Viatouch
Teacher Articles
Teaching Tips
Techniques for Correcting Students
by Neerja Sharma
In order to be able to correct a student, a teacher should understand the distinction between a mistake and an error. A mistake can be thought of as a mere slip of the tongue. Students can correct mistakes by themselves or with the help of a teacher. But an error is more deeply ingrained. It may be made because students believe that whatever they are saying is correct. It could be made because students don't understand the correct form. Or, an error can be made when students know the correct form, but cannot get it right.
The teacher should not be in a hurry to correct a student because it could interrupt the flow of the activity. In such a case, the teacher should wait until the end of the activity. In addition, the teacher should bear in mind that the correction should reflect the stage of the lesson. For example, the teacher should correct students while they are first learning or studying new concepts. They should avoid correcting when students are executing the concepts learned. Errors show that students are trying and experimenting, which is a part of the learning process.
Generally, teachers are confused regarding what to correct and what to leave. On three occasions, it is relevant to correct the student:
Sometimes self-correction by students is a good option as it provides the opportunity to reflect on their errors and try again. But for this to be effective, the students need to know that there was an error and what kind of an error it was. On certain occasions, one student may correct another. This is called student-to-student correction. It is effective because students like helping each other. Use this method if the students feel comfortable being corrected by other students.
Correcting students is a challenging part of a teacher's job. Try to stay calm. Look at the positive side. Allow students to study their errors. Encourage them to try to make the corrections themselves. Make note of the errors and use them with a focus on correcting them in future lessons. Above all, be assured that making errors is part of the learning process.
The author is an ESL teacher, who has taught English for the last six years in a Canadian college based in India. Neerja is also a freelancer writer. She regularly contributes articles to a locally based current affairs magazine. One of her short stories has been published in a New York based publication's anthology titled "Grab Your Tiger".
