Learner Corpus research and language teaching
Course Name
Learner Corpus research and language teachingUniversity
VUEC
5/6 ECTSCourse date
semester 2 (2023 - 2024)Registration open until
Location
VU (Amsterdam) en onlineInstructor(s)
Gea Dreschler (VU) / Merel Keijzer (RUG)E-mail Contact
Gea Dreschler (VU)Course objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will:
- have a comprehensive overview of the domain of learner corpus research, its contributions to L2 acquisition research and its applications in language teaching;
- have a comprehensive overview of the link between L2 development, teaching and assessment methods;
- have basic knowledge of how Large Language Models work and how they can inform and assist language learning;
- be able to evaluate corpus design criteria, annotation and analysis, as well as studies using Large Language Models, and interpret the significance of studies of vocabulary, phraseology, grammar, pragmatics and (dis)fluency for language teaching;
- be able to design their own study, selecting appropriate methods (either corpus linguistic, setting up a more applied linguistics study, or making use of Large Language Models)
Course content
The overarching question addressed by this course is how corpus research and research with Large Language Models can inform language acquisition research and language teaching of English as a second language. It covers the origins and applications of learner corpus research as well as the basics of corpus compilation, annotation and analysis, and the basics of the methods used in Large Language Models. As a framework, students are presented with some main research perspectives from the field of instructed language acquisition (ISLA). Each week will be devoted to a detailed study of one major aspect of language learning. We analyse and discuss a number of case studies, and interpret their significance with respect to the seminar topic, ranging from vocabulary and phraseology to grammar and pragmatics.
Assessment
Format
Lecture, seminar, and individual research
Exam
100% Research proposal
Study load
5 ECTS = 140 hours, of which:
- Seminars = 14 hrs
-
Literature study (approx. 10 pages/hour) = 80 hrs
-
Assignments and presentation = 6 hrs
-
Term paper = 40 hrs
UvA/VU 6 ECTS
Uva/VU students who need 6 ECTS (= 168 hours) may elect to do more homework or an extra assignment. This must be determined with the course teacher(s) in week 1.
Background Literature and Course Materials
Further information
Fridays 10h30-12h30
02/02/2024, 10h30-12h30 (on campus VU: NU GEBOUW-4A54 De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam)
09/02/2024, 10h30-12h30 (online)
16/02/2024, 10h30-12h30 (online)
23/02/2024, 10h30-12h30 (online)
01/03/2024, 10h30-12h30 (online)
08/03/2024, 10h30-12h30 (online)
15/03/2024, 10h30-12h30 (on campus VU: NU GEBOUW-4A54 De Boelelaan 1105, Amsterdam)