1 / 24

Non-native writing errors: some which may persist

Non-native writing errors: some which may persist. -the challenges of English -common errors and their roots -resources. Vocabulary. English is big. -words from Latin, German and French. - (maybe) largest lexicon of any language.

ranit
Download Presentation

Non-native writing errors: some which may persist

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Non-native writing errors:some which maypersist -the challenges of English -common errors and their roots -resources Lee Sledd, Tacoma Community College, May 2011

  2. Vocabulary English is big. -words from Latin, German and French. -(maybe) largest lexicon of any language. -thanks to medicine, technology and pop media, a new English word is born every 98 minutes.

  3. Many dictionaries / thesauruses don’t show how to use words- esp. slang, ‘trade’ words and abbreviations • I am fluid in three languages. • He is severely short. • I didn’t mean to take up so much of your time; sorry I made you lose your lunch. • Patient had a cabbage (CABG or coronary artery bypass graft) • He's a blue bloater (a patient in congestive heart failure)

  4. ‘Word partners’ (collocations) are mostly arbitrary In Spanish and Thai, digging a ditch is • Hard work • Heavy work • Serious work

  5. Collocations In Spanish and Thai, digging a ditch is • Hard work • Heavy work • Serious work

  6. Verb + preposition = something special Typical student error: I need to fill up the application. • Put it off until tomorrow. • Put out the fire. • The family put me up for the night, but I could hardly put up with their dog. • Knock on wood! • The last punch knocked him out. • I’ll come around and knock you up in the morning (British). • Are you putting on me? => putting me on! Some are separable, some are not; pronouns can’t go last (put out it)

  7. Phrasal verbs:How many are there?

  8. Phrasal verbs

  9. Prepositions In a literal translation of Spanish, when using the telephone, you are speaking: • On the phone • In the phone • For the phone • [No preposition]

  10. Prepositions In a literal translation of Spanish, when using the telephone, you are speaking: • On the phone • In the phone • For the phone • [No preposition]

  11. Prepositions In a literal translation of Thai, when using the telephone, you are speaking: • On the phone • In the phone • For the phone • [No preposition]

  12. Prepositions In a literal translation of Thai, when using the telephone, you are speaking: • On the phone • In the phone • For the phone • [No preposition]

  13. Verb tenses: Spanish vs. English • Present simple can be used for situations that require present continuous in English. “Yavengo!” lit. I come, = I’m coming!

  14. Verb tenses In Thai, verbs are not conjugated at all. เขาไม่ทราบ Lit. He no know. (could be present or past) Time in Thai is understood by context. Lit. Yesterday I go store. (obviously past!) English requires mastery of 6-12 tenses.

  15. Follow the rules! Then break them. 1. MATCH 2. Fill in the blank: “I wouldn’t do that if I _______ you.”

  16. Articles (a/an/the) in English Go ____ home Go ____ bed Go ____ bank See ____ Statue of Liberty Visit ___ Mt. Rainier ___ wet dogs smell.

  17. Articles in Spanish Go to the home Go to the bed Go to the bank See the Statue of Liberty Visit the Mt. Rainier The wet dogs smell. In Thai? NONE

  18. Verbs in combination:Chose the correct answer. • He stopped (to smoke / smoking / [either]). • She started (to say / saying /[either])  something (verbs require objects??) • Don’t start (crying / to cry / [either]). • He is tired (to walk / of walking / [either]). Did you get 100%? Is there any pattern or rule to your choices?

  19. Complex sentences -Which 3 are INCORRECT? • The girl who was typing in the library finished her paper on time. • The girl that was typing in the library finished her paper on time. • The girl which was typing in the library finished her paper on time. • The girl was typing in the library finished her paper on time. • The girl typing in the library finished her paper on time. • The typing girl in the library finished her paper on time.

  20. Complex sentences • The girl who was typing in the library finished her paper on time. • The girl that was typing in the library finished her paper on time. • The girl which was typing in the library finished her paper on time. • The girl was typing in the library finished her paper on time. • The girl typing in the library finished her paper on time. • The typing girl in the library finished her paper on time. If you found them quickly, your English is very good! If you can explain WHY, you can teach ESL!

  21. Other persistent & ‘glaring’ errors • Word order, in general: Never she told me to go to the stop bus. • Trouble maintaining tense over complex sentences or discourse • Subject /verb agreement, missing or ‘double’ subjects He was really over confident and think that it would be ok.. Second obstacle he have to deal with is the place. The man facea several obstacles in the trail. There are several obstacles the man have to deal while he was on wilderness. • Combinations of verbs: + infinitive or gerund, passive, modal verbs If you lost in the forest, you should try to find something to working on He is at risk todied because he is wet, and in that place, he can freezing. The matches fell, and he stop move. Extra subject pronoun (probably from reflexive verb, Spanish) …the fingers it didn’t respond to him.

  22. What is reasonable to expect? • Spellcheck and grammar check • Use of a thesaurus (but be careful! “The weather is capricious today.”) • Seeking feedback from peer, instructor or tutor • Avoid reliance on translators • Organization & clarity of message • Multiple revisions • Remedial grammar work (helps if you can identify the area of need) With good models and assistance, non-native writing can improve.

  23. Word: Spellcheck and grammar check Quite often, non-native speakers are using operating systems and software in languages other than English. Make sure the language settings are right! Give students a test sentence to type in at home; they should see red and green! To set Microsoft Word spelling and grammar tools check to English: 1.    Click on the Review tab. • 2.    Select all the text in the document using the mouse or crtl + A • 3.       On the Review ribbon, click on Set Language. Make sure that English is selected as the language.  

  24. Other Resources: • Dictionaries with collocations / example sentences- Collins COBUILD, Oxford, Longman & online • Phrasal Verb dictionaries (online) • Targeted ESL books (ask ESL faculty!) The Preposition Book,Phrasal Verbs in Use,Grammar Form and Function… • Grammar practice websites & glossaries • Collaborate with /consult your friendly ESL colleagues ¡¡¡ Y mucho, mucho más!!!

More Related