Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Practice Test

Which response is most effective for a teacher to provide when a student makes an error in their English language structure?

1. What's your dad's name?

2. That's nice. Do you remember what to do with verbs that follow "he"?

3. Your dad works in a restaurant? What does he do?

4. Does your dad work "on" a restaurant or "in" a restaurant?

The correct answer is: Your dad works in a restaurant? What does he do?

The most effective response when a student makes an error in their English language structure is to guide them back to the concept being learned while encouraging their participation in the conversation. This option provides a gentle nudge to the student to think critically about their use of language, which aids in their learning process. In this case, acknowledging the student's statement and then prompting them with a follow-up question encourages them to reflect on their own language use and promotes active engagement. This method is beneficial as it helps the student recognize their mistake without discouragement, while also allowing them to practice their speaking skills further. The other options either divert the conversation away from the core issue or do not provide an adequate opportunity for the student to self-correct. Thus, guiding them back to the topic with a relevant question fosters a supportive learning environment.