CELTA Online Unit 7 Task 7: Identifying Errors

Watch the interview with Nihan again. She makes some errors when she is speaking. Listen and write
down six errors you hear. Decide whether they are errors of grammar, lexis or pronunciation and what
the issue is. Use the notepad to make notes.

e.g. ‘It’s so safer’. Grammar comparative structures.

Your responses

wron choice of lexis

word formation of nouns/adjectives
unecessary use of prepositio

Lexis

1. They make some tests to him or her. Correction: They give them tests/They have to do some
tests. Collocation- do a test.
2. I show their ways. Correction: I show them their options/possibilities. Wrong choice of lexis.
3. We connected with Europe university. Correction: We are connected with a European university
or European universities. Word formation of Nouns/adjectives.
4. They are not similar like this. Correction: They are not similar to… Collocation- similar to.
5. The firstly, I was surprised. Correction: At first, I was surprised/ First, I was surprised… Use of
spoken discourse markers- first, second….
6. But in here we have one and half hour lessons. Correction: But here we have one and half hour
lessons. Unnecessary use of preposition.
Grammar

7. It’s so safer. Correction: It’s so safe. Comparative structures.

8. I feel best (feel) here. Correction: I feel better/good here. Comparatives.
9. It’s the problem. Correction: This is the problem. Pronoun (to refer to what was said in the
previous sentence). (This could also be classified as a lexical error).
10. When I was 10 years old I studied English. After () 15 years later now I am here and I am studying
again. Correction: I haven’t studied English since I was 10 years old or I’ve been studying English
since I was 10 years old. Although not strictly an error, the Present perfect would be useful
here to describe situations in the past related to present time.
 11. I like working with the pairs, or small groups. Correction: I like working with my partner/in pairs.
Misuse of definite article. (This could also be a lexical problem of collocation).
12. Our teacher put a video to the blackboard. Correction: Our teacher put a video on the
blackboard. Prepositions (This could also be classified as a lexical error).
13. Grammar is not problem. Correction: Grammar is not a problem. Use of articles.
14. For good speaking as a British you need to talk a lot. Correction: To speak well/be able to speak
like a British person… Use of infinitive to show purpose.
Pronunciation

15. Istanbul Word stress

16. Psychology Word stress
17. University Overpronunciation of /r/
18. Work v/ instead of /w/
19. think t/ instead of /θ/