Online TEFL course, error correction

Hi.

I'm doing an online Tefl course and am just doing some question on error correction. I tried these before and have been asked to redo them. This is the question -


Please look at the student mistakes below and do the following:

1. Identify what is wrong with the sentence
2. Write what probably caused the mistake
3. Identify what type of a mistake it is
4. Write how you would correct it.

(Note: These are all spoken mistakes. The level of the learner is written next to the sentence).

For example:

Did you enjoyed your holiday? (Intermediate)

Answer:

1. The student used the past form of the main verb in the past simple question. It should be ‘Did you enjoy your holiday?’
2. Slip of the tongue
3. Grammar
4. Repeat to the point of error emphasising ‘did’ and pointing backwards to indicate the past. Then repeat 'enjoyed' stressing 'ed' with a questioning look. Wait for the student to self-correct.

And this is the comment I got for my answers -

Comment: I would like you to try questions 31 to 37 again as you have not answered point 4 correctly. It is not useful to just explain everything to the students. They need to self correct. Please review the relevant correction techniques in module 7, include them in your answers, and try these questions again.

I have tried these again and was just wondering if someone wouldn't mind checking my answers to see if I've got the right idea this time -

31
Let me make a photo of you. (Intermediate)



Answer:

1. The student used the wrong verb. They should have said take but have used a very similar word.
2. Slip of the tongue. The student should know the difference between the two words at the intermediate level.
3. Vocabulary.
4. Repeat the sentence with a puzzled look and wait for the student to self-correct. If they don't realise their mistake ask the rest of the class.


32

He's a friendly girl. (Upper-intermediate)


Answer:

1. The student has identified the wrong gender.
2. Mother tongue-interference. The student couldn't distinguish between masculine and feminine.
3. Grammar
4. Draw a picture of a girl and a boy on the board and circle the girl. If the student still doesn't realise their mistake elicit 'he' and 'she' from other members of the class. Write 'He' and 'She' under the corresponding pictures and do some drilling exercises distinguishing the difference between he and she. Ask the student to repeat the sentence.



33

She cans drive. (Elementary)


Answer:

1. The student had tried to use a modal verb in the sentence.
2. Using a higher level of language.
3. Grammar.
4. Indicate the mistake with my voice. Repeat the sentence stressing the word 'cans'. Wait for the student to self-correct. If the student makes the same mistake elicit the correction from other students in the class.



34

The people was very kind. (Pre-intermediate)


Answer:




1. The student has used the plural instead of the singular. It should be 'The person was very kind.'
2. Mother tongue interference.
3. Grammar.
4. Draw a group of people on the board and a single person on the board. Circle them both. Point the group of people and elicit the word 'people' from the student, then point to the single person and elicit the word 'person' from the student. Ask them to repeat the sentence.

35

You’d better not criticise her - she is very sensible to criticism. (Advanced)


Answer:


1. The student has mixed up sensible and sensitive.
2. I think at this level, this would be a slip of the tongue.
3. Vocabulary.
4. Ask the student to repeat the sentence to identify whether it was just a slip of the tongue. If they still make the same mistake then give them two options of what the word should be. 'Sensible of sensitive?'


36

Good morning, sir. What's up? (Intermediate)


Answer:


1. A mix of formal and informal.
2. Above the students level. The student may have picked up the vocabulary from a film or TV programme and doesn't quite understand when is appropriate to use the phrase.
3. Style.
4. Explain the difference between the formal and informal and when is appropriate to use them. Set the student an exercise to test understanding. E.g. A mock interview.


37

Tomorrow I go to London. (Beginner)


Answer:

1. The student is using the wrong tense and the order of the sentence is wrong. It should be 'I am going to London tomorrow'.
2. Above the students level.
3. Grammar.
4. I would indicate the mistake with a gesture. Point forward to indicate this is a future plan and try to elicit the correct tense.


Sorry for the length of the post. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks very much, Tom