Assignment -Unit3 The Teaching and Learning of

ESOL

Module5 Errors and Error Correction

TASKS FOR SUBMISSION TO YOUR TUTOR – ANSWER

KEY

TASK 1

".........the tendency is for teachers to be over-preoccupied with

accuracy. This means that the student's work is often covered in red ink
and no comment is made about whether the work was interesting or
succeeded in its purposes."

'The Practice of English Language Teaching' Harmer

What is your view? Explain briefly (150 words)

Growing up, there were so many moments when I had felt de-motivated seeing
the corrections on the answer sheets. There was just too much of red on the paper
& you kind of lose the whole idea of where or what errors or corrections to focus
on.

Usually the teacher just marks the errors and does not correct it. The solutions
are often given to the whole class. This results in the students getting loaded with
more information and no clarity on what mistake they did or how to correct it
later. Having a proper organized method for correcting the student’s work is very
important, especially when it comes to teaching a new language. They need to
know what mistakes they did & how they can focus on correcting them.

TASK 2
Look at the pieces of written work on the following pages. You need to
identify the errors in them. In each case:

underline the error

classify the error
correct the error

Use the correction code from pages 6 and 7.

Look at this example:

I am getting up at 7am every day.

T
I get up at 7 a.m. every day

Concentrate on:

correcting real errors rather than suggesting improvements

keeping the same meaning as the student was trying to express,

for example the correction for I leaved the house at 6 is I left the
house, not I am leaving thehouse.

Authentic student errors

The first 4 students are writing in a narrative about themselves at the

beginning of the course.
The 5th student’s errors are presented as a series of isolated sentences.
This may make a difference to the way you deal with the errors.

STUDENT 1

I am 46 years old and ^ (T) married for twenty years. We have got
three children, one soon and two daughters. There are six, eight and
eleven years old. I am an electrical engineer and worked for a
company who(V) manufactured (T) machines for processing
automatically.
At first, I am going to learn English in Great Britain. It's very important for
my job. Then, I would like to have a little compagniy with about ten co-
worker for myself. If it isn't possible, I'll manage a department who
developed high technology machines.
I became the test sheets for complete and return directly at you .
You phoned at your agent about my course at your school in
Bristol. Very thanks for your trouble. I'm happy to come at your
school and I'm sure to learn better English. I don't know my flight
number on the 5st March. I would let you as soon as possible.

STUDENT 2

I'm fourty (SP) years old. My height is 1.8m and my hair is blond. My
hobbys(SP) are walking and clymbing(SP) in{} the mountain. My job is
Quality-Manager. I live(T) ten years at Russikon. I weake(SP) up at
seven o'chlock(SP) in the morning. I go for breakfast in the kitchen. After
the breakfast and{} I drive to work by car. In the office there is a lot of
work. I have a break at ten o'clock and I drink a tea. 12 o'clock I go
home for lunch.(T)
In the future I will(T) a good life with my family. I hope I get a lot of
money. I will learn better english for my job. I hope you will be happy
with my history.

STUDENT 3

Yesterday I arrived in Bath. In this town ^ there is a college where I'll

study English for two weeks. When we arrived at the college^ we went to
our bedroom. I stay in bed-room with my best friend and I'm very happy
for (G) this.
At eight o'clock we had dinner and then we have(T) visited the college.
It is beautiful and there is also a swimming pool. Then we caome (SP)
back to our bed-room wher {I've chatted(V, T) whit(SP) my friend }for a
long time. We both ^happy and we both hope to have a good time in this
college.
Unfortunately the weather isn't very good ^ yesterday^ rained and today
too(P) but I think that the weather isn't very important.

STUDENT 4

I had been in London for about four days, I saw the Tower of London,
the Tower Bridge the Big Ben and the other famous places of (G) this
city. To arrive in Bath, I brought (V) a coach. The journey was long but
I'm very happy to arrive in this town. I didn't stay here before, but all
my friends who saw Bath tell (T) me that it is very beautiful. I hope I
enjoy {myself} very much.

STUDENT 5

Collection of errors, not a narrative.

a) Thank you for the informations(SP).

b) I stand up (V) at 6 o'clock in the morning.

c) When I am ready I am eating my meal. (T, WO)

d) I passed (V) a good week with you.

e) I want saying (G) you thankyou.

f) I had very nice lunch and wine and it made me {very} full up and I'm
no more hungry.

g) Where I stay the wife is a very good cooker(V).

h) The father is very humouristic(SP).

i) I'm deceived for answer as quickly.(?M)

j) My friend don't(G) let me ^ anyplace.

k) The weather gets warmer in summer isn'tit(G)?

l) My partner gives (T) the answer don'the(SP, T)?

m) The weather will remember meEngland.

n) We put there ourluggage.

o) On(G) five o'clock I want to eat (V) my tea.

ERRORS

STUDENT 1

Error Category Correction

One soon SP We’ve got three
children, one son and
two daughters.
^T I have been married for
twenty years.
There are SP They are six, eight and
eleven years old.
Who V I am an electrical
Manufactured T engineer and worked for
a company which
manufactures machines
for processing
automatically.
Compagniy SP Then I would like to
Co-worker V have a little company
with ten staff for
 myself.
Who V I’ll manage a
Develops T department which
develops high
technology machines.
I became the test sheets ?M Unclear sentence
for complete and return
directly at you.
You G I called your agent
Phoned V about my school course

At {} at your school in
Bristol.
Very thanks V Sorry for your trouble
At G I’m happy to come to
your school & I’m sure
to learn better English.
On G I don’t know the flight
5th SP number for the 5th
March.
^ I would let you know as
soon as possible.

STUDENT 2
Error Category Correction
Fourty SP I’m forty years old.
Hobbys SP My hobbies are
Clymbing SP walking, and climbing
In {} the mountain.
Live ten years T I have been living for
In ^ ten years in Russikon
Weake SP I wake up at seven o’
Chlock SP clock in the morning.
And {} Not necessary
^ At 12 o’ clock, I go
home for lunch.
 Will T In the future, I will have
/hope to have a good
life with my family.

STUDENT 3

Error Category Correction

^ P In this town, there’s a
college where I’ll study
English for two weeks.
^ P When we arrived at the
college, we went to our
bedroom.
Bedroom V I stay in a room with my
For PR best friend and I’m very
happy about this.
Have G At eight o’ clock we had
dinner and we visited
the college.
Caome SP Then we came back to
our bedroom and I
talked with my friend
for a long time.
^ We both are happy and
hope to have a good
time in the college.
^ Unfortunately, the
Since PR weather isn’t good since
yesterday and rained
today.

STUDENT 4
 Error Category Correction
, P I had been in London
for about four days.
Of G I saw the Tower of
London, the Tower
Bridge, The Big Ben
and the other famous
places in this city.
Brought V To arrive In Bath, I
took a coach.
Tell T I didn’t stay here
before, but all my
Saw V friends who visited
bath told me that it is
very beautiful.
Myself {} I hope I enjoy very
much.

STUDENT 5

Error Category Correction

Informations SP Thank you for the
information.
Stand up V I woke up at 6 o’ clock in
the morning.
WO, T I eat my meal after I get
ready.
Passed V I had a good week with
you.
Saying G I want to say thank you.
^ I had a very nice lunch
Very {} and wine and it made me
Full up V full and I’m no more
hungry.
Cooker V Where I stay, the wife is a
very good cook.
Humouristic SP The father is very
 humoristic.
?M I received an answer
quickly. (This is my
interpretation as the
sentence is not clear.)
Don’t G My friend does not let me
^ go anyplace.
Isn’t it G The weather gets warmer
in summer doesn’t it?
Gives T My partner gave the
Don’t they T answer, didn’t they?
WO England weather will be
remembered.
WO We put our luggage there.
On G At 5 o’ clock I want to
Eat V drink my tea.

In TASK 3, you will write four remedial exercises. Before you do the
task, go back to pages 9-12 to remind yourself what remedial exercises
are

TASK 3

Look at the errors you collected in Task 2 which came under the
classifications G, WO, PR or T . Now prepare four exercises, which
could be given as remedial aids for these students. Each exercise must
be clearly marked to show what it aims to practise. Each exercise should
consist of at least 5 sentences/phrases, etc for the student to work with.
The exercises MUST be your own work. Even though the internet can be
used as a resource in your teaching, for the purpose of this Task you
need to prepare your ownexercises.

Use this template:

Student …(eg 1, 2...).... has difficulty with ….. (eg past

perfect, prepositions of place, tag questions ...).

Instructions:
…................................................................................................
…................................................................................................................
....

Example:
….......................................................................................................
…................................................................................................................
.......

1.
....................................................................................................................
..
2.
....................................................................................................................
..
3
.
...................................................................................................................
4.
....................................................................................................................
.
5.
…................................................................................................................

Task 3- Answer Key

Please note that this exercises are targeted for a beginner level

students.

STUDENT 1

1. Student 1 has problems in identifying present perfect continuous

tenses

Category of the error T –Tense

Error - I am 46 years old and married for twenty years.

2. Rule – Present perfect continuous tense – The tense is specifically

used for actions started in the past (have been married) and still

continue in the present (she’s still married)

3. Remedial exercises: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate tense

It _______ (snow) since last December.

A) It hasn’t been snowing since last December.

STUDENT 2

1. Student 2 has problems in identifying conjunctions.

Category of the error – G– Grammar

Error – After the breakfast and I drive to work by car.

2. Rule – A conjunction is the glue that holds words, phrases and

clauses together.

3. Remedial exercise:

Find the conjunction in the following sentence:

Karim is tall, but, Adbul is taller.

A). Karim is tall but Abdul is taller.

STUDENT 4

1. Student 4 has problems with identifying prepositions.

Category of the error – PR – Prepositions

Error – I saw The Tower of London, The Tower Bridge, The Big Ben

and the other famous places of this city.

2. Rule – The usage of prepositions – A preposition is a word or set

of words that indicates location or some other relationship between

a noun or pronoun and other parts of the sentence.

3. Remedial exercise:

Find whether the prepositions used are correct or not. (true/false)

I’m meeting my friend in Monday.

A). False – I’m meeting my friend on Monday.

STUDENT 5

1. Student 4 has problems in identifying the correct word order.

Category of the error – WO – Word order

Error – When I am ready, I am eating my meal.

2. Rule - In English language the word order of a sentence is always

subject-verb-object.

3. Remedial Exercise:

Form the sentence with the words given below:

Movie / Saw / I / the

A) I saw the movie. – I (subject) saw (verb) the movie (object).

Write your exercises in the space under each corresponding type.

GRAMMAR EXERCISE (G)

Find the conjunction in the following sentence:

1. I waited till the train arrived.

2. Do not go before I come.

3. He is richer than I am.

4. Catch me if you can.

5. Please write as I dictate.

EXERCISE TO IMPROVE WORD ORDER (WO)

Form the sentence with the words given below:

1. was / last week / in / he / hospital.
2. will / go / now / home / I.
 3. speak / I / English / can.
4. you / the / I / will / story / tell.
5. tomorrow / see / at / you / school / will / I.

EXERCISE TO IMPROVE USE OF PREPOSITIONS (PR)

Find whether the prepositions used are correct or not. (true/false)

1. She spoke in French.
2. Find the cat on the picture
3. Meet me at the bus station.
4. How many apples did you eat on total?
5. There’s a holiday on Friday.

TENSE EXERCISE (T)

Fill in the blanks with the present perfect continuous tense:

1. You ____ (eat) a lot recently.

2. They ____ (learn) English two years.

3. Mary ____ (live) in Germany since 1992.

4. He ___ (play) tennis for five hours.

5. It ___ (rain) since yesterday.

G,WO,PR,T ONLY!! DO NOT PREPARE EXERCISES FOR ANY

OTHER
TYPE OF ERROR.