Why do people keep repeating the same grammatical and vocabulary errors, even after they have been corrected?
For example, language learners learn that one should say ‘equipment’ and not ‘equipments’. The reason behind it is that ‘equipment’ is an uncountable noun, and so one shouldn’t add an ‘s’ to it. The phrase three equipments is grammatically incorrect. When I say this in a session, people nod their heads in complete agreement. But, when they leave the room, and have a conversation, they are more likely to ask: Where are the equipments?
Why are they repeating this error? The clue is in the photo of this post. The photo is of a fossil. The language errors that we make are fossilized in our minds. This means that even if the trainer corrects you in a session, afterwards, when you speak with friends or colleagues, you are likely to return to making the same error.
Can you de-fossilize your language? Yes, you can. But you have to work at it. Pay attention to how you speak and write. And mentally note down the errors which you know you are making. (I monitor my speech, almost, all the time.)
Over time, when you speak and write, you will use the grammar point or word, accurately and effortlessly.
amalfabian 
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