Patterns of Google use in language reference and learning: a user survey

Abstract

Google has now established itself as a mainstream language reference tool. This paper reports findings of a survey of non-native speakers of English concerning the patterns of their use of Google as a reference tool in EFL writing, and discusses implications of these findings on user assistance in terms of user guidance and software support. In comparison with the previous surveys, this survey is unique in having been conducted in a completely non-controlled setting on respondents more representative of the target population. The survey found a strong predominance of Google over the other reference tools and of 'open search' over 'closed search'. This calls for the understanding of the Web as a new and unique reference tool rather than just a large corpus.

Language Centres, Online Authentic Materials and Learners’ Needs: Improving Autonomy and Discovery in Language Learning

“…The advanced use of Google queries outlined above is discussed in more detail by many scholars (see for instance Chinnery 2008;Conroy 2010;Eu 2017;Geiller 2014;Sha 2010;Wu et al 2009), but search engines can also be used in a more reliable and more corpus-like way by limiting the search field to some of its sections. This can sometimes be necessary, because one of the main differences between a linguistic corpus and Google's database is that we do not know anything about the latter's extension or the kind of texts it uses: this means that we cannot always trust the reliability of the results, as they may be written by non-native speakers or inaccurately.…”

Query complexity and query refinement

“…It is against this background that this chapter aims to contribute to the debate on the potential of web searching for Data-Driven Learning. In particular, building on existing literature on both the web as corpus and on so-called Google-Assisted Language Learning (Chinnery 2008;Gatto 2009 and2014;Eu 2017), as well as on recent studies more specifically focused on uses of web search in DDL (Boulton 2015), I claim that using the web as a corpus through ordinary search engines necessarily engages the learner in a process of progressive query refinement towards greater complexity, which can pave the way to a subsequent appreciation of dedicated corpus linguistics resources and tools. I discuss general issues concerning the learning styles of digital natives with a special focus on web search as a pervasive paradigm in their everyday life, before reconsidering key issues concerning the web as corpus debate and the use of web search from a corpus linguistics perspective.…”