A couple of weeks ago, I received an email from Luca Lampariello, a polyglot I follow on social media, about receiving feedback when learning a foreign language. He argues that it is indeed very beneficial for learners to receive feedback, but it depends on the student’s level and the way the feedback is given. In other words, in order to be effective, feedback needs to be specific and should be given when the student is ready to receive it.
Click here to see a newer version of this post, which also includes a video 🎥 from my YouTube channel LingoAdventure.
What do learners think about receiving feedback?
There are two groups of learners – those who don’t want immediate feedback and those who see the value in it.
When I asked the members of my Speaking Club if they like receiving feedback, reactions were mixed. Many people prefer not to be interrupted while speaking because interruption brings about frustration and hinders self-confidence.
Every now and then, however, I meet people who not only like, but also expect to be given feedback on the spot. These students believe that if not corrected, they will continue to speak with mistakes and that it is the teacher’s responsibility to tell them when they make a mistake.
Right feedback at a wrong time?
Both groups have a point. Even the right feedback given at the wrong moment can make a person feel self-conscious and is most probably not going to have a positive effect. For example, if a person mispronounces a word during a conversation when he or she is sharing something personal or something he or she is passionate about, this person doesn’t need someone pointing out the mistake on the spot. Interruption in such situations can only lead to frustration. But if this student decides to improve his or her pronunciation of a certain sound for example, working with a teacher or coach who can give an immediate feedback would be beneficial.
Feedback is inevitable
The truth is that feedback is inevitable. Even people who claim they despise unsolicited feedback, are going to get it in certain situations. This is because feedback is not only verbal, but also perceptional. That is, we don’t absorb just words, but also tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language. For example, if someone doesn’t’ understand what we are saying, we will probably see confusion on this person’s face. And such feedback in the form of a facial expression is something that most nonnative speakers of English (or other foreign language learners) dread.
The benefits from feedback
According to the Noticing Hypothesis proposed by Richard Schmidt in 1990, learners are unable to further advance their language abilities or understand specific linguistic features if they don’t consciously notice and pay attention to the input. In other words, listening to the language without noticing certain nuances and differences will not bring much of a benefit.
Although noticing certain linguistic forms comes naturally to people with an aptitude (innate talent) for learning foreign languages, many adult learners find it hard to notice the difference between certain grammar or pronunciation nuances without any feedback. Even highly talented language learners would need some help in certain areas if they start speaking a certain foreign language as adults. According to a study that aimed to investigate if feedback actually leads to more noticing in a second language learning, learners claimed that they noticed more when they were given feedback. This in turn helped them to further develop their language skills.
Why many students don’t like being corrected
But if we know that feedback is beneficial, why is it that so many students say they don’t like being corrected? I think there are two main reasons to cringe when we hear feedback knocking on our door. First, we don’t like to be interrupted when we are trying to share our opinion about something while at the same time trying to find the right words in a foreign language. If someone keeps correcting us in such moments, we forget our train of thought and usually end up frustrated. Second, we are unwilling to get our feelings hurt. In other words, we have low frustration tolerance.
Frustration tolerance
Wikipedia defines Low Frustration Tolerance (LFT) as:
the inability to tolerate unpleasant feelings or stressful situations. It stems from the feeling that reality should be as wished, and that any frustration should be resolved quickly and easily.
I often see students who quickly get frustrated if they are unable to express a certain thought with the exact words they wish to use. But acquiring a foreign language is not an easy task and developing more resilience is important. That is, learn how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and try not to quit or get angry every time a teacher corrects you. This could be easier said than done, but becoming aware of your feelings is an important first step towards mastering them.
Sessions dedicated to feedback
While I agree that interrupting a student during a conversation is not conducive for learning, having sessions specifically dedicated to feedback on sounds, grammar, or vocabulary could be extremely helpful. This is because when we learn a foreign language as adults, we often fail to notice phonetic or grammatical nuances that don’t exist in our native language. In such situations, a teacher pointing out these nuances can be a game-changer.
Not all feedback is created equal
It is important to note, however, that not all feedback is created equal. Let’s say a friend or a colleague of yours tells you that when you pronounce a certain word “something sounds off,” but they don’t know how to explain what exactly is “off.” This kind of feedback is not only unhelpful, but it can be highly confusing and leave you with more questions than answers. So, if you have made the decision to seek feedback, make sure to ask a qualified teacher or someone who can give you details and tell you exactly what to work on and how to work on it.
★
What is your attitude towards feedback? Do you like being corrected and in what situations? Leave a comment below or email me to let me know. I’d love to hear your point of view.
Did you find this article helpful? If yes, share it with the world. Of course I mean social media as this is the new world we live in 😉. You can smash one (or all) of the sharing buttons below the text.
And don’t forget to join our free Speaking Club, where you will have the chance to discuss a variety of interesting topics with an amazing community of fellow English speakers from all over the world.
Share this page:
