Language Skills 2B                                          Robert Michael Westbrook

                                                                          Mas. U.  Ped. Fac.

   Assignment 3

   

   Error Correction Sheet Number One

   

   This is the first of several assignments dealing with error correction. This first paper will
   deal with oral error correction. In your textbook, we have already discussed several grammar
   points, mainly some tenses. We have also been discussing how to explain grammar rules as if
   you were introducing them. Now we will be talking about how to use these grammar rule
   explanations for error correction. If you were teaching a class and a student uttered " I have
   seen that film yesterday.", what would you say? Is this proper English? If not, should the
   error be ignored? There are many different philosophies regarding error correction ranging
   from self-correction to direct method error correction (where every mistake is corrected on
   the spot), you will have to decide on your own what suits you best.

   

   Here are a couple of examples of students' mistakes and how a teacher may respond to them.

   

   Student (making a mistake): We have been being married for two years.

   Teacher: (to student): We have been married for two years.

   Student (repeats corrected form): We have been married for two years.

   Teacher (to student): And why is that? / Do you remember why?

   Student (if they remember): Because "to be" is non-continuous.

   Teacher (to student): Exactly/Precisely/Good    etc.

   

   note 1: If the student doesn't remember/know the rule, you can always pose the question to the
   class or as a last resort, tell the student yourself.

   

   note 2: The grammar explanation should be as short and precise as possible. You are most
   likely reminding them of something that they had forgot rather than introducing it to them for
   the first time.

   

   THE ASSIGNMENT       (due by 24.3)

   

   Decide whether the following ten sentences/questions are correct or not. If the sentences are
   incorrect, I want you to write the correct form and then to write a quick explanation as to
   why the sentence/question has been corrected (this should be written as exactly how you would
   say it to the student as in the above example "because "to be" is non-continuous.)

   

   e.g.  I was watching TV when my mother cooked dinner.

          Incorrect. I was watching TV while my mother cooked dinner. We use while to talk about
   two past actions that were happening at the same time.

   

   1.  The weather would be colder than it is now.

   

   2. The old woman was trying to cross the street when the tram ran her over.

   

   3. Queen Elizabeth II watched Big Brother in two different languages.

   

   4. I never saw this film before.

   5. When I came home I noticed that Boris wasn't at home. Then I saw his note. He had gone.

   

   6. When she was a little girl living in Germany, Heidi wasn't used eating sauerkraut.

   

   7. The Czech government just overrode Klaus' evil veto.

   

   8. Lyvie Klausova was shaving her back when a burglar was leaping into her bath.

   

   9. I have eaten snails three years ago.

   

   10. Michael Jackson would be rich during the 90's.