1. Høgskolen i Oslo Using Self-Compiled, Discipline- Specific Corpora as a Practical Learning-Research Tool for Developing Written Language Skills in English for Academic Purposes Daniel Lees Fryer, Oslo University College (OUC) Researching Writing in Education and the Workplace NTNU, Trondheim, Norway, 14-15 April 2009

2. Høgskolen i Oslo Introduction l Background and Learner Needs/Rationale: English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and Corpus Linguistics l Addressing Learner Needs: Course in Corpus Linguistics for Non-Linguists l Proposed Course Design l Challenges: Points for Discussion l Contact Details and References

3. Høgskolen i Oslo EAP l “to help non-native speakers of English [NNS] master the functions and linguistic conventions of texts that they need to read and write in their disciplines and professions” (Hyon 1996: 698) l Genre-based teaching and research l Common learner-identified need: Improved knowledge of discipline-specific terms and phrases (OUC needs analysis forms) l EAP instructor’s background/skills

4. Høgskolen i Oslo Corpus Linguistics (CL) l Data-driven research into language use (general or specific) l Corpora in EAP---data-driven learning (DDL): traditionally, concordancing in general or “academic” corpora (BNC, MICASE, instructor compiled) l Additional need: Personalized, discipline- specific material

5. Høgskolen i Oslo Example: Concordancing BNC: Sample results for compared to

6. Høgskolen i Oslo Addressing Learner Needs 1) Improved knowledge of discipline-specific terms (learner perceived)   2) Personalized EAP material (instructor perceived) l Introductory course in CL for NNS PhD candidates and researchers (cf. Lee & Swales 2006) l Supplement to existing EAP courses for staff l Expansion of “traditional” use of CL techniques l Self-compiled, discipline-specific corpora

7. Høgskolen i Oslo Proposed Course Design l Short course: 3-4 sessions, c. 12 hours in total l Overall aim: To develop increased awareness of lexical, grammatical, and rhetorical conventions of own discourse community, and application of acquired skills beyond scope of course l Content: –online search techniques –analyzing freely available online corpora (BNC, MICASE) - concordancing –using CL software (WordSmith, AntConc) to analyze and compare various online/offline corpora - concordancing, keywords –Compiling own corpora and applying above-mentioned techniques –Workshop and individual presentations

8. Høgskolen i Oslo Challenges: For Discussion l Identifying learners’ specific needs l Evaluating how CL can/should address these needs l Assessing learners’ technical competency/interest in CL l Designing and implementing a course in light of these needs/interests (software, CL techniques, types of corpora, pedagogical considerations, course duration) l Measuring potential learning outcomes l Evaluating quality/relevance of corpora l Reconciling top-down EAP vs. bottom-up CL l Avoiding copyright infringement and DRM issues l Considering role of EAP in general in addressing need for terminology-based language learning

9. Høgskolen i Oslo Contact Details & References Contact Daniel Lees Fryer Office for Recruitment and Development Dept. of Organization and Human Resources Oslo University College, PO Box 4, St. Olavs plass NO-0130 Oslo, Norway Tel.: +47 2245 2411; E-mail: dlfryer@gmail.com References Hyon, S. (1996). Genre in three traditions: implications for ESL. TESOL Quarterly, 30, 693-722. Lee, D. & Swales, J. M. (2006). A corpus-based EAP course for NNS doctoral students: moving from available specialized corpora to self- compiled corpora. English for Specific Purposes, 25, 56-75.