Corpora I -
Reflection on Corpora in the Foreign Language Classroom Based on Theoretical Input
The following reflection is based on texts by Bernadini, Tsui and Aston.
Corpus-learning could also be said to be data-driven learning where the students act like researchers (Bernardini). Corpora provides insights into how language is actually used in real life by native speakers. That also shows the way in which corpora might be useful for school. The aim is to provide a “mirror of the target language use” (Aston 2000) by providing authentic material (texts etc.) for different purposes (grammar, writing etc.). The corpora can be used by students directly or by the teacher in order to create classroom material or get an answer to a question that came up in class (compare TeleNex).
If I reflect on what I have read about corpora based teaching or learning, I have to agree to most of the mentioned aspects. In my opinion, learning a language aims at being able to communicate with other people. Therefore, I appreciate using authentic materials in class anyway. Corpora provides students with real language and shows how it is used in various circumstances, e.g. in an academic essay, in a conversation, in a speech and so on.
The students have a kind of “real grammar”; they can observe and internalize the patterns of use whereas the teacher acts like a facilitator. Corpora shows the relation between form and meaning when considering different registers for example (specialized corpora). It is also for sure that relying on a source of thousands of speakers is more motivating than just reading a grammar book.
There are basically two ways in which to include corpora data in the foreign language classroom. On the one hand it offers descriptive insights into how language is actually used and on the other hand it can create discovery activities which I think are very interesting and motivating. Specialized corpora may help to find solutions to specific questions (e.g. which words are typically used in a speech?) whereas general corpora may help to talk about more general aspects of a language.
All in all, according to the texts I have read and also in my opinion, students gain new experiences when using corpora, they get new insights into the language use and develop their researcher skills. They work with authentic materials and get more autonomous in their learning process depending on what activities and content they encounter. The chance that they get a better feeling for what is good or bad, right or wrong, appropriate or not when writing or speaking is rather high and could lead to better written and oral results, a better understanding of the language and a higher motivation in general. The development of corpora in general and the integration into the language classroom is a gift as students have never been able to access authentic material in such an easy way a couple of years ago.
Nevertheless, I think that it depends on each student whether he or she needs a traditional grammar reference book in addition to the corpora. I think that a grammar book (and you can also take a grammar book which already takes corpora evidence into consideration, such as the Longman Student Grammar) should always be the basis or guideline of language learning.
Additional remark: Although I studied the text, I have to admit that it does not become absolutely clear how a corpus looks like and how it is defined. The overall idea gets clear but it is still hard to imagine how it looks like and works, that is why I have to wait until we work with and use the corpora in class in order to be able to reflect on it in a more authentic way. We will see how the reflection of the theoretical input will differ from the reflection I write after we have been introduced to and used the tool.
Go to Learner Corpora
Go to TeleNex Reflection
added: November 10, 2010
Corpus-learning could also be said to be data-driven learning where the students act like researchers (Bernardini). Corpora provides insights into how language is actually used in real life by native speakers. That also shows the way in which corpora might be useful for school. The aim is to provide a “mirror of the target language use” (Aston 2000) by providing authentic material (texts etc.) for different purposes (grammar, writing etc.). The corpora can be used by students directly or by the teacher in order to create classroom material or get an answer to a question that came up in class (compare TeleNex).
If I reflect on what I have read about corpora based teaching or learning, I have to agree to most of the mentioned aspects. In my opinion, learning a language aims at being able to communicate with other people. Therefore, I appreciate using authentic materials in class anyway. Corpora provides students with real language and shows how it is used in various circumstances, e.g. in an academic essay, in a conversation, in a speech and so on.
The students have a kind of “real grammar”; they can observe and internalize the patterns of use whereas the teacher acts like a facilitator. Corpora shows the relation between form and meaning when considering different registers for example (specialized corpora). It is also for sure that relying on a source of thousands of speakers is more motivating than just reading a grammar book.
There are basically two ways in which to include corpora data in the foreign language classroom. On the one hand it offers descriptive insights into how language is actually used and on the other hand it can create discovery activities which I think are very interesting and motivating. Specialized corpora may help to find solutions to specific questions (e.g. which words are typically used in a speech?) whereas general corpora may help to talk about more general aspects of a language.
All in all, according to the texts I have read and also in my opinion, students gain new experiences when using corpora, they get new insights into the language use and develop their researcher skills. They work with authentic materials and get more autonomous in their learning process depending on what activities and content they encounter. The chance that they get a better feeling for what is good or bad, right or wrong, appropriate or not when writing or speaking is rather high and could lead to better written and oral results, a better understanding of the language and a higher motivation in general. The development of corpora in general and the integration into the language classroom is a gift as students have never been able to access authentic material in such an easy way a couple of years ago.
Nevertheless, I think that it depends on each student whether he or she needs a traditional grammar reference book in addition to the corpora. I think that a grammar book (and you can also take a grammar book which already takes corpora evidence into consideration, such as the Longman Student Grammar) should always be the basis or guideline of language learning.
Additional remark: Although I studied the text, I have to admit that it does not become absolutely clear how a corpus looks like and how it is defined. The overall idea gets clear but it is still hard to imagine how it looks like and works, that is why I have to wait until we work with and use the corpora in class in order to be able to reflect on it in a more authentic way. We will see how the reflection of the theoretical input will differ from the reflection I write after we have been introduced to and used the tool.
Go to Learner Corpora
Go to TeleNex Reflection
added: November 10, 2010
