Using corpus as a self correction tool in efl writing sử dụng khối ngữ liệu như một công cụ tự sữa lỗi trong viết tiếng anh

HUE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES - NGUYEN HOANG HANH AN USING CORPUS AS A SELF-CORRECTION TOOL IN EFL WRITING MA THESIS IN THEORY AND METHODOLOGY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts, University of Foreign Languages, Hue University THUA THIEN HUE, 2021 HUE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES - NGUYEN HOANG HANH AN USING CORPUS AS A SELF-CORRECTION TOOL IN EFL WRITING MA THESIS IN THEORY AND METHODOLOGY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING CODE: 8140111 SUPERVISOR: DR NGUYEN VU QUYNH NHU THUA THIEN HUE, 2021 ĐẠI HỌC HUẾ TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC NGOẠI NGỮ - NGUYEN HOANG HANH AN SỬ DỤNG KHỐI NGỮ LIỆU NHƯ MỘT CÔNG CỤ TỰ SỬA LỖI TRONG VIẾT TIẾNG ANH LUẬN VĂN THẠC SĨ LÝ LUẬN VÀ PHƯƠNG PHÁP DẠY HỌC BỘ MÔN TIẾNG ANH MÃ SỐ: 8140111 NGƯỜI HƯỚNG DẪN KHOA HỌC: TS NGUYEN VU QUYNH NHU THUA THIEN HUE, 2021 STATEMENT OF ORIGINAL AUTHORSHIP The work contained in this thesis has not been previously submitted for a degree in any university I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, my thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the thesis itself Signed: Nguyen Hoang Hanh An Date: 08/11/2021 i ABSTRACT In recent years, the advent of corpus has shed some light on improving the quality and sustainability of sentence-level error correction in second language (L2) writing, as its nature and functions seemed to benefit L2 writers (Johns, 1991) This study was carried out with the aim of introducing corpus as a supplementary tool to develop EFL students‘ writing competence, focusing on students‘ experience in writing self-revision with the help of corpus, types of errors that students are able to self-rectify with the support of corpus, and students‘ attitudes towards using corpus to correct mistakes independently The instruments chosen for the study were Corpus of Contemporary English (COCA) and British National Corpus (BNC) for their multifunctional features and large freely accessible databases 10 undergraduate students of the English Department at Hue University of Foreign Languages, including thirdyear and fourth-year students, were trained in the basic functions of the two corpora They were required to write six essays on specific topics and independently correct their errors through corpus research An analysis of error correction was employed as the quantitative approach, while a learning log and interviews were used as qualitative research methods to allow students to reflect on their experiences and attitudes towards the use of corpus as a selfcorrection tool in writing The results revealed that there is a substantial difference in the use of corpus for revising different types of errors: word choice, preposition, and word order were quite easy to identify and could be corrected quickly, whereas grammar, spelling, and register are considered difficult error types to be corrected with the assistance of corpus The findings from the study also showed that in spite of some drawbacks of corpus, the majority of participants still expressed positive attitudes towards the use of corpus as a self errorcorrection instrument to help them improve their writing skills as well as their writing confidence ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This Master of Arts thesis has been a challenging and rewarding experience to me, as its theme is related to corpus, a new concept that I just have exposed to recently This work would not have been completed without the assistance and guidance of many people First and foremost, I would like to thank and appreciate my thesis supervisor, Dr Nguyen Vu Quynh Nhu, for her unreserved guidance on this thesis Thank you for spending hours reading my thesis and offering insightful feedback Her kindness, patience, enthusiasm and encouragement helped me overcome the obstacles of doing the research It was fortunate that I had an opportunity to work with her, without whom, the completion of the Master of Arts thesis would not have been possible I am deeply grateful to 10 participants from the Faculty of English at Hue University of Foreign Languages, Hue University for spending their precious time and cooperation when conducting the research My thesis would indeed be far from being completed without them I also wanted to extend my sincere thanks to my colleagues Vu Khanh, Nha Quan, Ai Thu, Thao Trinh, and my friends My Ngoc, Nhu Thuy, and Tra My for providing assistance, inspiration and motivation Their endless support has been the greatest source of positivity and confidence for me throughout my MA journey Lastly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my family My parents and my elder sister were always by my side and offered me unconditional love, encouragement and assistance through the process of researching and writing this thesis I would have been unable to overcome all the obstacles and fulfill my dream without their support I also express deep thanks to my boyfriend, who saved me from the IT problems and continuously supported me with his tender loving care Hue, November 9, 2021 iii LIST OF TABLES Table 4.1 Total number of errors in six categories in essays Table 4.2 Total number of corrections in six categories in essays Table 4.3 Number of errors and corrections in six categories from Week to Week Table 4.4 The comparison of CERF levels of essays in Week and Week iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure 3.1 Participants‘ majors Figure 3.2 Participants‘ self-evaluation of writing skills Figure 3.3 Participants‘ self-evaluation of computer skills Figure 4.1 Types of errors that could be easily corrected with corpus Figure 4.2 Types of errors that could be difficult to be corrected with corpus Figure 4.3 Features and Functions of corpus that are helpful for students in essay self-revision v List of Abbreviations Abbreviation Meaning AE American English BE British English BNC British National Corpus COCA Corpus of Contemporary American English CEFR The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages DDL Data-driven learning EFL English as Foreign language HUFL Hue University of Foreign Languages KWIC Key Word In Context L2 Second language/ Target language vi Table of Contents STATEMENT OF ORIGINAL AUTHORSHIP i LIST OF TABLES iv LIST OF FIGURES v List of Abbreviations vi Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Rationale of the Study 1.2 Aims of the study 1.3 Significance of the Study 1.4 Scope of the Study and Limitations Chapter 2: Literature Review 2.1 Definition of Corpus 2.1.1 An Overview of COCA 2.1.2 An Overview of BNC 2.2 Data-driven learning (DDL) 10 2.2.1 What is DDL? 10 2.2.2 The Effectiveness of DDL in Foreign Language Acquisition 12 2.3 Writing skill and Self-correction in Writing 16 2.3.1 Writing skill 16 2.3.2 Self-correction in Writing 17 2.4 Corpus as a Self-correction Tool in Writing 18 2.5 The application of Corpus in the Use of Error-correction Tool 21 2.5.1 Benefits of Corpus in the Use of Error-correction Tool 21 2.5.2 Limitations of Corpus in the Use of Error-correction Tool 24 vii APPENDIX LIST OF ERROR CORRECTION Word choice Week No Original errors Revised Errors Week unspoken misunderstandings unvoiced misapprehension hard barriers major obstacles get out of their countries leave their countries particular change social change a developing trend a development trend approach with approaching more bigger chance better chance to live in another country is an excited to live in another country is an one exciting one widen your knowledge expand your knowledge 10 enjoy exploring the surrounding world enjoy exploring the outside world 11 native residents local residents 12 You can frustrate You can be frustrated 13 accept higher education access higher education 14 the barrier of language language barrier 15 give you a good job prospect develop your career 16 get difficult time Things in life get more difficult 17 establish their careers Pursue their careers 18 getting relationships building close relationships with 19 big amount of money a large sum of money 20 makes many challenges creates many challenges 21 irresistance of homesickness irresistibility of homesickness get used to having parents' support get used to receiving financial 22 support from families 23 an easy goal to achieve a simple goal to be achieved 24 foreigner mind cultures in different countries 25 in terms of education quality in terms of its quality of education 26 Another reason to make you One more reason to make you approach so much information access a broad range of 27 information Week 28 to enroll the dorm to move into the dorm 29 affordable cost reasonable cost 30 By this Consequently 31 limiting contact limited contact 32 have low connection have little connection 33 everyday's life daily life 34 with small income with low income 35 feel achievement on the studying achieve success in studying 36 The lack of forests The shortage of woods netizens tend to cut down trees the residence tend to cut down 37 trees 38 manufacturing accessories manufacturing furniture 39 remains a source of remains the root of 40 Enhance their life Improve their living standard 41 varied ways different ways 42 live easier live better 43 Empty land Vacant land contributes to break the biological contributes to a breakdown of the 44 system biological system 45 Available earth Available soil 46 We will have bad results It would leads to negative results their life and economy had heavy their life and economy had 47 48 effects tremendous impact The respiration of trees The breathing of trees provide a habitant for plants and provide a dweller for plants and 49 animals animals 50 remain human life prolong human life 51 great migrations mass migration 52 the results can change the situations can be changed 53 having criticism receiving harsh criticism 54 affections of effects of 55 tries his or her best one's best average temperature will become average temperature 56 higher continuously increase 57 continuous effort make constant effort to 58 severe treatment acute treatment 59 incurable illness terminal illness will 60 natural resources of natural resources 61 All things in consideration All things considered 62 bad consequences devastating consequences 63 get merit back give it back Week 64 playing a true role as a true role 65 feel better about life feel confident about life 66 essential quality-of-life items necessary items 67 Live a life like cat and dog fight like cat and dog 68 Remain their longevity Extend their longevity 69 A large of money A large amount of money 70 gain happiness Pursue happiness 71 he was on a cloud nine He was extremely excited 72 amount of money for purchasing A sum of money for purchasing 73 things-related inhuman Things related to inhumane 74 material things materialistic things 75 change a family member trade a family member 76 must admit must state 77 this happiness is not true this pleasure is not true because of his dream to become a since he has a dream of becoming 78 photographer a photographer money plays an important role for Money plays an important role in 79 humans in their daily life human life 80 have the same education receive the same education 81 feel a meaningless time feel a empty time 82 gain a better life earn a better living there is a lack of time spending there is a lack of time with their 83 family frequently creates a great deal of has frequently sparked a great deal 84 heated debate of heated debate 85 larger chance greater opportunity 86 experience many failure have failure experience 87 higher work output higher productivity of work 88 decline human's nervousness decrease a person's nervousness 89 everyday necessities daily necessities 90 toward their dream and goal to come true your dream and goal which has survived for a long time Which has stayed around for Week 91 decades 92 have a larger understanding Have a broader apprehension there is a lot of information about what There 93 we research is a great deal of information about what we look for 94 principle advantage Major benefit 95 stimulus to learn motivation for learning 96 teaches theoretical knowledge provides theoretical knowledge 97 behavior disorder inappropriate behaviors 98 optical diseases eye diseases 99 doubtful sources unreliable sources 100 traditional and physical schools are traditional and physical schools likely required are absolutely necessary 101 useful citizens good citizens 102 affect ability of children grow ability of children 103 negative drawbacks major drawbacks 104 the Internet materials the Internet information they may suffer from weak eyesight they may suffer from eyesight 105 weakness which is popularly found on which is commonly found on 106 uncensored websites uncensored websites 107 experience time on playing spend time on playing 108 follow the ultimate curriculum follow the optimal curriculum 109 get confidence to gain confidence in 110 the greatest option the optimal option children can take training children can receive the advanced Week 111 training 112 begin young age From an early age 113 The argument lies in On the other side of the argument raises excellent awareness of raises greater awareness of 114 environmental protection environmental protection 115 take up their passions pursue their passions 116 will discourage their study will be discouraged in their study 117 the strict education system the strict education environment 118 proper decision right choice 119 meet a lot of problems see a lot of problems 120 develop their performance improve their performance There are less vehicles There are fewer cars and 121 motorbikes 122 limit their emotion control their emotion 123 getting open their real mind getting close to 124 surbub areas suburban areas 125 to get the success to become successful 126 the issues concerned among the concerns among Week 127 There is no other way than eating out Eating out is the optimal way 128 In this day and time In this day and time 129 you would earn more breaks you would take more breaks 130 limit the ability decrease the ability 131 serious psychological suffer to serious psychological distress in cultivate their colleague‘s acquaintance develop a relationship with their 132 colleagues 133 supporting basic needs provide basic needs 134 a labor worker a factory worker 135 make a problem cause a problem 136 get the benefit obtain the benefits 137 mostly used commonly used 138 use the time to devote the time to Preposition Week No Original errors Week1 increase on the number increase in the number return their villages Return to their villages into trend in the upward trend excel at excel in going in a foreign country going to a foreign country In the contrary On the contrary Immersing themselves Revised errors into the Immersing education system students will themselves in the education system be equipped by students will be equipped with valuable qualities valuable qualities at a hurry in a hurry 10 one of the main reason of one of the main reasons for 11 afford for students' tuition fees afford students‘ tuition fees 12 Through my personal experience From my personal experience Week 13 I will elaborate on this essay I will elaborate on in this essay 14 on the world In the world 15 adverse effect in human population adverse effect on population 16 result to soil erosion result in soil erosion 17 struggle for surviving struggle to survive 18 contributes to break contributes to better 19 reason of saving forests reason for saving forests human 20 posing a threat of indigenous posing a threat to indigenous communities communities 21 dependent in forests dependent on forests Week 22 On dangerous situations In dangerous situations 23 caring to him taking care of him 24 money donations by wealthy people money donations from wealthy people Week 25 gives the possibility toward gives the possibilities for 26 spend time to talk spend time on talking 27 combine between online and combine online and traditional traditional learning 28 such courses learning purely aim with such courses purely aim providing knowledge providing knowledge 29 suitable with their levels suitable for their levels 30 is not applicable with all students is not applicable to all students 31 different paces between at the different paces among classmates classmates Week 32 can be achieved by the Internet can be achieved via the Internet 33 long-term impact in the health of long-term impact on the health of youngsters youngsters 34 the issue of pollution in all types the issue of pollution of all types 35 children can benefit the best state-of- children can benefit from the best the-art facilities 36 state-of-the-art facilities children have more opportunities to children have more opportunities access to national traditions to access the national traditions 37 pressure over people pressure on themselves 38 in their early age at the early ages Week 39 on discount at discount 40 These food items consequently These food items consequently results to health issues results in health issues 41 paying ready-made meals paying for ready-made meals 42 Locking themselves into a close Locking themselves in a close space 43 44 space having meals at home is a superior having meals at home is a superior option than eating out option to eating out people can prepare for a meal people can prepare a meal Spelling Week No Original errors Revised Errors Week achive achieve formost foremost can not cannot pospective students prospective students avarage average Week controvesy controversy indispensible indispensable unbalance imbalance enviroment environment Week 10 emphasing emphasizing 11 the upside of the money the upsides of the money 12 irreplacable irreplaceable Week 13 subsituted substituted 14 convinction conviction Week 15 a growing number of astma cases a growing number of asthma cases 16 health degradetion health degradation Week 17 aquaintances acquaintances Grammar Week No Original errors Revised Errors Week preferring go preferring to go leave you feel depressed leave you feeling depressed one of the main positive one of the main positives one of the major problem one of the greatest problems Nobody cheer you up Nobody cheers you up drawbacks to live drawback to living which would perfectly vital which would be perfectly vital deep your understandings deeply your understandings contributes to form their mindset contributes to forming their mindset Week 10 it provides and improve it provides and improves 11 forests is important forests are important 12 cause causes 13 the price increasing to balance supply the price increased to balance supply and demand 14 and demand forests should be given priority to forests should be given priority save saving 15 the expand of deforestation expansion in deforestation 16 country‘s develop country's development 17 there are several activities have effect there are several activities that directly forests directly affect the forests 18 most of the city most of the cities Week 19 On the other hand First of all 20 money are used to pay money is used to pay 21 such as bet and gamble such as betting and gambling 22 struggling with physically and Struggling with physical and mental sentimentally painful pains 23 more happier much happier 24 started to smoke, drink and fight with started smoking, drinking and others fighting with others 25 having more money make having more money makes 26 happiness cannot bought happiness cannot be bought 27 a key factor that bring happiness a key factor that brings happiness Week 28 There are a lot of fake news There is a lot of fake news 29 extracurricular activities in schools extracurricular activities in schools allows students 30 allow students have difficulty attend the virtual class have difficulty attending the virtual or access online sources 31 class or accessing online sources students can study by themselves at students can study by themselves at home just as successful as they at home just as successfully as they school 32 at school the learning approach is changed the learning approach has changed dramatically 33 34 dramatically online learning usually offer more online learning usually offers more theoretical knowledge theoretical knowledge they not comprehend previously they could not comprehend previously Week 35 children have difficulty to try children have difficulty in trying 36 grow up in the countryside can be growing up in the countryside can be very positive very positive 37 it becomes more easily it becomes much easier 38 grow more natural grow more naturally 39 families has access to private families have easy access to private hospitals hospitals 40 in spite well aware in spite of being aware Week 41 nutrition value nutrition values 42 eating out have become popular eating out has become popular 43 restaurants may satisfy all tastes of restaurants may satisfy all tastes of its customers their customers 44 For people who are busy to cook For people who are too busy to cook 45 eating out in the restaurant also bring eating out in the restaurant also some merits beside their drawbacks brings some merits besides its drawbacks Word order Week No Original errors Revised Errors Week market job job market changing-life life-changing you terribly feel homesick you feel terribly homesick money somewhat can help people money can somewhat help people online learning is not apparently online learning is apparently not suitable or possible suitable or possible school not only provides theoretical school provides not only theoretical knowledge but also social skills knowledge but also social skills This affects badly their health This badly affects their health Week Week Week Register Week No Original errors Revised Errors Week wanna want to lots of various interact with lots of people interact with several of people Week It is not sure It is unsure I know that It is true that Week I am sure There is no doubt that you have too much money a lot of money What‘s more In addition Week lots of things many things 10 lots of information plenty of information 11 a lot of many They have no need to compensate for It is unnecessary to compensate for their hungers their hungers lots of money plenty of money Week 12 13