Pedagogical Applications of Corpus Linguistics in the Twenty-First Century

Abstract

In this digital era, the role of computer technology as a resource for instruction of foreign language learners is increasing as educators recognise the ability of computer technology to produce both independent and collaborative learning environments. Computer technologies, for example the Internet, multimedia, and hypermedia have been introduced in English Language Learning and Teaching (ELLT) to foster language learning process, all of which fall under the category of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL). Corpus linguistics is a systematic analysis of the actual (real) production of language (either spoken or written), in which texts are assembled using computer technology (concordancer) to form a large collection of authentic texts, called a corpus (plural-corpora) that comes in various sizes. However, despite immense research on corpus linguistics in these recent decades, the potentials and limitations of Data-Driven Learning (DDL), the application of corpus linguistics in English Language teaching (ELLT) have not been widely discussed. Hence, this chapter aims to review the potentials and limitations of DDL as a means of opening up opportunities for further studies. The pedagogical application of DDL was instantiated in the chapter for indicating the differences between DDL and non-DDL approaches. This insightful information is highlighted as a means of promoting DDL and producing independent learners in the 21st century classroom. The DDL type of learning also trains learners to be independent, self-corrective, constructive, and autonomous especially in finishing the communicative tasks.