TKT Unit 11 TKT Unit 11 The Role of ErrorThe Role of Error

ByBy

Porntip BodeepongsePorntip Bodeepongse

Mistakes are divided Mistakes are divided into:into:

ErrorsErrors happen when learners happen when learners try to say something that is try to say something that is beyond their current level of beyond their current level of language processing.language processing.

Usually learners cannot Usually learners cannot correct errors themselves correct errors themselves because they don’t because they don’t understand what is wrong.understand what is wrong.

The other type of The other type of mistakes:mistakes:

SlipsSlips are the result of tiredness, are the result of tiredness, worry or other temporary worry or other temporary emotions or circumstances.emotions or circumstances.

Slips can be corrected by Slips can be corrected by learners once they realise they learners once they realise they have made them, maybe with have made them, maybe with little prompting from the teacher little prompting from the teacher or another learner. or another learner.

Key conceptsKey concepts

We need to think hard about We need to think hard about whether, when and how to correct whether, when and how to correct learners.learners.

In fluency activities it is better not to In fluency activities it is better not to pay attention to learners’ errors—pay attention to learners’ errors—ignoreignore them—so that the learners them—so that the learners have an opportunity to develop their have an opportunity to develop their confidence and fluency, and to confidence and fluency, and to experiment with language.experiment with language.

First reason why L2 First reason why L2 learners make mistakeslearners make mistakes

Interference or transferInterference or transfer: : influence from learners’ first influence from learners’ first language (L1) or their mother language (L1) or their mother tonguetongue

Learners may use sound patterns, Learners may use sound patterns, lexis or grammatical structures lexis or grammatical structures from their own language in English.from their own language in English.

Developmental errorDevelopmental error: Learners : Learners are unconsciously working out are unconsciously working out and organising language but this and organising language but this process is not yet complete.process is not yet complete.

OvergeneralisationOvergeneralisation = when = when learners wrongly apply a rule for learners wrongly apply a rule for one item of the language to one item of the language to another itemanother item

Second reason why L2 Second reason why L2 learners make mistakeslearners make mistakes

Errors are part of learners’ Errors are part of learners’ interlanguageinterlanguage (the learners’ (the learners’ own version of the 2own version of the 2ndnd language language which they speak as they learn).which they speak as they learn).

Interlanguage is not fixed Interlanguage is not fixed because learners unconsciously because learners unconsciously process, i.e. analyse and process, i.e. analyse and reorganise it.reorganise it.

More key conceptsMore key concepts

Errors which prevent communication Errors which prevent communication are more important than those which are more important than those which do not.do not.

Different learners may need to be Different learners may need to be corrected or not depending on their corrected or not depending on their stages of learning, learning styles stages of learning, learning styles and level of confidence.and level of confidence.

Ways of helping learnersWays of helping learners

To expose them to lots of language To expose them to lots of language that is just beyond their level, that is just beyond their level, through reading and listeningthrough reading and listening

To give them opportunities to focus To give them opportunities to focus on the form of languageon the form of language

To give them time to use language to To give them time to use language to communicate and interact and see if communicate and interact and see if they can do so successfullythey can do so successfully

Last but not least;-)Last but not least;-)

Errors are useful not only to Errors are useful not only to learners but also to the teacher. learners but also to the teacher. They can help the teacher see They can help the teacher see how well learners have learnt how well learners have learnt and what kind of help they may and what kind of help they may need.need.