DDL for EFL beginners: A report on student gains and views on paper-based concordancing and the role of L1
This study measured student gains in overall second language proficiency and in targeted vocabulary and grammar (noun and verb phrases) with pre- and posttests in a 20-week data-driven learning program using a parallel Japanese-English concordancer and bilingual corpus. Beginner level engineering students at a Japanese university followed a four-step methodology, working in pairs in class and individually for homework. Collected feedback from students on computer- versus paper-based concordancing indicates a blending may be most effective. Student feedback on the role of the L1 in parallel concordancing indicates those using nonvetted computer-based concordancing rely most on the translation.
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