1. Feedback on written production LETRAS Pre-service education ERRORS IN WRITTEN LANGUAGE TYPICAL WRITTEN ERRORS BY BRAZILIAN STUDENTS

2. Written errors or mistakes There are three basic approaches to correcting written work: 1) Correct each mistake. 2) Give a general impression marking. 3) Underline mistakes and / or give clues to the type of mistakes made and then let students correct the work themselves.

3. What’s the fuss all about? There are two main points to this issue: 1) If I allow my students to make mistakes, I will reinforce the errors they are making. Many teachers feel this and it is reinforced by students who often expect teachers to continually correct them during class. 2) If I don’t allow my students to make mistakes, I will take away from the natural learning process required to achieve competency and fluency. Learning a language is a long process during which a learner will inevitably make many mistakes, and students who are continually corrected become inhibited and cease to participate.

4. Summary Correction is not an ‘either/or’ issue. Correction needs to take place, and is expected and desired by students. However, the manner in which teachers correct students plays a vital role in whether students become confident in their usage or become intimidated. Correcting students as a group, in correction sessions, at the end of activities, and letting them correct their own mistakes all help encouraging students to use English rather than to worry about making too many mistakes.

5. CORRECTION USING CODES Prep: Preposition WO: Word order SP: Spelling GR: Grammar WW: Wrong word

6. Correcting written mistakes Jack was born to New York in October 25, 1965. When he was 18 years, he wen to the university to study medicine. While he was university he met his wife Cindy. She was a beautiful woman with long black hair. They went out for yeers before they decided getting married. Jack began to work like a doctor as soon as he graduated from Medical School. Correction key T = Tense P = Punctuation WO = Word order Prep = Preposition WW = Wrong word GR = Grammar λ = Word missing SP = Spelling

7. Practical Techniques / Ideas for Correcting... Writing Training students to edit: Grammar auctions Mistakes mazes Correction techniques: Using different colors Use codes in the margin Write number of errors Spoken English Raising awareness: Dictogloss Mouthing Reformulation Delayed correction: Noting down errors Recording Videotaping