English majors Generally high intrinsic

motivation

My students’
characteristics

Lower proficiency level than expected

Types of error Error categories

Grammar errors 1 S-V agreement

2 Verb tenses
3 Cohesive devices
4 Relative clauses
5 Subject omission
6 Verb omission
7 Sentence structure
8 Fragment / run-on
9 Singular /Plural
Lexical errors 10 Word choice
11 Word form
12 Collocations
Mechanics 13 Punctuations
14 Capitalization
15 Spelling
Organization 16 Main ideas and supporting ideas
17 Cohesion and coherence
18 Genre-based argumentation
Can you share your strategies in dealing with
each type of error?
My “principles” in correcting errors
1. Selective correction

2. Explicit correction before implicit correction

3. Whole-class explicit correction & detailed feedback
combined with peer correction and self-correction
4. Different remedial strategies for different types of errors
Problems with previous correcting practices:
1.Not suitable for all types of errors
2.Students’ writing fluency will be affected.
“Although I have practised all my grammar book
and learnt a lot of vocabulary, it is still hard for me
to express my ideas in English. It still sounds like
Vietnamese. And when I care about my grammar, it
takes me a lot time to write. How can I express
myself more naturally, quickly and correctly at the
same time?”
 What is Lexical approach?

• Lexical approach started to gain ground from

1993 with the publication of “The Lexical
Approach” by Michael Lewis. The basic strain
of lexical approach is that language is made up
of structural elements, which are not
grammar, or isolated words, but rather, lexis.
 What is Lexis?
Lexis refers to “complete ‘ready-made’ fixed / semi-
fixed /typical combinations of words that we recall
and use quite quickly without having to construct
new phrases and sentences word by word from
scratch using our knowledge of grammar and
linking separated words.” (Scrivener, 2011)
Example:
Lexical
Lexical Approach
Approach is is based
based on
on the
the idea
idea // that
that language
language
is made upis of
made up of structural
structural elements.elements.
What are the implications in teaching
Writing?
Activity 1: Chunks awareness and
acquisition
Activity 2: Chain writing
 Reflection questions
1. What are the benefits students and
teachers can get from this correction
approach?
2. What problems do teachers have to cope
with when applying this approach? What
can we do to facilitate this practice?