Abstract
The corpus-based approach is known to be beneficial in developing teaching materials for language learning and teaching. Kibbitzers, which are language modules, are developed using an indirect corpus-based approach and they address specific language problems. The modules are meant for self-paced, self-accessed and independent study. In this study, the efficacy of Kibbitzers in disambiguating pairs of near synonyms which are generally confusing to learners who are investigated. The two key research questions are: a) Is Kibbitzer useful in disambiguating the meaning of pairs of near synonyms? b) How can a Kibbitzer assist learners to differentiate pairs of near synonyms? Thirty two (32) English as Second Language (ESL) undergraduates in Malaysia were recruited to test the use of it. The results indicated that the overall use of Kibbitzers is statistically beneficial for ESL learners. The features incorporated in Kibbitzers helped learners by offering examples from concordance lines, links to Corpus Banks and presenting explanations in a creative way. This helped clarify how a language item should be used in a specific situation enormously. Potential Kibbitzer developers and classroom practitioners who may want to incorporate Kibbitzers in their language classrooms will find the results useful in addressing specific language problems.
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