Corpus as a Primary Resource for ELT

Abstract

In this chapter, we argue in favor of teaching English as a second language to the non-native learners with direct utilization of English Language Corpus (ELC). Keeping various advantages of ELC in view, we address here some of the issues relating to the application of ELC as a primary resource of language data and information to be used in the English Language Teaching (ELT) courses for the students who are learning English as a second language. We also discuss here how the learners can access and refer to both speech and text data of ELC in a classroom situation or in a language laboratory for their academic activities. The proposed strategy is meant to be assisted by a computer and based on data, information, and examples retrieved from present-day ELC developed with various text samples composed by native English speakers. The method will be beneficial to the learners if it is used with careful manipulation of tools and techniques used in advanced ELT that advocates utilization of empirical linguistic resources to empower learners. Finally, we argue that the utilization of relevant linguistic data, information, and examples from ELC will enhance the linguistic skills and efficiency of the English learners much better ways than our traditional ELT courses do.