Harnessing the Power of Corpus Linguistics in Language Education: A Student-Centered Approach

Introduction: Corpus linguistics (CL) has emerged as a valuable approach in language education, yet skepticism persists among future foreign language teachers regarding its necessity and effectiveness. This study investigates whether hands-on experience with corpora and natural language processing (NLP) tools can shift pre-service teachers’ perceptions and enhance their appreciation for corpus-based methods in language teaching. Methodology: A structured teacher-training course was implemented, during which participants created their own corpora and utilized NLP tools to develop teaching materials. Pre- and post-course questionnaires were administered to assess changes in attitudes towards CL. The chi-square tests were used to analyze the significance of the collected data. Results: Findings indicated a significant positive shift in perceptions. Engagement with CL tools led to increased appreciation for data-driven methodologies, with participants expressing a greater likelihood of incorporating these tools into their future teaching practices. The chi-square analysis confirmed the statistical significance of these changes. Conclusion: Practical engagement with CL and related technologies can effectively address initial skepticism among teacher trainees. These results advocate for the inclusion of CL components in teacher training curricula to promote innovative, data-driven language teaching practices and bridge the gap between skepticism and effective application.