Objective: Our qualitative study investigated the integration of corpus linguistics in English education research among Vietnamese scholars, focusing on the experiences and perceptions across different career stages.

Methods: Employing semi-structured interviews, we engaged nine linguistics scholars, including novices as well as those at mid-career and near-end career stages, from two prominent Vietnamese institutions.

Results: Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: (1) challenges in incorporating corpus linguistics into teaching practices, (2) perceived benefits in enhancing language proficiency, and (3) the importance of institutional support for corpus linguistics research. The findings indicated that despite recognizing the pedagogical benefits of corpus linguistics, scholars across all career stages face significant challenges in its practical application, mainly due to a mismatch between traditional teaching methods and innovative corpus approaches. Our study highlighted the universal acknowledgment of the effectiveness of corpus linguistics in fostering students’ understanding of real-world language usage, suggesting potential for curriculum enhancement. However, the effectiveness of its integration was contingent on substantial institutional support, especially for novice researchers who require more resources and training.

Conclusions and Implications: Our research contributed to the understanding of how corpus linguistics is being adopted in non-native English-speaking contexts, particularly in Vietnam. It underscored the need for professional development and institutional support to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. Our study’s implications extended to similar educational settings, offering guidance for integrating innovative methodologies into language education.