Languages Pedagogy Podcast

Ep126. Breaking Fossilized Errors: Is It Ever Too Late?


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Why do some language mistakes stick—even after years of practice, lessons, and correction? In this powerful and deeply insightful episode, we dive headfirst into one of the most persistent challenges in language education: fossilized errors.


From the infamous “He go to school” to silent pronunciation traps and stubborn grammar mistakes, fossilized errors affect learners at all levels—and frustrate even the most seasoned teachers. But are these errors permanent? Can they truly be fixed? And what causes them in the first place?


We unpack:

  • ​ What fossilized errors are and how they form
  • ​ The neuroscience behind long-term language habits
  • ​ Real-life stories of learners who overcame fossilized mistakes
  • ​ Practical classroom strategies to help students unlearn and relearn
  • ​ The emotional and cultural layers behind error correction
  • ​ Why it’s never too late to change—even for advanced learners


Whether you’re a language teacher, a learner, or someone who’s ever struggled to “unlearn” a habit, this episode will inspire you to see errors not as dead ends, but as doorways to growth.


Tune in now—and discover how to break fossilized errors with empathy, strategy, and bold pedagogy.




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Languages Pedagogy PodcastBy Mike Llerena