Abstract
Learning words in repetition and in context may be conducive to effective vocabulary acquisition. Research in corpus linguistics and mobile learning can provide pedagogical and technical support for the strategies. DDL (data-driven learning), an approach which features concordancing through a large number of text collection, can facilitate direct and intensive exposure to authentic language in use; the ubiquitous mobile technology nowadays can enable contextual learning experience anytime, anywhere. Thus, “mobile DDL” may synergise DDL and mobile learning, and this combination is a proposal to enhance vocabulary learning with emerging technology. This paper reports an experiment on mobile DDL in the context of academic English. A mobile app was specially designed and developed for voluntary participants in this research to look up core academic words in authentic academic texts. Through passive data capture, questionnaire and interview, it was found that DDL could be adapted to mobile devices. However, the approach was not well acceptable to the intermediate-level students in this research, despite their familiarity with mobile technology in daily life. Major adjustments to DDL seem necessary if mobile DDL is to assist learners at large in vocabulary learning.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
The disciplines are education, humanities, history, social science, philosophy and religion, law and political science, science and technology, medicine and health, and others.
See the API (application program interface) provided by Pearson: http://developer.pearson.com/apis/dictionaries.
References
Baker, P., Hardie, A., & McEnery, T. (2006). A glossary of corpus linguistics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Barnbrook, G. (1996). Language and computers: A practical introduction to the computer analysis of language. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Bernardini, S. (2001). “Spoilt for choice”: A learner explores general language corpora. In G. Aston (Ed.), Learning with corpora (pp. 220–249). Houston: Athelstan.
Boulton, A. (2009). Data-driven learning: Reasonable fears and rational reassurance. Indian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 35(1), 81–106.
Carter, R. (1998). Vocabulary: Applied linguistic perspective (2nd ed.). London: Routledge.
Chambers, A. (2007). Integrating corpora in language learning and teaching. ReCall, 19(3), 249–251.
Cheng, W., Warren, M., & Xu, X.-F. (2003). The language learner as language researcher: Putting corpus linguistics on the timetable. System, 31(2), 173–186.
Chinnery, G. M. (2006). Going to the MALL: Mobile assisted language learning. Language Learning and Technology, 10(1), 9–16.
Ellis, R. (1994). Factors in the incidental acquisition of second language vocabulary for oral input: A review essay. Applied Language Learning, 5(1), 1–32.
Feser, J. (2015). The disruptive nature of mobile learning. In C. Udell & G. Woodill (Eds.), Mastering mobile learning: tips and techniques for success (pp. 21–29). Hoboken: Wiley.
Flowerdew, J. (2009). Corpora in language teaching. In M. Long & C. Doughty (Eds.), The handbook of language teaching (pp. 327–350). Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
Gardner, D., & Davies, M. (2014). A new academic vocabulary list. Applied Linguistics, 35(3), 305–327.
Gleason, H. A. (1965). An introduction to descriptive linguistics (Revised ed.). Toronto: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Godwin-Jones, R. (1999). Emerging technologies: Mobile computing and language learning. Language Learning and Technology, 2(2), 7–11.
Hyland, K. (2002). Specificity revisited: How far should we go now? English for Specific Purposes, 21, 385–395.
Hyland, K. (2003). Second language writing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hyland, K. (2006). Disciplinary differences: Language variation in academic discourses. In K. Hyland & M. Bondi (Eds.), Academic discourse across disciplines (pp. 17–45). New York: Peter Lang.
Johns, T. (1986). Micro-concord: A language learner’s research tool. System, 14(2), 151–162.
Johns, T. (1991). Should you be persuaded-two examples of data-driven learning materials. In T. Johns & P. King (Eds.), Classroom concordancing (English Language Journal, 4) (pp. 1–16). Birmingham: Birmingham University.
Johns, T. (2002). Data-driven learning: The perpetual challenge. In B. Kettemann & G. Marko (Eds.), Teaching and learning by doing corpus linguistics (pp. 107–117). Amsterdam: Rodopi.
Johns, T., & King, P. (1991). Classroom concordancing. English Language Research Journal, 4. Birmingham: University of Birmingham.
Kamil, M. L., & Hiebert, E. H. (2005). Teaching and learning vocabulary: Perspectives and persistent issues. In E. H. Hiebert & M. L. Kamil (Eds.), Teaching and learning vocabulary: Bringing research to practice (pp. 1–23). Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Kearneya, M., Schucka, S., Burdenb, K., & Aubusson, P. (2012). Viewing mobile learning from a pedagogical perspective. Research in Learning Technology, 20, 1–17.
Kukulska-Hulme, A., & Shield, L. (2008). An overview of mobile assisted language learning: From content delivery to supported collaboration and interaction. ReCall, 20(3), 271–289.
Kukulska-Hulme, A. (2009). Will mobile learning change language learning? ReCall, 21(2), 157–165.
Kukulska-Hulme, A., & Traxler, J. (Eds.). (2005). Mobile learning: A handbook for educators and trainers. Abingdon: Routledge.
Levy, M. (1990). Concordances and their integration into a word-processing environment for language learners. System, 18(2), 177–188.
Li, M., & Kirbt, J. R. (2015). The effects of vocabulary breadth and depth on English reading. Applied Linguistics, 36(5), 611–634.
McCarthy, M. (2008). Accessing and interpreting corpus information in the teacher education context. Language Teaching, 41(4), 563–574.
Mishan, F. (2004). Authenticating corpora for language learning: A problem and its resolution. ELT Journal, 58(3), 219–227.
Nagy, W., & Herman, P. (1985). Incidental vs. instructional approaches to increasing reading vocabulary. Educational Perspectives, 23, 16–21.
Nation, I. S. P. (2001). Learning vocabulary in another language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Nation, I. S. P., & Webb, S. (2011). Researching and analyzing vocabulary. Boston: Heinle.
National Reading Panel (US). (2000). Teaching children to read: An evidence-based assessment of the scientific research literature on reading and its implications for reading instruction.
Read, J. (2000). Assessing vocabulary. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Read, J. (2004). Research in teaching vocabulary. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 24, 146–161.
Rogers, K. D. (2011). Mobile learning devices. Bloomington: Solution Tree.
Schmitt, N. (2000). Vocabulary in language teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Steel, C. H., & Levy, M. (2013). Language students and their technologies: Charting the evolution 2006-2011. ReCall, 25(3), 306–320.
Stubbs, M. (2001). Texts, corpora, and problems of interpretation: A response to Widdowson. Applied Linguisitcs, 22(2), 149–172.
Tribble, C. (2010). What are concordances and how are they used? In A. O’Keeffe & M. McCarthy (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of corpus linguistics (pp. 167–183). London: Routledge.
Trinder, J., Roy, S., & Magill, J. (2009). Using automatic logging to collect information on mobile device usage for learning. In G. Vavoula, N. Pachler, & A. Kukulska-Hulme (Eds.), Researching mobile learning: Frameworks, tools and research designs (pp. 241–256). Bern: Peter Lang.
Udell, C. (2015). Ubiquity and mobility as design considerations for mobile learning. In C. Udell & G. Woodill (Eds.), Mastering mobile learning: Tips and techniques for success (pp. 191–197). Hoboken: Wiley.
Widdowson, H. G. (2000). On the limitations of linguistics applied. Applied Linguistics, 21(1), 3–25.
Zhang, X., & Lu, X. (2015). The relationship between vocabulary learning strategies and breadth and depth of vocabulary knowledge. The Modern Language Journal, 99(4), 740–753.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Quan, Z. Introducing “mobile DDL (data-driven learning)” for vocabulary learning: an experiment for academic English. J. Comput. Educ. 3, 273–287 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40692-016-0067-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40692-016-0067-0