This article provides a historical overview of the evolution of learner corpus research (LCR) in Japan, tracing its development from its inception to recent advances in the 2020s. Initially centered on smallscale corpora, primarily in English, the field grew substantially in the 2000s with the emergence of large, systematically compiled corpora, including the NICT Japanese Learner English (JLE) Corpus and the Japanese EFL Learner Corpus (JEFLL). The 2010s brought further diversification through multinational and multilingual corpora, such as the International Corpus Network of Asian Learners of English (ICNALE), and extensive learner corpora for Japanese as a second language, including the International Corpus of Japanese as a Second Language (I-JAS). Methodologically, this period was characterized by greater use of standardized proficiency scales, the incorporation of large-scale data from online sources, and closer integration with second language acquisition (SLA) theories. Japanese LCR continues to mature through longitudinal data and increased attention to underrepresented learner groups and language pairs. More recently, the convergence of learner corpora with generative AI-based tools for annotation, feedback, and assessment has opened a new phase in the field. This article examines how these emerging practices are taking shape in Japan and considers their implications for learner corpus research and corpus-informed language education.
Abstract 일문 요약 Introduction Early Developments (1980s–1990s) From Error Counts to Corpus Thinking Positioning Japan in the Global Field Expansion and Large-Scale Projects in the 2000s The NICT Japanese Learner English (JLE) Corpus The Japanese EFL Learner Corpus (JEFLL) Consolidation of Corpus-Based EFL Research Diversification and Internationalization in the 2010s ICNALE: A Pan‑Asian Learner English Corpus Corpora for Japanese as a Second Language: I-JAS and C-JAS Web-Derived “Big Data”: NAIST Lang‑8 and Error Correction Corpora Longitudinal and Speaking‑Focused Learner Corpora in the 2020s LOCSE: A Longitudinal Spoken Learner Corpus of Japanese EFL Learners Generative AI and the Evolving Learner Corpus Ecosystem in Japan Conclusion and Future Directions The Author References
키워드
Learner corpus researchJapangenerative AIsecond language acquisitioncorpus informed language education
The goals of Asia TEFL are to promote scholarship, disseminate information, and facilitate cross-cultural understanding among persons concerned with the teaching and learning of English in Asia. In order to accomplish this, Asia TEFL will pursue the following goals:
1. To link ELT professionals in joint research on issues and concerns regarding English teaching and learning in the Asian context.
2. To publish an academic journal, The Asia TEFL Journal, as an internationally recognized journal in the field of English language teaching.
3. To host conferences and seminars addressing important issues concerning ELT in Asia.
4. To develop proficiency guidelines and assessment methods designed for the needs of the Asian context.
5. To develop programs for Asian learners and teachers of English to build their English language proficiency and cultural understanding and provide them with the skills required to be efficient English teaching professionals.
간행물
간행물명
The Journal of AsiaTEFL
간기
계간
pISSN
1738-3102
eISSN
2466-1511
수록기간
2004~2026
등재여부
SCOPUS,KCI 등재
십진분류
KDC 740DDC 420
이 권호 내 다른 논문 / The Journal of AsiaTEFL Vol.23 No.2