English Profile (EP) is an ongoing empirical exploration of learner English initiated by Cambridge University Press and Cambridge English, among others. EP aims to create a set of empirically-based descriptions of language competencies for English. ‘Reference Level Descriptors’ already exist as part of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) but are intuitively derived and not designed for one specific language. The English Grammar Profile (EGP, www.englishprofile.org/english-grammar-profile) is a sub-project of EP which aims to profile learner competence in grammar. This paper details the rationale for the study and the methodology that was developed to investigate the Cambridge Learner Corpus to arrive at over 1,200 grammatical competence statements. Key findings which link to existing corpus-based second language acquisition work are also presented.
5.3Exemplifying the iterative process using a criteria-based methodology
6.Discussion of initial findings
6.1Lexico-grammatical development and the ceiling effect
6.2Pragmatic development
7.Conclusion
Appendices
Appendix 1.Overview of “styles” and “formats” by level, as defined by the CLC customised version of Sketch Engine
Appendix 2.Grammar items typically taught and tested in ELT syllabi
Appendix 3.ELT pedagogical grammars and courses surveyed as the basis for the list of “superordinate” categories and “subordinate” categories for investigation
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