Learning from our learners

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Learning from our learners grammar

• Dr Anne OKeeffe,
• MIC, University of Limerick, Ireland

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Cambridge Learner Corpus

• It contains over 35 million words from Cambridge
  exam scripts from over
• 135,000 exam scripts
• 130 different first languages
• 190 different countries

See http//www.cambridge.org/elt/corpus/learner_c
orpus2.htm
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Practical application of learner corpus

• English Profile
• Research
• Materials design
• What students get wrong helps identify typical
  errors.
• What students get right gives good model
  sentences and tells us about typical competencies.

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• to do sports not to make sports

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Polish B1 BECP
Turkish B1 BECP
Swiss (German L1) B1 BECP
France B1 BECP
Turkish B1 BECP
Swiss (German L1) B1 BECP
Swiss (German L1) B1 BECP
Swiss (German L1) B1 BECP
German B1 BECP
Swiss (German L1) B1 BECP
Swiss (German L1) B1 BECP
Swiss (German L1) B1 BECP
Swiss (German L1) B1 BECP
German B1 BECP
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Percentage errors make/do
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Looking forward to

• What range of errors do you expect to find?
• At what level do you think learners will, on the
  whole, get it right?

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• I am looking forward ltRTgtfortolt/RTgt your
  reply. (BECP Greece B1 2003)
• I'm looking forward ltRTgtfromtolt/RTgt hearing
  from you. (FCE Brazil B2 2000)
• We are looking forwardltRTgtintolt/RTgt hearing
  from you. (FCE Malaysia B2 1997)
• I am looking forward ltRTgtoftolt/RTgt hearing
  from you. (FCE Greece B2 1993)
• I'm looking forward ltRTgtontolt/RTgt hearing from
  you. (PET France B1 2003)

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Looking forward for
looking forward for
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Lets focus on the word opinion and its patterns

• What patterns for the word opinion can do you
  expect to find in the learner corpus?

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All of the following patterns are found in the
Cambridge Learner Corpus
on my opinion in my opinion of my opinion to
my opinion under my opinion to be of the opinion
that
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Cambridge Learner Corpus
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in my opinion
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in my opinion
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Learner Corpus In my opinion in my opinion
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Examples from the BNC

• These things are usually, in my opinion, anyway,
  er, er the results are often accidents.
• There has unfortunately in my opinion been a
  change of attitude about which cases to
  prosecute.
• Terrible shame in my opinion that that building
  was demolished, allowed to go to wrack and ruin,
  er and then demolished.

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Examples from the Learner Corpus

• In my opinion the best means of getting to work
  is by bicycle (FCE Italy B2 VANTAGE 1993)
• So, in my opinion, I'm really looking forward to
  the next music festival. (577965 FCE China B2
  VANTAGE 1997)
• In my opinion, it seems that we achieved the aim
  satisfactorily, even though it was not easy.
  (CAE Japan C1 EFFECTIVE OPERATIONAL
  PROFICIENCY 2000)
• A lot of people prefer cats to dogs, but, in my
  opinion, cats are only interested in food, not in
  you. (581974 FCE Italy B2 VANTAGE 1997)

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Some Turkish examples

• In my opinion you should go to Antalya. (2605889
  Preliminary English Test Turkey B1 THRESHOLD
  2008 Turkish Pass)
• In my opinion, a friendly receptionist is the
  essence of a welcoming reception.... (571244
  First Certificate in English Turkey B2 VANTAGE
  1999 Turkish Pass)
• In my opinion life is extremely difficult and
  complicated for mankind. (584268 Certificate of
  Proficiency in English Turkey C2 MASTERY 1998
  Turkish Fail)
• In my opinion this film also has very good camera
  work. (587238 First Certificate in English
  Turkey B2 VANTAGE 1999 Turkish Pass)

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Will have participle

• At what level do you think learners begin to use
  it?
• At what level is it criterial?

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B2 been been increasing finished increased scored
C1 been disappeared determined disappointed improv
ed lived made taken settled down spent
C2 been delivered gained increased lived succeede
d
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I cant use it.
I try to use it but mostly get it wrong.
I use it and usually get it right.
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English Profile project getting a fuller profile
Exam syllabi

• Course books

Corpus
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In conclusion

• By using a corpus of learner writing, we can
  learn more about our students grammar patterns
  at different levels.
• More research into learner patterns in needed.
• For grammar materials writers, the Learner Corpus
  is the key resource on which to base materials.

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Thank you for listening!
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http//www.englishprofile.org/
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How can you get involved?

• contribute learner data to our corpus
• contribute to our research with ELT professionals
• submit a research proposal
• use website to find out about English Profile
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