The topic of correcting language mistakes came up during a recent Family Language Planning session. The parents expressed concerns about correcting their child’s mistakes – both how they and others approach it – and how it might affect their child’s confidence and enthusiasm for learning the language. It’s absolutely natural to get an urge to correct every mistake your child makes. We all want to prepare them for the world as well as possible and help them succeed. It all comes from a really good place. However, excessive correction can be counterproductive. By correcting less and guiding more, we allow children to experiment and learn naturally, fostering their confidence and love for the language.
And now, as summer break approaches, many of us will travel to see relatives, leading to both more language exposure and production for our multilingual children. Managing this language influx is crucial. A common concern that comes up is relatives correcting language mistakes in the home language. As I’ve written before , it’s not uncommon for well-meaning relatives to comment on your child’s home language proficiency, comparing it to their monolingual cousins or local peers. While often well-intentioned, these remarks can add complexity – both to the language dynamic and your relationship. Imagine the following scenario. You get together with relatives, who your child sees rather infrequently. Some of them, they hardly know or don’t know at all. Your child is maybe insecure around some of these people, unsure how to act and maybe even slightly embarrassed at times. This situation, compounded by language insecurities, can threaten their willingness and motivation to continue developing and using the language.
Why correcting every mistake isn’t helpful.
Correcting language mistakes is a natural instinct for many parents and relatives. We all want our children to speak correctly and clearly. However, constant correction can be counterproductive. Constant correction can quash a child’s enthusiasm, confidence and willingness for speaking a language. Unlike older learners, who can process corrections in a logical manner, children may perceive correction as rejection. When children feel like they’re always being corrected, their natural desire to communicate can be suppressed, leading to frustration and anxiety about speaking.
The truth is, you don’t need to correct every single mistake. Instead, focus on what your child is doing correctly and consider these questions before you correct:
- Can I understand what my child is trying to say?
- Is the mistake hindering communication?
- Is the mistake a major problem?
- Is it due to lack of knowledge or influence from another language my child speaks?
The importance of a balanced approach
A balanced approach to correction involves knowing when and how to correct language mistakes. So, the first thing you can do is to provide positive feedback to encourage your child’s efforts. Instead of over-correcting, focus on acknowledging your child’s strengths and reinforcing what they do right. This positive reinforcement helps build their confidence and encourages them to continue developing their language skills. Start with what they have, rather than with what you might think they lack.
Here are some tips to manage corrections effectively:
1. Focus on communication
Prioritise communication over perfection. If your child is successfully conveying their message, acknowledge their effort before gently correcting any mistakes. Emphasising communication will encourage your child to speak more, enhancing their fluency and confidence. By validating their attempts, you build their self-esteem.
2. Model correct language
Instead of direct corrections, model the correct usage in your response. For example, if your child says, “I goed to the park,” you can respond with, “Oh, you went to the park? That sounds fun! What did you do there?”. This will help your child learn through natural conversation. It is more effective and less intimidating than constant direct corrections as they can put your child on the spot, making them feel humiliated. Hearing the correct form repeatedly allows your child to internalise the proper usage, reinforcing learning in a positive and supportive manner.
3. Focus on the message
Consider the clarity of the message your child is trying to convey. Are they effectively getting their point across? Is their grammar, pronunciation or vocabulary mostly correct, with only a small part of the utterance needing correction? If so, ask yourself, “Is it worth it?”. Decide whether to correct the mistake later or to ignore it and move on. Prioritising the overall communication over minor mishaps can boost your child’s confidence and willingness to speak as they will not be worrying all the time if they are speaking correctly or not.
4. Keep an eye out for patterns
If your child consistently makes the same mistake, correct it gently. Repeat offences can be a great indicator that their language skills are developing and they’re experimenting with new language patterns.
Address repetitive mistakes later, rather than interrupting the flow of conversation. I tread very lightly with correcting mistakes with my 9-year-old son, for example, because he is sensitive, very competitive and often gets upset when he makes a mistake. One mistake my son often makes involves negation. In English, double negation is uncommon, e.g., “He didn’t do nothing today.” instead of “He didn’t do anything today.”. However, in Bulgarian (his other home language), double negation is the correct way to go and not using it sounds strange. My son transfers this English rule to the Bulgarian structure and, while he forms a grammatically correct sentence in Bulgarian, he often skips the double negation. He ends up producing a mostly correct sentence that gets his point across. It sounds a bit awkward and it can be interpreted as an invitation to correct him. However, I rarely point it out during conversations (if ever) but rather address it casually when opportunities arise, especially since it’s a repeated mistake. I would never break the conversation flow and interrupt him in order to correct something like that because it doesn’t detract from its overall meaning.
5. Create a supportive environment
Ensure that language learning is a positive and encouraging experience. Recognise that language acquisition / learning is a process with its highs and lows. Encourage your child by praising their efforts and progress. Studies show that praising the specific efforts a child is making, so called “process praise”[1], can influence the way they see themselves and how they perceive their abilities, which ultimately influences their academic achievement. This approach inspires persistence despite setbacks and emphasises growth and learning.
Research clearly indicates that a positive and supportive learning environment significantly enhances language acquisition. Children who feel supported and encouraged are more likely to engage in language learning activities and demonstrate better language outcomes. In fact, meta-analyses show that children with sensitive and warm parents / caregivers tend to develop stronger language skills. This nurturing behaviour increases the likelihood – by about 2.8 times – that these children will excel in language compared to those with less supportive caregivers. This highlights the crucial role of a nurturing environment in fostering effective language development. And an adaptive approach to correcting language mistakes is an indispensable part of such an environment.
That’s why it becomes so much more important for you to be proactive and advocate for your child when you travel home and visit family and friends. To navigate this:
- Emphasise that mistakes are a normal part of the language learning process
- Highlight that learning involves making mistakes
- Remind everyone that language learning is a journey and not a destination.
Educating relatives on language correction
When visiting family, it’s essential to communicate your approach to language correction to relatives. It might be challenging with some individuals, but you absolutely need to be your child’s biggest cheerleader and supporter. Some family members may resist or misunderstand your methods. However, it’s crucial to stay firm and explain your reasoning clearly and compassionately. Not to justify or defend your choices but explain because their reality might differ from your family’s. This can help ensure that everyone is on the same page, creating a supportive and (somewhat) consistent environment for your multilingual child.
Here are some more ideas that can support this process:
1.Explain the impact
Help them understand that constant corrections can negatively affect language development and confidence. Explain to them that your child is probably already feeling somewhat self-conscious around family members and friends they don’t get to see that often, so being compassionate about their language usage is crucial.
2. Elaborate on your approach
Highlight that your goal is to create a nurturing environment that encourages language use rather than one that feels critical or punitive. This approach fosters confidence and a positive attitude toward learning.
3. Provide alternatives
Offer relatives tips on how to model correct language use without direct correction. Demonstrate how to model correct language usage, using recent examples to illustrate. This helps relatives see practical applications of your approach and ensures they understand how to support your child’s learning.
4. Set clear boundaries
Politely but firmly set boundaries on how and when corrections should be made. Explain your approach and ask for their support in creating a positive language environment. Let them know that while their support is highly appreciated, the approach to language correction needs to align with what has been set at home.
This might not be an easy thing to achieve or even communicate but sharing the “Whys” can help initiate a constructive discussion. I have been playing the setting-boundaries games for a few years now. My uncle, a retired language teacher, is very particular about correctness and appearances. It’s partly his generation, but mostly it’s his personality. Conversations with him don’t always go as planned, but standing my ground has been really important in the process.
5. Involve them in language learning
Encourage relatives to participate in fun activities that reinforce language acquisition, such as storytelling, singing songs or playing language games. This will also provide them with some examples they can work with.
So, as you prepare for the summer break and time with extended family, focus on supporting your child’s language development in a positive and nurturing environment. Encourage your child to use all their languages to communicate, without overly emphasising grammatical accuracy, especially in the early stages. Gradually, by balancing corrections, modelling correct language use and simply ignoring minor mistakes, you can help your child be more confident and, eventually, proficient in their languages. Educate your relatives on your preferred approaches to handling language mistakes, working together to create a harmonious multilingual experience during your visits.
How do you handle language mistakes in your household and how do you approach the topic with family and friends?
Resources:
- Bialystok, E., Craik, F.I.M. (2010) Cognitive and linguistic processing in the bilingual mind, Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19(1) 19-23.
- Cummins, J. (2000) Language, power and pedagogy: bilingual children in the crossfire. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters Ltd.
- Landry, S. H., Smith, K. E., & Swank, P. R. (2006). Responsive parenting: Establishing early foundations for social, communication, and independent problem-solving skills. Developmental Psychology, 42(4), 627–642.
- Madigan, S., Prime, H., Graham, S., et al. (2019) Parenting behavior and child language: a meta-analysis. Pediatrics, 144(4):e20183556
- https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/opinion-response-effective-strategies-for-ell-error-correction/2016/04
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/singletons/201801/the-right-kind-praise-may-boost-academic-performance
- https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/professional-development/teachers/assessing-learning/articles/error-correction
Image by Opal RT on Pixabay
[1] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/singletons/201801/the-right-kind-praise-may-boost-academic-performance
