The Use of Online Corpora as Reference Resources for Revision Tasks in Writing.

The current study reports on an experiment with 60 Chinese college students, aiming to explore the effects of using online corpora BFSU CQP web for revision tasks in EFL writing. Quantitative data about the 60 lower level EFL learners’ scores in the post writing test show that there is a significant difference between the experimental group and the control group in terms of the lexical accuracy and the use of cohesion devices, which prove that corpora as reference resources are more useful than the online dictionary in helping learners improve their linguistic competence in writing. The follow-up interviews on the selected participants in the experimental group reveal different learners’ perceptions of using online corpora in the process of revising essays and the reasons behind their opinions, which can provide guidance for teachers to apply corpora effectively in teaching writing.