By Delian Gaskell, Thomas Cobb
In this article, the writer wanted to find out whether L2 learners in different levels learn from concordances. He first pointed out that existing concordances were mainly focused on word learning and concordance-based grammar tutoring was less developed. However, he introduced a concordance website which can expose L2 learners to a vast number of well organized examples that highlighted the targeted patterns, then get learners to attend the examples and give systematic feedback.
By using the websites, the writer conducted a research on 20 university Chinese EFL learners who were in lower to intermediate level in L2 learning, in order to find out whether L2 learners were capable of using concordances to correct their language errors and whether concordance activity are useful to reduce language errors in free production.
The findings showed positive attitudes towards using concordances and their overall errors were improved but some specific errors like subject-verb agreement and articles were increased.
The writer concluded that to correct grammar, lower level learners are willing to use concordances and they have the ability to make corrections according to the concordances.
In addition, precast links are considered to be a useful training system to guide learners to independent concordance.
Self reflection:
Using Concordances on vocabulary and grammar corrections for students’ writing sounds very good news for language teachers as it seems on the one hand can save lots of teachers' marking time and on the other hand students can benefit in language learning. I frequently use the spelling and grammar check function in Microsoft word and I found it is very helpful to minimize mistakes.
I am very interested in the Microsoft Word’s Comment function which mentioned in the article and I had never used it. Can anybody teach me how to use it?
In order to get corrective feedback, this concordance website (http://www.lextutor.ca) may be very helpful for language learners.
Long Live the Rubber Duck!
11 years ago
Thanks for your summary and self reflection. Actually I really agree with you that Microsoft Word’s or Concordances on vocabulary and grammar corrections indeed help us to correct mistakes and they are very useful. I also think these software will help students as well. But I was wondering whether we depend on these technology too much. In that case, I think Concordances on vocabulary and grammar corrections is better because it tells students why you make errors.Teachers can recommend it for students.
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