Abstract
This paper investigates the integration of an innovative AI-driven Corpus (AIDC) tool, CorpusChat, in English for General Academic Purposes (EGAP) and English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP) classes for undergraduate students at the University of Hong Kong (HKU).
In the context of English language teaching, EGAP and ESAP represent different approaches to language instruction. While EGAP focuses on foundational English skills applicable across various academic disciplines, ESAP hones in on academic literacy required for disciplinary fields like Science or Medicine. With the emergence of Generative AI (GenAI), language learning in both EGAP and ESAP can become more personalized, accessible, and affordable.
In this talk, I will introduce an innovative AIDC platform CorpusChat that offers customized GPTs for university students to enhance their EGAP and ESAP literacy. CorpusChat seamlessly merges Corpus Linguistics with GenAI, uniting two domains centered around data analysis. This synergy enables a deeper understanding of data, fostering authenticity in language understanding, and streamlining the process of conducting corpus searches without requiring extensive technical expertise. Leveraging a Medical Web Corpus and a general academic writing corpus (British Academic Written English) analyzed through AI algorithms, a group of first-year undergraduates in an EGAP class and a group of senior year Nursing undergraduates from an ESAP class at HKU utilized the chatbots on CorpusChat to acquire academic and disciplinary vocabulary and linguistic features.
Furthermore, the study explores pedagogical strategies for integrating AIDC findings into the EGAP and ESAP curriculum at HKU, focusing on interactive activities that encourage students to notice and navigate academic vocabulary and a complex lexicon of medical terms and linguistic features in their own writing. The paper also discusses challenges such as technological accessibility and the need for teacher training to effectively use AIDC resources.
Building on the student survey and focus group interviews from the two case studies, I will explore how GenAI and Corpus Linguistics can bridge the gap by offering more innovative English language learning opportunities for students across disciplines. Ultimately, this research underscores the value of combining GenAI with Corpus Linguistics to enhance university students’ academic writing competence. In this talk, I will discuss how educators can support the development of academic writing skills that are critical for academic success for first-year students and professional disciplinary communication in clinical settings for senior students. This approach not only advances students’ language proficiency but also fosters critical awareness of the linguistic conventions in both EGAP and ESAP settings.
Presenter(s) / Author(s)
