English Conversation I – Correction Techniques Who should correct mistakes? self correction peer (partner) correction teacher correction Principles Correct in a positive way. Remember learning a language is difficult and we need to support each other. Bonus - Enhance your listening skills by following what is said.

1. Self correction I encourage self-correction. If you can fix your own mistakes, it shows that you understand and it allows you to feel more confident in your knowledge. "I go(ed) to... I mean, I went to the beach yesterday." “I went to she’s home ” .. “ umm actually her home”

Try these using: I mean actually what I meant to say was oops and umm ;-) I goed to the fireworks. After exams I sleeping all day and night I didn’t study many for the exams I really don’t want be here today.

Peer correction If your partner fails to self correct and you spot an error you could use Gesture, Repetition, Echo, Questioning or direct correction Gesture – raise your eyebrow / look puzzled / use your hands. Ask for Repetition – say again ? Huh ? Please repeat that ? What do you mean? Echo – say back (correctly) “did you say / mean .. ” Echo question. “I’m annoying” … “You’re annoying?”

Using self and peer correction What are you doing for lunch ? What are you going to do this week / next weekend? What are your plans for the winter vacation? What things do you have to do this week? Or every week / day (schedule)

Finally … Remember IF you are making the same mistake over and over you need to say the whole sentence, maybe write it down and review the grammar.. Don’t overdo correction (fluency vs accuracy) Slow down and listen to yourself and others Make sure your partner and you understand that it isn’t confrontational but helpful.

Managing Life NOT used Usually I’m just going to …

Will – Decision as speaking Scenario: In a restaurant, “what will you have?” With boy/girlfriend, “Where will we go now?” “I need some money.” “I’m going out tonight” “Do you want to come and get some food with me now?”

Factual / Information – will, going to

Prediction – will, going to 1. Predict your partners weekend / future … You will + … 2. What am I predicting? e.g. “They will get wider but thinner, and then they will eventually become 3D”.

Will, going to - Prediction Do you think + subject + will + verb (bare infinitive) Do you think you will get married in the next five years? Do you think the 2 Korea’s will reunite? Do you think humans will die out ? Do you think … Sure, doubt it, maybe, possibly, etc + will

Schedules – Simple Present What’s your schedule / class timetable ?

Do and Make Make (you don’t make a boyfriend!) - sure, a / no difference, sense, a decision, a mistake, money, reservations, an effort. Others: up, it up, out, do, trouble, sure, haste, believe. Do – general pronouns - something, anything, everything. Adverbs - well, much, ok. Interests – aerobics, gardening, research etc. Others – do, it, harm, good.

Collocation Notes Do and make are two verbs with similar meanings, and sometimes it's difficult to choose one or the other. Make often expresses the idea of creation: Let's make a cake! Do is used to talk about an activity without saying exactly what it is. What are you doing? Do is always used with something, anything, everything, nothing... Come on, boys, do something!

What’s a collocation? A collocation is a combination of two or more words that happens very often in a language. These words are generally used together. For example, in English you can say: “I like strong tea”, where “strong tea” is a collocation, because both words tend to appear together. It's not usual to see a synonym for “strong” instead of this word: “powerful tea” cannot be said. So, language learners should try to use the correct collocations if they want to sound natural when speaking a foreign language. That's what happens with do and make: we have to learn the collocations in which they appear.

Using advice and what’s necessary A: I have a problem, can you help me ? B: Sure, What’s up? A: I can’t sing/dance/speak English well. A: I think I’m pregnant! A: I have a drinking problem. A: I argued about … with my … A: My boss is sexually harassing me! A: My boyfriend hits me / is cheating on me (I think) A: make your own …

More Practice Write a problem on a piece of paper. Swap with another group Write correct grammar (advisable, necessary & preferable) Talk with the other group.

Putting it together Make Q’s to help your partner say the grammar A. Are you doing anything interesting +tonight / this week? B. Say what you are doing and provide a dilemma / problem. - I’m supposed to do some homework but I want to go out. Give some advice. - Yes, you’d better get it done quickly so you can go out…

Other practice Q’s - Will you get married early? Are you thinking about your future career? Is there anything that you’re not looking forward to? Are you going to see any old friends soon? Is your (mother/father/best friend) doing anything interesting?