Learner Corpus Research and Data-Driven Learning in Saudi Arabia
摘要
In recent years, corpus linguistics has enhanced second language acquisition research and practices through the emergence of learner corpus research and data-driven learning. Learner corpus research has influenced how we examine second language output and, in turn, our understanding of how learners acquire and use their second language. Concurrently, data-driven learning has revolutionized second language pedagogy from textbooks and language references to the more autonomous in-class usage of target language corpora. This chapter presents a research synthesis that highlights the state of learner corpus research and data-driven learning in Saudi Arabia. In doing so, it reviews the EFL Saudi learner corpora available and the studies that have been carried out on these corpora and those that examine the use of corpora in the classroom, whether they are learner or target language corpora. We consider which Saudi educational and training contexts mainly utilize these tools and methodologies and in which contexts these methodologies remain underused. In this synthesis, we also examine the accessibility of these learner corpora and data-driven learning resources to the broader researchers’ and practitioners’ communities. We describe the results and implications of these studies, and discuss the current status and future prospects of learner corpus research and data-driven learning in Saudi Arabia.