Cover of the textbook Speakout Advanced Plus - Students' Book

The key answer of exercise 2

The key to exercise solutions in chapter 2.1 - The best mistakes for the textbook Speakout Advanced Plus - Students' Book with authors Frances Eales and Steve Oakes from Pearson Education

Question

  1. Read the article on the value of making mistakes. Which ideas in Exercise 1B are discussed in the article? What is the article's perspective on them?
  2. Read the article again. Are the sentences true (T), false (F) or not given (NG)? Where possible, underline the phrase that helped you decide.

Answer

a)

  • 2 → Belng praised: the article seems to support the idea of praise not being important - comparing the effect of praise (USA) and no praise (Japan) with Japanese students doing better.
  • 3 → Not being derided: the article mentions that this makes students feel that there are no negative consequences if they make a mistake.
  • 4 → Guessing: the article Includes guessing as part of a student's engagement and hence successful learning. Japanese students are expected to struggle. Research shows guessing can enhance the learning process.)
  • 6 and 8 → the article reinforces the notion that mistakes are beneficial (in Japan constructive use of error is a teaching technique. People who made a number of mistakes scored higher).

b)

  1. T → Most report negative sensations - a sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach
  2. F → ... praise was only given provided that answers were correct.
  3. T → ... but rather the reason for the error
  4. NG
  5. F → The total amount of time allotted was the same for both groups
  6. T → ... key factors of cognitive and personal engagement, which have long been known to enhance the learning process.
  7. NG → The psychologist does not specifically refer to classrooms, but learners in general.
  8. F → ... teachers and learners alike to rethink their quest for instant perfection.