This document summarizes a workshop on using language corpora in teaching. It defines what corpora are, describes different types of corpora, and approaches to using them in the classroom. Specific corpora resources are presented for exploring grammar, lexicon, translations, language variations, and more. Attendees then collaborate in groups to discuss challenges and ideas for applying corpora in their own teaching, before sharing discussions. The workshop aims to demonstrate how electronic language corpora can enhance language instruction.

1. How to Use Corpora in
Language Teaching
Brody Bluemel
Department of Applied Linguistics
The Pennsylvania State University
LANGUAGE TEACHING WORKSHOP SERIES
The Pennsylvania State University, February 2014
Sponsored by the Center for Language Acquisition (CLA) and the
Center for Advanced Language Proficiency Education and
Research (CALPER).

2. Outline
 URL: https://sites.google.com/site/corpusteaching/
 Presentation:

What are language corpora?

Approaches to using corpora in language teaching

Introduction to several available resources
 Collaborate:

What ideas do you have for using corpora in your classroom?
 Discussion:

Share ideas

3. What are corpora?

Leech (1992): “an unexciting phenomenon, a helluva lot of
text, stored on a computer”

Sinclair (1991): “a collection of naturally-occurring language
text, chosen to characterize a state or a variety of language”

Sinclair (2004): “a collection of pieces of language text in
electronic form, selected according to external criteria to
represent, as far as possible, a language or language variety
as a source of data for linguistic research”

Corpora: A systematized set of texts, typically accessed
electronically, that are used for linguistics research and
pedagogy.

4. Types of Corpora
 General vs. Specialized
 Native vs. Learner Corpora
 Monolingual vs. Translation Corpora
 Parallel Corpora, Comparable Corpora, Equivalent
Corpora
 Language Variation Corpora
 Synchronic vs. Diachronic Corpora
 Spoken vs. Written Corpora

5. Approaches to using corpora in
language teaching
 General vs. Specialized Corpora
 Grammar, lexicon, rhetoric, style, expressions, Form
ulaic Speech
 British National Corpus
 American National Corpus
 BYU Corpus Interface
 MiCase

6. Approaches to using corpora in
language teaching
 Native vs. Learner Corpora
 Comparison, Analysis, Error Analysis, L1 specific
challenges
 International Corpus of Learner English (ICLE)
 Extensive List of Multilingual Learner Corpora

7. Approaches to using corpora in
language teaching
 Translation Corpora
 Parallel Corpora
 Phrasing, conceptualizing complex concepts, reading
comprehension
 www.parallelcorpus.com
 EU Joint Research Centre
 E-C Concord
 www.linguee.com

8. Approaches to using corpora in
language teaching
 Language Variation Corpora
 Exploration of dialects
 Phonemica
 International Corpus of English (ICE)
 Synchronic vs. Diachronic Corpora
 Language change, modern speech, Understanding
novels and other texts
 Spoken vs. Written Corpora
 Genre and use

9. Online Resources
 Presentation URL: https://sites.google.com/site/corpusteaching/
 Multilingual Corpora:
 Additional Resources:
 Non-English Corpora
 Corpus Tools & Websites
 www.linguee.com
 Extensive list of Online Corpora
 Learner Corpora

Bookmarks for corpus-based linguist
 Athel Corpus Resources

The corpora list

CALPER Corpus Tutorial
 One of my favorites:
 http://dict.bing.com.cn/

10. Primary Resources
 Books and journals
 Aijmer (2009): Corpora and Language Teaching
 Hunston (2002): Corpora in Applied Linguistics
 McEnery (2006): Corpus-Based Language
Studies
 Sinclair (2004): How to Use Corpora in
Language Teaching
 International Journal of Corpus Linguistics
 Corpora
10

11. Collaborate

In groups of 3-4, discuss ideas, innovations, and questions
you have about applying corpus technology in the classroom.

Specific questions to consider:


Questions or applications of corpora that haven’t been
discussed?

What challenges do you foresee in applying corpora in
teaching?


What unique features about YOUR classroom should be
considered? (characteristics of the language you teach,
student population, etc.)
How would this technology benefit you in your teaching?
How do you plan to use corpus technology in your classroom?

12. Discussion
 Share:
 Ideas and possible applications of corpora generated
in your group discussion
 Any key features or aspects of corpora we haven’t
yet considered
 Questions:
 Any questions regarding using corpora, finding
resources, or anything else.

13. Thank You!
Contact: Brody Bluemel (btb5129@psu.edu)
The Pennsylvania State University
Department of Applied Linguistics