Interactive Visual Text Analysis for Corpus-Based Language Learning

A corpus is a large collection of texts that can be automatically analyzed for linguistic patterns and structures using interactive tools. Corpus-based language learning has gained prominence in recent years thanks to the advances in computing technologies, such as text mining, searching, and natural language processing. The size and variety of corpora have also grown significantly in recent years. However, most of the corpus tools currently available are designed for linguistic research, not for classroom teaching and learning. In this paper, we present a new corpus tool called Text X-Ray that features visual text analysis and supports corpus-based language learning. This program helps students analyze their own writing and compare their writing with a corpus. This tool has been tested in real classroom settings and has received several positive feedback from a range of instructors and students.