On Mon, 20 Jan 1997, Christine R. Gray wrote:
> Your opinions please.  If/when you have a student who misuses the
> language, do you correct him/her or let it go?  For example, would you
> correct "had went" or not?
>
 
I definitely correct grammar in my classes!  I tell my students the first
day that they are attending an ENGLISH class for the purpose of learning
to communicate so they are clearly understood by anyone reading or hearing
the English language, especially in this age of computers when the entire
world participates in a conversation. I warn them that their English will
be corrected, so not to be offended or embarrassed because we all have
different ways of saying things and that is what makes language so
interesting; what is important is recognizing the difference and the
proper situations for using various speech.  It is the same as a foreign
language class except they have a head start on the vocabulary and already
know most of the grammatical rules.  It always turns into a game for the
kids when they start recognizing their own errors, correcting each other
and me (They love it when I say "y'all.).  I don't correct their
expressions or break into lively discussions unless something really
assaults my ears (such as "had went"); I am also very careful to overlook
excessive misuse in speech, not writing, in individuals so as not to
discourage them.  There are subtle ways of correcting, and kids naturally
absorb what is in the atmosphere.
 
I like to record the classes at the beginning end of each year to
let the kids hear how much more educated and mature (they like to apply
the word "mature" to themselves) they sound.
 
I am referring to strictly oral corrections above; I am an ogre when it
comes to written corrections and some of their first papers look like
battlefields--I also require my students to keep their papers for
comparing the improvement as they advance.
 
I am aware that I got carried away, but this is a passionate, sometimes
controversial, subject for me.  I am anxious to hear other opinions.
 
Dusty