[emile]

How do you deal with students who, for instance, keep using the present tense instead of the past when you've discussed it with them a gazillion times?

[bread_baker]

Some students are hands-on learners. Others are visual learners. These kinds of learners learn best according to their learning style. Try new activities that address these learning styles.

[Dave-B]

I think the best thing to do is be very aware when they are making the mistakes and correct the student.

Don't let that student make the mistake without being corrected.

Also, take 5-10 mintues with only that student and work through the mistake and the correction over and over. I had a student who always said "people is" so I sat her down and made her say "people are" over and over. It was redundant and she felt ridiculous, but it worked.

If you put enough emphasis on one specific mistake, the student will make the correction.

Now, as for something big like never using the past tense, that may take more time. Yet, it can still be done.