Research methods_Corpora and AI in Language Learning and Teaching 3201-LST-OC-RM1

The aim of the course is to familiarize students with various applications of language corpora in foreign language teaching, as well as with the possibilities of complementing them through contemporary generative artificial intelligence tools. The course covers an introduction to language corpora and acquaints students with corpus resources available online. Students will also learn methods of corpus data analysis and how to use a range of corpus tools that enable precise retrieval of linguistic information, with attention to generative models that support work with language data. The course will present ways of using corpus-based information and generative AI tools to teach vocabulary, phraseology, grammar, and discourse organization, as well as methods of working with corpora and AI during lessons. The use of corpora and artificial intelligence in planning and preparing specialised language courses will also be discussed. Students will build their own mini-corpus and become familiar with methods and tools needed for its analysis for teaching purposes, with the option of using generative tools as analytical support. Examples of applications of corpora and artificial intelligence will be drawn from the teaching of English and Polish as foreign languages.

Student's workload:

Participation in classes 30 h
Preparation for classes 30 h
Preparation of the term project 25 h
Total 85 h

Format of work: instructor’s presentations, students’ presentations tasks involving analyzing corpus data or using generative artificial intelligence, and individual work outside the classroom

Type of course

elective courses

Mode

Classroom

Prerequisites (description)

Welcome but not mandatory: Students have previously participated in classes on the methodology of teaching a foreign language, they can plan language classes, create their own teaching materials and develop a lesson plan.

Course coordinators

Karolina Broś

Learning outcomes

After completing the course
• The student is familiar with corpus resources available online and is able to use tools for corpus data analysis.
• The student is familiar with generative artificial intelligence tools available online and can use them in language analysis for teaching purposes.
• The student can prepare lessons based on corpus data or incorporating the use of corpora by learners.
• The student can prepare lessons based on generative artificial intelligence tools or incorporating their use by learners.
• The student is also able to design a specialised-language curriculum based on corpus analysis, taking into account contemporary generative models that support work with linguistic data.
• The student can create foreign-language teaching materials based on corpora, with the inclusion of contemporary generative models that support work with linguistic data.

Assessment criteria

• completion of all in-class tasks
• completion of a project that includes:
– creation of a mini-corpus of specialised language and its analysis for pedagogical purposes
– preparation of two lesson plans with accompanying teaching materials, based on corpus analysis and using artificial intelligence tools
– writing a report

Final mark:
90% end-of-semester project (min-corpus, analyses and a lesson plans)
10% mean mark for homework assignments

Practical placement

does not apply

Bibliography

Corpus Linguistics textbooks for language teachers
Flowerdew, L. (2012). Corpora and Language Education. Palgrave Macmillan UK. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230355569
Friginal, E. (2018). Corpus Linguistics for English Teachers: Tools, Online Resources, and Classroom Activities (1st Edition). Routledge.
Harrington, K., & Ronan, P. (Eds.). (2023). Demystifying Corpus Linguistics for English Language Teaching. Palgrave Macmillan.
O’Keeffe, A., McCarthy, M., & Carter, R. (2007). From Corpus to Classroom: Language Use and Language Teaching. Cambridge University Press.
Moorhouse, B. L., & Wong, K. M. (2025). Generative artificial intelligence and language teaching. Cam`bridge University Press.
Reppen, R. (2010). Using Corpora in the Language Classroom. Cambridge University Press.
Timmis, I. (Leeds B. U. (2015). Corpus Linguistics for ELT: Research and Practice. Routledge.
Corpus-based resource books
Anderson, W., & Corbett, J. (2017). Exploring English with online corpora: An introduction (Second edition). Palgrave Macmillan.
Bennett, G. (2010). Using Corpora in the Language Learning Classroom: Corpus Linguistics for Teachers (Illustrated Edition). Michigan ELT.
Poole, R. (2018). A Guide to Using Corpora for English Language Learners. Edinbourgh University Press. https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-a-guide-to-using-corpora-for-english-language-learners.html
Viana, V. (Ed.). (2022). Teaching English with Corpora: A Resource Book (1st edition). Routledge.
Corpus-based online resource materials
le Foll, E. (Ed.). (2021). Creating Corpus-Informed Materials for the English as a Foreign Language Classroom. Pressbooks. https://pressbooks.pub/elenlefoll/
Pinto, P. T., Crosthwaite, P., Carvalho, C. T. de, Spinelli, F., Serpa, T., Garcia, W., & Ottaiano, A. O. (2023). Using Language Data to Learn About Language: A Teachers’ Guide to Classroom Corpus Use. The University of Queensland. https://doi.org/10.14264/3bbe92d

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 3201-LST-OC-RM1 in USOSweb