Correcting COMMON mistakes!

It's not an easy task, but we need to be aware of  how our students are doing and try to keep a balance between fluency vs. accuracy in the classroom 

There is a tension where too much desire  for accuracy denies a student fluency.  And too much emphasis on fluency can result in spoken language that follows no rules at all.

Bring exercises where they can access and correct COMMON mistakes is a great way to do it without putting them in the spotlight. 

This activity can be done in groups or individually,  set a time limit and ask your students to correct the mistakes in the sentences below. 


1. I have twenty one years old.
2. My friend he is a system analyst.
3. This is for to use in the computer.
4. Could you borrow me your book?
5. He don´t work here anymore.
6. That store is near to my house.
7. How long time were you in Mexico?
8. She can to go right now.
9. How frequent do you watch sitcoms?
10. I go to the gym one time a week.
11. I need do my homework today.
12. How long do you work here?
13. Childrens usually don´t like vegetables very much.
14. I´m not understanding. Could you repeat, please?
15. Did you went to the movies in the last week?
16. I´ve knowing my best friend since for 10 years.
17. I don´t have nothing to do.
18. I want you to tell to her I am very busy.
19. The peoples usually like to work in a group.
20. I´ll attend the phone.
21. I borned in SP.
22. I have afraid of ghosts.
23. I was doing my homework yesterday night.
24. I told my wife to change your car. She bought a very old one!
25. I got up late and I lost my bus!!!
26. A: Have a nice weekend.
B: For you too!
27. Have twenty five people in my department.
28. I have particular Spanish classes.
29. We have differents products in your company.
30. I tripped to London last year.
31. Always I ask my boss to take easy.
32. We go out work at 6:00 pm.
33. When I will win the lottery, I will buy a huge apartment.
34. Are you calling me today at night?
35. You must train your Spanish.
36. Did you used to play a lot as a kid?

Learn from your students!

Today we came across a great post from Creative Education, and it made us think about the importance of learning from our pupils. 

The notion  that teachers don’t learn, has been gone for quite some time now. You just have to look at the many communities on common social networks to observe a huge group of teachers making the effort to learn and understand new ideas, new tools and new ways of teaching.

Teachers learn, but often that search is very personal, they do so on their own or perhaps sharing ideas with colleagues. 

What about the people you're with everyday?

What can your students teach you?

Pupils As Observers

Student voice is something that has gained an increasing toehold in schools, including some where the pupils themselves observe teachers and provide constructive feedback. Teachers who participate often find you can get incredibly useful feedback from your students on your teaching style and topics. This is a very direct way of learning from your students and can reap considerable rewards.

Personal Courage

Sadly, misfortune can strike someone at any age – and it certainly will have struck some of the children learning at your school. Some children show an extraordinary degree of personal courage in the face of adversity. In doing so they provide an example not just to their classmates, but to us teachers as well. It’s easy to get dragged down by the day to day of planning, marking and other paperwork, but seeing your job through their eyes helps you really put things in perspective.

Attitude on Life

Adolescence is a highly creative phase with children trying out different things to understand how the world works. As we receive and develop wisdom we gain so much, but we lose some of that creativity that helps us as adults challenge how the world works and improve it. Why not take a look at your role through the lens of one of your students – how would they approach it, what might they try, what questions would they ask? The answers to those questions may surprise you.

Teacher as Learner

If as teachers we are learners too, we have a lot to learn from how others approach a similar task. Hours and hours of learning a day is an enormous mental task – how do students approach it? What do they find interesting? What sustains their engagement. There is no-one better placed to answer those questions than you, and you can use the answers to help design programmes for yourself that you can really get into and deliver the best results.

Surprising Skills

Finally, even when it comes to a more classic definition of knowledge students still have a lot to teach us. You never know when you’ve got a skilled beekeeper sitting in front of you, or a champion gymnast. One area where this is particularly evident is IT. With their minds so flexible, it’s well noted that children take incredibly quickly to new technology whilst adults struggle to catch up. You can either fret about that, or just go with the flow. Get your students to teach you what they know, and watch your teaching blossom.