Article published in:
Multiple Affordances of Language Corpora for Data-driven Learning
Edited by Agnieszka Leńko-Szymańska and Alex Boulton
[Studies in Corpus Linguistics 69] 2015
► pp. 109–128

A corpus and grammatical browsing system for remedial EFL learners

| College of Industrial Technology, Nihon University
| Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University
| Lago Institute of Language
To address the need for corpora and corpus tools accessible to low-proficiency level EFL language students, we have created a free, grammatically-categorized browsing system based on a collection of copyright-free level-appropriate sentences called the Sentence Corpus of Remedial English (SCoRE). Teachers and students can search the database of sentences by grammatical category or target word to see complete example sentences which follow structural and lexical parameters identified as particularly relevant for Japanese EFL students. This database is based on a 30-million-word corpus from English secondary school textbooks used in Asian countries, American reading textbooks, English graded readers, and web-based children’s news articles. This paper describes the creation of the Grammatical Pattern Profiling System (GPPS) browsing program and SCoRE, and discusses pedagogical applications.
Keywords: beginner level, EFL example sentences, GPPS, grammatically-categorized corpus, low proficiency, SCoRE, sentence-concordances
Published online: 13 May 2015
https://doi.org/10.1075/scl.69.06chu
References

References

Allan, R.
2009 Can a graded reader corpus provide ‘authentic’ input? ELT Journal 63(1): 23–32. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Anthony, L.
2013 AntPConc, version 1.0.2. Tokyo: Waseda University. http://​www​.antlab​.sci​.waseda​.ac​.jp (1 June 2014).Google Scholar
Barlow, M.
2004 ParaConc. Houston TX: Athelstan. http://​www​.athel​.com​/mono​.html (1 June 2014).Google Scholar
Biber, D., Johansson, S., Leech, G., Conrad, S. & Finegan, E.
1999 Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Harlow: Pearson Education.Google Scholar
Braun, S.
2005 From pedagogically relevant corpora to authentic language learning contents. ReCALL 17(1): 47–64. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
2007 Integrating corpus work into secondary education: From data-driven learning to needs-driven corpora. ReCALL 19(3): 307–328. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Breyer, Y.
2009 Learning and teaching with corpora: Reflections by student teachers. Computer Assisted Language Learning 22(2): 153–172. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
British National Corpus
, version 3 (BNC XML Edition) 2007 Distributed by Oxford University Computing Services on behalf of the BNC Consortium. http://​www​.natcorp​.ox​.ac​.uk/ (1 June 2014).Google Scholar
Chujo, K., Akasegawa, S., Nishigaki, C., Yokota, K. & Hasegawa, S.
2012 LagoWordProfiler ni yoru Eigo graded reader corpus no collocation/colligation hindo bunseki [LagoWordProfiler frequency analysis of collocations and colligations in an English graded reader corpus]. Journal of the College of Industrial Technology, Nihon University 45: 1–17.Google Scholar
Chujo, K., Anthony, L., Akasegawa, S., Nishigaki, C., Mizumoto, A. & Utiyama, M.
2013 Kyouiku riyou kanouna parallel corpus kensaku platform no kouchiku ni mukete [Toward building a parallel corpus concordance platform for English language education]. Paper presented at the 39th Japan Association of English Corpus Studies (JAECS) . Sendai: Tohoku University, 4 Oct. http://​english​.chs​.nihon​-u​.ac​.jp​/jaecs​/Archive​/CONF​/CONF​_39​.pdf (1 June 2014)
Chujo, K., Anthony, L., Oghigian, K. & Yokota, K.
2013 Teaching remedial grammar through data-driven learning using AntPConc. Taiwan International ESP Journal 5(2): 65–90.Google Scholar
Chujo, K., Nishigaki, C., Yamaho, M. & Amano, K.
2011 Eigo shokyuusha muke corpus data tositeno kyoukasho text no tekisei ni kansuru kenkyuu [Identifying the suitability of textbook English for beginner-level corpus data]. Journal of the College of Industrial Technology, Nihon University 44: 33–46.Google Scholar
Chujo, K., Nishigaki, C., Yamaho, M. & Ochiai, T.
2012 Beikoku reading kyoukasho to Eigo graded readers no Eigo shokyuusha muke corpus data tositeno tekisei ni kansuru kenkyuu [Identifying the suitability of American reading textbooks and English graded readers for beginner-level corpus data]. Journal of the College of Industrial Technology, Nihon University 45: 29–42.Google Scholar
Chujo, K., Utiyama, M. & Nishigaki, C.
2007 Towards building a usable corpus collection for the ELT classroom. In Corpora in the Foreign Language Classroom, E. Hidalgo, L. Quereda, & J. Santana (eds), 47–69. Amsterdam: Rodopi.Google Scholar
Chujo, K., Yokota, K., Hasegawa, S. & Nishigaki, C.
2012 Remedial gakushuusha no Eigo shuujukudo to Eigo bunpou jyukutatsudo chousa [Identifying the general English proficiency and distinct grammar proficiency of remedial learners]. Journal of the College of Industrial Technology, Nihon University 45: 43–54.Google Scholar
Dale, E. & O’Rourke, J.
1981 The Living Word Vocabulary. Chicago IL: World Book-Childcraft International.Google Scholar
Davies, M.
2008- The Corpus of Contemporary American English: 450 million words, 1990-present. http://​corpus​.byu​.edu​/coca/ (1 June 2014).
Educational Testing Service (ETS)
2012 The TOEIC Test: Report of Test Takers Worldwide 2012. http://​www​.ets​.org​/s​/toeic​/pdf​/2012​_ww​_data​_report​_unlweb​.pdf (4 June 2014).
2014 Test and Score Data Summary for TOEFL iBT® Tests. http://​www​.ets​.org​/s​/toefl​/pdf​/94227​_unlweb​.pdf (4 June 2014).
Furukawa, A.
2007 Yomiyasusa Level: A Reading Level for Japanese Students. http://​www​.seg​.co​.jp​/sss​/word​_count​/YL​-20070621​.html (1 June 2014).
Gavioli, L. & Aston, G.
2001 Enriching reality: Language corpora in language pedagogy. ELT Journal 55(3): 238–246. CrossrefGoogle Scholar
Harris, A.J. & Jacobson, M.D.
1972 Basic Elementary Reading Vocabularies. New York: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Hongo, J.
2013 Abe wants TOEFL to be the key exam. The Japan Times, 25 March. http://​www​.japantimes​.co​.jp​/news​/2013​/03​/25​/national​/abe​-wants​-toefl​-to​-be​-key​-exam (1 June 2014).Google Scholar
Huang, L.-S.
2008 Using guided, corpus-aided discovery to generate active learning. English Teaching Forum 46(4): 20–27.Google Scholar
JET Programme
2010 The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme. http://​www​.jetprogramme​.org (1 June 2014).
Jiji Press
2013 Japan may introduce TOEFL as part of national public service exams. NewsOnJapan.com, 17 March. http://​newsonjapan​.com​/html​/newsdesk​/article​/101506​.php (1 June 2014).Google Scholar
Laufer, B.
1992 How much lexis is necessary for reading comprehension? In Vocabulary and Applied Linguistics, H. Béjoint & P. Arnaud (eds), 126–132. Basingstoke: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Michigan Corpus of Academic Spoken English
2007 <http://​quod​.lib​.umich​.edu​/m​/micase/ (1 June 2014).
Micro Power and Light Co
2003 Readability Calculations. Dallas TX. http://​www​.micropowerandlight​.com​/rd​.html (1 June 2014).Google Scholar
Minn, D., Sano, H., Ino, M. & Nakamura, T.
2005 Using the BNC to create and develop educational materials and a website for learners of English. ICAME Journal 29: 99–113.Google Scholar
Murphy, R. & Smalzer, R.
2009 Grammar in Use: Intermediate. Cambridge: CUP.Google Scholar
2011 Basic Grammar in Use. Cambridge: CUP.Google Scholar
Ono, H., Muraki, E., Hayashi, N., Sugimori, N., Nozaki, H., Nishimori, T., Baba, M., Tanaka, K., Kuniyoshi, T. & Sakai, S.
2005 Nihon no daigakusei no kiso gakuryo ku kouzou to remedial kyouiku [A development of a placement test and e-learning system for Japanese university students: Research on support improving academic ability based on IT]. NIME Research Report 6-2005: 1–147.Google Scholar
Shirahata, T.
2008 Shougakusei to chuugakusei no eigo jyukutatsu do chousa [The investigation into the proficiency levels of English by both elementary school children and junior high school students]. In Daini Gengo Shuutoku Kennkyuu wo Kiban to Suru Shou, Chuu, Kou,Dai no Renkei wo Hakaru Eigo Kyouiku no Sendou-teki Kennkyuu [Leading Research to Coordinate Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Level English Education Based on Second Language Research], I. Koike (ed.), 166–190. Tokyo: Kaken Kenkyuu Seika Houkokusho.Google Scholar
Tanaka, S., Kobayashi, Y., Tokumi, M. & Asao, K.
2008 Gakkou Eibunnpou corpus no kouchiku no kokoromi [Development of a school grammar corpus of English]. Paper presented at The 22nd Annual Conference of the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence, Asahikawa, 12 June.
Uchibori, A. & Chujo, K.
2005 Daigaku shokyu level gakushuusha no eigo communiacation nouryoku koujou ni muketa CALL bunpouryoku youseiyou software no kaihatsu [The development of CALL material for grammar to improve communicative proficiency of beginner-level college students]. Journal of the College of Industrial Technology, Nihon University 38: 39–49.Google Scholar
Uchibori, A., Chujo, K. & Hasegawa, S.
2006 Towards better grammar instruction: Bridging the gap between high school textbooks and TOEIC. Asian EFL Journal 8(2): 228–253.Google Scholar
Utiyama, M. & Takahashi, M.
2003 English-Japanese translation alignment data. http://​www2​.nict​.go​.jp​/univ​-com​/multi​_trans​/member​/mutiyama​/align​/index​.html (1 June 2014).
Yoshida, K.
2008 TEFL in Japan: An overview. Proceedings of the 15th World Congress of AILA, 1–8. Essen: University Duisburg-Essen, 25 Aug. http://​pweb​.cc​.sophia​.ac​.jp​/1974ky​/TEFLinJapan​.pdf (1 June 2014).