Public Lecture: Tanjun Liu

Abstract

As a reliable source of information about language, corpora (large electronic collections of written or spoken texts) are an invaluable resource in language teaching and learning, particularly within in a business communication context. Corpora can be applied both directly and indirectly in language learning and teaching. Direct applications involve learners engaging with corpus data themselves, typically through Data-driven Learning (DDL), where students are encouraged to discover language patterns directly from business-related texts and develop learner autonomy. Indirect applications involve teachers, dictionary compilers or materials designers using corpus evidence to inform syllabus design, example selection, and the creation of authentic teaching materials. This talk will begin with a brief introduction to the concepts of corpora and corpus linguistics, followed by a discussion of their application in language learning and teaching. The talk will also provide some practical examples of how corpora can be integrated into the language classroom.

Bio

Tanjun Liu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Linguistics and Language Sciences at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. She holds a PhD in Linguistics from Lancaster University and an MSc TESOL from the University of Edinburgh. Tanjun’s research interests include using corpora in language teaching and learning, computer-assisted language learning, English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI), and second language writing and speaking. Her work has appeared in journals such as Computer-Assisted Language Learning and the Chinese Journal of Applied Linguistics.