Author: Deb Bullock | Published on 1 October 2023
Read what a teacher says about this activity:
Stop and correct is an activity that you can use with primary and secondary learners to help them self-correct when speaking. During Stop and correct, I can also listen to my learners and assess their speaking. It’s also good for introducing self-assessment.
Stage 1: Preparation
Choose a topic and language which your learners studied recently.
Choose a speaking activity (e.g. dialogue, group discussion, etc.)
Example:
Topic: Our class is talented.
Vocabulary: sports, hobbies, languages, musical instruments
Grammar: can/can’t + verb (Can you play football? Yes, I can / No, I can’t; Are you good at painting? Yes, I am / No, I’m not)
Activity: class survey
Stage 2: Introduction
Review the topic vocabulary and grammar (e.g. on the board, brainstorming in pairs or groups, etc.)
Say: 'Today we will check how well you can use this language when speaking. So, if you make a mistake when you speak, stop and correct yourself.'
Stage 3: Preparation
Draw a table on the board.
| Questions | Answers |
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 |
Elicit two questions and write them on the board (e.g. Are you good at science? Can you play the drums?)
Ask learners to work in pairs. Tell them to copy the table and write 5 questions.
Circulate, monitor and support.
Stage 4: Practice
Say: 'First you will practise with your partner. If your partner says ‘no’, put a cross (✗); if they say ‘yes’, put a tick (✓). If your answer is ‘no’ you should say what you are good at / what you can do.'
Say: 'Remember, you are checking how accurately you can use this language. If you make a mistake, stop and correct yourself. If I hear a mistake, I will do this (wave your finger or wave your hand'.)
Say: 'OK, please start. You have 5 minutes'.
Circulate and listen. If you hear mistakes, gesture to learners that they should self-correct.
(Optional) Stage: Class survey
Say: 'Now you have 10 minutes to do your survey. Stand up, move around the room, ask and answer questions. Remember, you are checking how accurately you can use this language. If you make a mistake, stop and correct yourself.'
Circulate and listen. If you hear mistakes, gesture to learners that they should self-correct.
Note: When the learners have collected their survey results, they can report or create a chart.
Stage 5: End activity
Say: 'Hands up if you stopped and corrected yourself.' Ask two or three students, 'Do you remember your mistake? What was it?'
Ask how easy / difficult it was to self-correct. Tell them it will be easier if they do it more often.
To start, learners may forget to self-correct, so it’s important to remind them (gesture). However, with time, it will become a habit. You may find that learners do it to each other! You can also use activities like this to assess your learners’ speaking and introduce self-assessment.