Classifying intermediate Learner English: a data driven approach to learner corpora

Abstract

We demonstrate how data-driven approaches to learner corpora can support Second Language Acquisition research when integrated with visualisation tools. We present a visual interface supporting the investigation of a set of automatically determined features discriminating between pass and fail FCE exam scripts provided by Briscoe et.al. (2010) 1. We illustrate how the interface can support the investigation of individual features. Analysis of the most discriminative features indicates that development of grammatical categories allowing reference to complex events and referents and discourse relations is a crucial property of the upper intermediate level