Dealing with error correction in online speaking lessons

Feedback is an essential part of the learning process and learners in an online environment need to know where they are now in their learning, where they need to go and how they can get there just as much as a learner in a face-to-face context. One element of feedback is error correction. Error correction online is likely to be dealt with slightly differently than in face-to-face lessons.

Task

Watch Lindsay and Marie Therese talking about some error correction techniques you can use in your online lessons. Which statements refer to immediate correction and which refer to delayed correction.

1. We should include examples of good language used.

2. It needs practice.

3. It’s hard for students to recognise when it’s needed.

4. Less of this is done in online lessons.

5. We can use Word, the whiteboard or the chat box to elicit it.

6. It’s possible to personalise it with the chat box.

7. You could prompt it with a card or puppet.

8. All learners can get involved via the chat box.

Check your answers here.

Reflect and share

How do you usually correct errors in face-to-face lessons? How might you need to adapt this for an online environment? If you already teach online, what changes have you had to make to the way you elicit corrections to errors? Share your ideas in the comments.