to know a PLN star

@theteacherjames     and       @annamusielak

ELT Blog challenge interview with Anna

@seburnt           and       @vickyloras

Bookstores, Taxes, and Swiss PD with Vicky Loras

@bcnpaul1          and         @brad5patterson

ELT Blog challenge with Brad

@shellterrell     and      @seburnt

THE NAUGHTY DOGGY TALES (tails) and their PARENTS

@vladkaslniecko        and          @annamusielak

Vladimira, the Peaceful Ruler

@sandymillin      and       @naomishema

The eternal teacher:  interviewing Naomi

@davidwarr       and          @hoprea

Doing some work

 

@vladkaslniecko      and       @tarabenwell

Little Daisy PLN Challenge 

 

@abfromz          and       @evab2001

Collaboration and Fun

 

@vickyloras          and        @esolcourses

PLN Interview with Sue Lyon Jones