Error Correction

ELL-U, the English Language Learner University, teaches courses for language learners and teachers.  A course I am taking right now, "English Language Acquisitions - Myths, Beliefs and What the Research Shows," has added something to what I will be teaching new tutors on the subject of error correction. 

Screen capture from ELL-U

The style of correction I have been promoting, known to Literacy Network tutors as the "understanding response," is listed below as a "recast correction." Some of the methods they mention, e.g. "metalinguistic feedback" seem too abstruse for a learner outside of a university course. But the techniques taught in the course are, overall, humane and positive enough to keep a learner talking without drawing glaring attention to their errors. Anyone can register for free.  Sign up and learn what you can.


See below:

Clarification request	Teacher uses phrases like "Pardon me?" or "I don't understand." to indicate an error or lack of clarity, and the need to repeat or rephrase.
Recast correction	Teacher implicitly rephrases the student's error or provides the correction, but does not directly indicate the student's error.
Elicitation	Teacher asks questions, pauses to allow sentence completion, or asks students rephrase, to elicit the correct form from the student....
Repetition	Teacher repeats the error with rising intonation to call attention to it.

The English Language Learning Professional Development Network

Executive Director Jeff Burkhart informed me of this cool new resource, the English Language Learner University. Developed by the U.S. Department of Education, it offers free on-line courses to help you become a more effective, better informed tutor or teacher. The courses dive into topics in second language acquisition, teaching English to emergent readers, assessment, principles of language teaching and the role of culture in teaching.

At left is a screen capture from a course I signed up for. All you need to do is create a user name and password, then a simple click registers you. Particularly interesting was a course that has not yet started titled "Teaching Adult ELLs [English Language Learners] Who Are Emergent Readers." As with other on-line courses, you can participate in text chat with instructors. There is also a message board for students to share questions and answers with each other. Why not give it a try? Click here to visit the site: http://www.ell-u.org/