Acquiring intercultural competence and corpus linguistics methodology: a suggestion for integration in the language learning syllabus

Several authors have investigated the opportunity and advantages of creating activities in which foreign language learners are engaged in discovering linguistic features by accessing authentic materials. Examples among the others are the Data Driven Learning (DDL) and the Discovery Learning approach (T. JOHNS, 1991). Some scholars suggested that the processes of discovery and exploration could benefit greatly and should be combined with the use of language corpora. These collections of texts - both online and on personal computers - can be valuable for both teachers and learners in exploring the use and contextual features of linguistic items (A. BOULTON, 2011; S. GRANGER, 2011). Other works focus on how online resources can be integrated into a traditional self-access centre (J. CHOI, 2017) or support a Google-Assisted Language Learning (GALL) approach (G. CHINNERY, 2008). Following previous studies (C. ZANCA 2014, 2018), this paper suggests that new and old online tools, including corpora, should be considered for use in language learning curricula in order to explore language use in context and solve common language challenges as most learners already do in everyday life, taking advantage of the methodological approach of Corpus Linguistics without the need to master its technical and theoretical aspects (see also M.A. CONROY, 2010; C. SHEI, 2008). It discusses the consistency of this approach with the Common European Framework (CEFR) and its updates. It introduces new online resources and opportunities and suggests that the recent Covid-19 emergence and the ensuing shift towards online courses and settings could be seen as an opportunity for the AICLU Italian language centres.