The article highlights the importance of corpus technologies in the training of future higher education instructors within the framework of Kazakhstani education. Primary attention is paid to the introduction of the corpus-based approach into the pedagogical process for the development of subject competences in students. Tasks for studying the colour designations ‘white’ and ‘black’ were developed using the NCRL based on the principles of integrating linguistic and subject content, digital skills and interactivity for more effective use of the didactic capabilities of the corpus. As part of the corpus analysis, the context of the use of the colour designations ‘white’ and ‘black’ was identified, namely the use of metaphors and stable phrases, their semantic meaning and emotional colouring, as well as the cultural and historical origins of expressions, which made it possible to develop students' independent learning skills, as well as oral and written competence. This approach implies that there is no assistance from the educator and learning occurs using language data stored in digital format, that is, with the help of the NCRL, and the educator acts as a curator. The introduction of digital technologies into the educational process contributed to the in-depth acquisition of vocabulary, the correct use of phraseological units, the formation of scientific research skills, written and oral argumentation. Based on the results of the analysis, tasks on colour designations were developed, phraseological units and metaphors were identified, a semantic analysis was made and their emotional colouring was determined. A discussion was also held on the cultural and historical foundations of phraseological units and expressions, and it has been completed a written work on an essay writing, oral presentation and a video.