ESL Error Correction: Criteria and Techniques

Criteria

Seriousness

The error must impede communication before it should be considered an error that necessitates correction.

Exposure

It is unfair to penalize students for errors when they lack exposure to the language.

Student's Needs

The most struggling students should receive correction only when they make major errors.

Consistency

To attend to the error in a consistent and persistent manner helps teachers avoid reacting emotionally to students' errors.

Techniques

Elicitation

Encourage the learners in identifying and correcting their own errors.

Peer Correction

Learners are encouraged to help each other identify errors and correct them.

Explicit Correction

Providing the student the correct form (correction).

Body Language

Non-verbal cues that do not interrupt the students' attempt to produce target language.

Negotiation

Offering the student metalinguistic clues and/or asking for clarification.