The introduction of a corpus-based project is presented. The purposes of the project were to raise students’ awareness of available technology as a tool for language learning, to develop research, critical and analytical skills, and to promote collaborative learning. Based on those purposes, the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) was introduced to 41 English major students who took English Structure class. The project aimed particularly at showing the students how to use COCA and highlighting the benefits of a corpus as a tool for English language learning. At the beginning, the students were orientated to the process of this corpus-based project. Then, the teacher demonstrated how to use COCA. In total, the project took almost two months to be completed before the students were asked to reflect on the whole process of the project. The feedback of the students shows that they were generally satisfied with the project introduction (guidelines) (95%). However, 78% of them mentioned that they wanted more COCA training. Moreover, the students mentioned they could work collaboratively and shared learning resources with their peers (95%). They also received constructive comments and suggestions from the teacher during consultation sessions (93%). In terms of the product, 85% of them believed that their final projects met the objectives, and they were evaluated by various means in different aspects. Furthermore, they also suggested that this project should be assigned earlier as a term project, and it should be less complicated. Because this corpus-based project was introduced for the first time to this class, relevant feedback and suggestions from the students are valuable for the benefits in improving the quality of teaching in the future.

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Abstract Summary
The Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) was introduced to 41 English major students who took English Structure class. The project aimed particularly at showing the students how to use COCA and highlighting the benefits of a corpus as a tool for English language learning. The feedback of the students shows that they were generally satisfied with the project introduction (guidelines) (95%). In terms of the product, 85% of them believed that their final projects met the objectives, and they were evaluated by various means in different aspects. Furthermore, this project should be less complicated. Because this corpus-based project was introduced for the first time to this class, relevant feedback and suggestions from the students are valuable reflections for the benefit in improving the quality of teaching in the future.

Authors:
Phiphawin Srikrai, Khon Kaen University, Thailand

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Phiphawin Srikrai is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Khon Kaen University in Thailand

See this presentation on the full schedule – Monday Schedule

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