An Application of Learner Corpus Analysis in Grammatical Comprehension—Task Based Language Teaching and Corpus Linguistics

Abstract

In this study, inspired by the corpus error analysis, its pedagogical application and the directions of Task Based Language Teaching, we compared the written production of two groups of students. The first was a group that applied the focusing on form phase by observing the past participle, in examples from native speakers and in grammar rules. The second was a group of students that applied the focusing on form phase by observing their own errors and comparing them with corresponding examples of a native speaker corpus. To investigate our hypothesis, we developed four learner corpora. The first two (one of each group of students) were produced during the task phase and the other two at the end of the lesson as a follow up activity. The results of the comparison showed that students’ exposure to their own errors can improve the comprehension of a grammatical element (Note 1).