How Should English Teachers Correct Common Learner Mistakes? – S04E13

How should English teachers correct common learner mistakes without interrupting communication or damaging confidence?Gav and Em explore frequent English errors made by learners from different language backgrounds, including Dutch, French, German, Arabic, Spanish and Japanese speakers. Using a classroom-style “pick and mix” activity, they demonstrate how teachers can identify, explain and practise mistakes naturally.Discover practical ways to correct problems with:• make and do• can, could, may and might• difficult English spelling• job, work, cloth, clothes and clothing• irregular past-tense verbs• hope and wishShould teachers immediately provide the correct answer or encourage learners to try again? Gav and Em discuss eliciting corrections, reformulating sentences, using repetition and knowing when a learner needs a direct explanation. Drawing on their classroom experience, they also consider when accuracy matters most and why corrections should be followed by meaningful practice.The episode finishes with Learn-A-Word, exploring common English suffixes including -es, -ed, -ing, -ly, -er, -tion, -able, -al, -y and -ness. Gav and Em explain how teachers can turn suffix practice into a simple vocabulary activity.If you find the show useful, you can send us a thanks at https://ko-fi.com/howtoenglishpodVisit https://howtoenglishpod.com for practical teaching ideas and resources ready to use.Chapters00:00 Welcome to Mistakes – Pick and Mix02:05 Common mistakes from different first languages04:05 Correcting make and do errors08:45 Teaching can, could, may and might11:10 Correcting difficult English spelling15:30 Cloth, clothes, clothing, job and work19:35 Teaching irregular past-tense verbs23:40 Explaining the difference between hope and wish27:10 Common English suffixes and vocabulary practice31:40 Final teaching ideas and conclusion