Errors, Interaction, and Correction - A Study of Native-Nonnative Conversations

In an investigation of native speaker (NS)-nonnative speaker (NNS) conversations in social settings, we learn that only a small percentage (8.9%) of NNS errors were corrected by NSs. These corrections occurred in response to errors of fact, discourse, vocabulary, syntax, and omission. Since discourse and vocabulary errors were corrected more frequently than errors in syntax and omission, we recommend that the treatment of vocabulary in the ESL classroom be reexamined, and that serious consideration be given to teaching ESL students the discoursal properties of English.