219: How to help students with fossilisation

Matthias asks: "How can I help my students deal with fossilisation?"

Episode Summary:

• Fossilisation is when a mistake becomes deeply embedded in a learner's language after years of "doing it wrong"
• It can occur in grammar, pronunciation, incorrect word choice (e.g. "it's mean", "why you have...?")
• In my teaching experience, fixing fossilisation is tricky because it amounts to reprogramming someone who usually doesn't want to change
• Fixing fossilisation has to begin with awareness
• If a student has come to you, it's because they're looking for an external solution, whereas it's the student who has learnt the mistake in the first place - only they can unlearn it
• As a teacher, you can go hard or soft, it depends on how best the student will react to it
• I would set the student tasks to do at home, as it relieves pressure on the student
• Set awareness-raising activities, followed up with regular highlighting of mistakes in lessons

Today's Quote:

People like to change their mind in private. - Sam Harris

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