This paper analyses the methodologies in 148 empirical data-driven learning studies for L2 English in prestige journals to examine best practice. Manual coding and corpus analysis of key words and n-grams from the past 5 years (2018-2022) explore the field as a whole and how methodologies have evolved, suggesting improvements and future avenues…

Learner corpora have been used extensively in corpus research to identify gaps and errors within learner writing but have rarely been directly used in corpus-informed instruction (CII). Importantly, scholars in CII have pointed out that "it is as important to see what learners can do as well as what they can't" when using learner corpora…

As blended and online courses are becoming more prevalent, there is need for research into how digital tools might help teachers increase learner motivation and engagement in online learning. This qualitative case study explores learners' perceptions of interactive videos, with a particular focus on perceived levels of learner motivation and…

For some time, arguments have been made that for the increased successful use of corpus linguistics (CL), in the form of Data-Driven Learning (DDL; Johns, 1991) in the second language classroom, teacher education programs must play a central role by providing the necessary instruction and triggers. Three means of integrating corpora into teacher…

This meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of data-driven learning (DDL) among low-proficiency L2 English learners, addressing the mixed results found in previous meta-analyses. The study incorporated 38 studies involving 2085 participants, yielding 37 effect sizes from control-experimental (C/E) studies and 42 from pre- and post-test (P/P)…

In recent years, the integration of big data and learning analytics has emerged as a significant trend across educational systems worldwide. The implementation of such technologies within universities -- particularly in China -- holds considerable potential for transforming teaching and learning practices. By enabling personalised, data-driven…

Collocations, a crucial component of language competence, remain a challenge for L2 learners across all proficiency levels. While the data-driven learning (DDL) approach has shown great potential for collocation learning from a shorter-term perspective, this study investigates its effectiveness in the long term, examining both linguistic gains and…

Language learner engagement, which is receiving increased attention, has predominantly focused on offline classroom contexts, while learner engagement in language Massive Open Online Courses (LMOOCs) remains under-explored. This study was conducted on a College English MOOC with the purpose of examining learner engagement and its relations with…

Hands-off data-driven learning is a data-based, student-oriented learning model characterized by inquiry and discovery. English context vocabulary teaching is the key to English teaching in colleges and an important indicator to evaluate the quality and level of college English teaching, which is a language teaching paradigm focusing on the…

This study addresses the problems in traditional English literature teaching methods for Chinese English majors, proposing a new teaching approach based on smart education concepts to enhance learning effectiveness. An evaluation of a semester-long reform in teaching methods is conducted using a quantitative methodology. The findings reveal…

The National College English Test Band 4 (CET-4) is a key test to assess the English language ability of Chinese university students, and the success rate of the test is important to improve the quality of their English learning. Artificial intelligence technology can be used to predict and explore the factors influencing the success rate. This…

This empirical investigation rigorously evaluated the teaching potential of Data-Driven Learning (DDL) for enhancing the ability of learners to apply 30 near-synonymous change-of-state verbs in two EFL Freshman English courses in a college setting across two semesters. In the study, 32 participants in the experimental group and 22 in the control…

Choosing relevant vocabulary to teach in ESL composition courses can be a difficult task for instructors. They often rely on intuition rather than empirical methods for vocabulary selection. This paper presents two case studies where corpora were used either to select vocabulary items for instruction or to scaffold student learning of vocabulary…

One of the biggest challenges for EFL (English as Foreign Language) students to learn English is the lack of practicing environments. Although language researchers have attempted to conduct flipped classrooms to increase the practicing time in class, EFL students generally have difficulties interacting with peers and teachers in English in class.…

Keystroke logs provide a comprehensive record of observable writing processes. Previous studies examining the keystroke logs of young L1 English writers performing experimental writing tasks have identified writing processes features predictive of the quality of responses. Contrarily, large-scale studies on the dynamic and temporal nature of L2…