Mistakes in language learning, types of mistakes

Mistakes in language learning, types of mistakes

Tursunova Sokhiba Safar zoda

• Did your teachers put a strong emphasis on correcting mistakes, or did they make you feel that it was acceptable to make mistakes?
• How did this make you feel – in either of these situations?

• Mistakes (Slips):

Students know the correct form, and make the mistake (slip) due to carelessness, tiredness, distraction, inattentiveness, etc. Students can usually correct these kinds of mistakes themselves

• Errors:

Students make a genuine mistake because don’t actually know the correct form. The error is made due to factors such as trying to produce something which has not been fully learnt or learnt incorrectly, interference from L1, mistaken beliefs about the L2 rules. Students are not usually able to self-correct errors

Why do we make mistakes?

• Interlanguage – A stage in learning in which Students mix elements of L1 structure, rules or pronunciation with L2 when they use L2. This is constantly changing as learners progress in L2 (I no come)
• Mother-tongue interference – Applying the rules of L1 to L2 (The news are good)
• Carelessness – Not paying attention

NB! This could be also due to tiredness or interlanguage

Why do we make mistakes?

• Translation - Converting from L1. This cause is very close to Mother-tongue interference category
• Over-generalisation/over-application – assuming a rule applies in all cases and over-using it (How many childs have you got?)
• Tiredness – Feeling tired (e.g. missing out words, using simpler forms). Students can correct these when prompted
• Anxiety – Feeling nervous (e.g. disjointed sentences)

Mistake categories

• Grammar – mixing up tenses
• Register- using formal language in informal context
• Lexis – confusion over words with similar meanings
• Pronunciation – confusing sounds of L1 & L2
• Misunderstanding what they hear – caused by difficulties in distinguishing sounds, words, word boundaries in connected speech
• Spelling – writing words which have similar sounds but are spelt differently

5.

• Making mistakes is a natural part of language learning.
• Mistakes play an important role in indicating the stage learners are at
• Mistakes show needs for further teaching or study
• Mistakes help teachers to advise learners on what to do to improve

Do you agree with the following statements?