Data-Driven ESP Vocabulary Learning

Abstract

This empirical study is to test the feasibility and effectiveness of Data-Driven Learning. It first introduces the concept of DDL (data-driven learning) and probes the rationality and advantages of data-driven ESP vocabulary learning. It points out that DDL it is more motivating since it supplies authentic language materials and it is student-centered and majored-related learning. One semester’s ESP course applied self-constructed Agriculture English Paper Corpus and its CQPweb (web-based Corpus Query Processor) to ESP vocabulary learning as tools and resource. The results of empirical study indicates that corpus application into ESP vocabulary learning helped students in many ways, such as knowing high frequency words, grasping collocation and colligation, understanding prosody of words, etc. Vocabulary test and coverage (range) test indicate that DDL effectively improves the accuracy of ESP words use and helps students to acquire more ESP words.