As a language learner, it’s essential to know when 
you’re making mistakes. Having a good teacher
who can correct and develop your language skills is invaluable. They should also be able to motivate you when you are struggling, so you don’t give up.
Mistakes aren’t acceptable for several reasons, including:
·
they present low standards
·
they demonstrate carelessness
·
they display non-understanding
·
they cost money.
Making mistakes is part of the learning process. Mistakes are inevitable. However, if your teacher corrects you in a positive manner, whilst encouraging you to try again, you will develop your language skills.
Communication
Communication between teacher and student is essential as students need to understand why they are being corrected. For a teacher, it is easy to be unknowingly curt and criticism can be very upsetting to a sensitive student. The teacher needs to select the appropriate tone and still make the point. They must also not be too lenient as the goal is to help you recognise and learn from your mistakes.
Take criticism well
Criticism is a very delicate issue. Try and learn not to take it the wrong way as it could prevent you from reaching your full potential. If someone corrects your spoken language use it as an opportunity never to make the same mistake again. If your written work has been corrected by your teacher take the time to review the corrections and make sure you fully understand them before moving on. See the corrections as a positive aspect of your language learning.
Resolving the problem
If you’re finding learning a particular aspect of your new language difficult, try and understand why. Are you consistently making mistakes because:
·
you don’t study often enough?
·
you don’t have the resources?
·
you don’t have the chance to practise?
·
you’re not interested in language learning?
These, among many other reasons, might be causing a block for your language learning.
Be honest with yourself and try and resolve the problem.
If you know you’ve set yourself too high a goal (for example by trying to be fluent in a short time), then revisit your original aims and objectives. You need to be realistic and give yourself some achievable targets. As you reach your targets the sense of accomplishment will be immense, as opposed to the sense of failure if you aim too high.
Finally, remember what first inspired you to learn the language. Hold that inspiration and let it guide you through the mistake-making process.
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