Using Parallel Corpora for Language Learning

A common critique of data-driven learning (DDL) and the direct use of corpora in the classroom is that many, if not most, of the corpora available today are inappropriate for language learners because the level of the language in them is too high and the language fragments presented in concordance lines confuse learners. Parallel corpora offer a potential way forward for DDL that addresses these concerns by providing L1 support to learners engaged in DDL activities. This article briefly describes what parallel corpora are and how they can ameliorate certain concerns regarding DDL.