Using Corpora in the Classroom

This week we discussed using corpora in the classroom, and we got to test some out in the lab on Monday. I'm a fan.

I remember when I took my first linguistics class as a lowly freshman at NAU and was introduced to this idea of corpus linguistics. At the time I thought it was a nice idea, but I didn't realize how useful corpora could be until I began using them for classes--both as a student and as a teacher.

Reading Reppen (2010) and Flowerdew (2009) only reinforced how useful corpora could be, yet Flowerdew also elaborated on some potential downsides often associated with corpora. For instance, she describes how they are seen as promoting mostly bottom-up processing, how they encourage inductive learning; that there are many corpora to choose from, and that results appear out of context, so it is up to the learner to contextualize them. However, Flowerdew discusses each of these points, saying that corpora can be used in top-down processing models and that students can build their own corpora to best aid their learning. I would also add that putting corpora results into context is a major learning step for students, as they develop critical thinking skills in the process, and they practice a skill that will be useful in true communication. In addition, inductive learning is a helpful skill for all students, despite whether their preferred learning styles mesh up with this pattern or not. Life isn't always deductive.

In class, the group I was in tested out the BYU online corpora, of which the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) is the most well-known. I have used this corpus in the past for researching and for gathering authentic examples for practicum classes. I like COCA, though I do find it annoying to use. However, the sheer number of examples within this corpus make it a highly useful resource. I also like BYU because they have the Corpus of Historical American English (COHA). As an amateur historical linguist, this corpus is just fun to look at.

Despite potential drawbacks of corpora, I think they can be useful in the classroom. They provide authentic materials, and they allow students to do some exploratory learning, which can be a change of pace and therefore fun for learners. Sure, teachers need to scaffold very carefully when using them, but I believe it can be worth the time.