A aprendizagem de inglês mediada por jogos eletrônicos do tipo MMORPG

Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) are role-playing games that, through the Internet, can integrate thousands of players interacting at the same time in at least one virtual world. This way, these games can provide, further than fun, a greater familiarity with the additional language and opportunity to improve the linguistic proficiency in a real context. Hence, what is proposed in this study is extended knowledge about the learning of an additional language mediated by MMORPGs for teachers to know how, if relevant, to present, use or encourage this practice to their students. Based on this major purpose, we seek to answer the following research questions: (a) what distinguishes the learning profile of the gamers and non-gamers; (b) if MMORPGs can, through a hybrid and systematic approach, assist the development of proficiency of the additional language and (c) what the think-aloud protocols show about the learning mediated by the MMORPG Allods Online. Following an experimental method (NUNAN, 1997), 16 students of the curricular component Reading and Writing Practices in English Language have comprised the control group and 17 students of the same class formed the experimental group and were submitted to a pre and post-test adapted from the Key English Test (KET) by the Cambridge University (2008). The tests were conducted before and after a period of 5 weeks of 3 hours of practice with Allods Online a week (experimental group), and classes of the curricular component (both groups). A quantitative analysis of the questionnaires about the exposure to English profiles of the participants, a quantitative analysis of the tests scores and a qualitative analysis of the thinkaloud protocols collected during the experiment were conducted based on the theories of (a) motivation (GARDNER, 1985, WILLIAMS & BURDEN, 1997, BROWN, 2007, HERCULANO-HOUZEL, 2005); (b) active learning (GASS, 1997, GEE, 2008, MATTAR, 2010); (c) interaction and collaborative learning (KRASHEN, 1991, GASS, 1997, VYGOTSKY, 1978); (d) situated learning (DAMASIO, 1994; 1999; 2003, BROWN, 2007, GEE, 2003) and (e), tangential learning (PORTNOW, 2008; MATTAR, 2010). The results indicate that the participants of the experimental group (gamers) seem to be more engaged in tangential English learning activities, such as playing games, listening to music in English, communicating with foreigners and reading in English. We also deduced that the period of experiment possibly generated positive results on the gamers proficiency scores, mainly in the parts related to orthographic development, reading and comprehension, writing with focus on content and orthographic accuracy. Lastly, the think-aloud protocols presented evidences that the gamers have engaged in active English language learning, they have interacted in English with other players, and learned linguistic aspects through the experience with the MMORPG Allods Online

O papel da atividade lúdica como motivadora da aprendizagem da língua inglesa: análise de um livro didático

This work aims at analyzing the activities presented in the book On Stage for junior high school students, which was selected by IFRN, as well as checking out the students interest for play activities. We have come from the point that playing activities can contribute to the increasing of motivation for the teaching of English (BROUGERE, 1999; WRIGHT, BETTERIDGE, BUCKBY, 2006; LANGRAN e PURCELL, 1994). At first place, our research is a document analysis and in second place, it is an action research. We have proposed two questionnaires for the participants of this work, all of them are High school students at IFRN-Campus Zona Norte, in order to check out their interests and the degree of motivation for the English learning before and after the carrying out of play activities. The obtained data also showed that the students became more motivated and interested in the classes after working with play activities, and most of the students agreed with the inclusion of these activities in the selected course book. The result of our work proved the benefits of play activities according to researches available in the literature about this subject. From the results acquired in the present work, we suggest that play activities should be included in English course books, even when they are addressed to High School teaching in order to help increasing the motivation for the learning of a foreign language

O impacto das tarefas de aprendizagem mediadas pela lousa digital interativa na motivação situacional de aprendizes de inglês

Some authors have suggested that learning tasks conducted in L2 classes can motivate learners in different ways. Similarly, Interactive Whiteboards (IWB) have already been linked as drivers to engagement and enthusiasm in L2 classes, which may cause some impact on affective variables that influence learning (e.g. motivation). This crosssectional mixed-methods study aims to understand how situational motivation caused by learning tasks mediated by the IWB impact participants. We seek to answer the following research questions: (1) How does motivation as a personality trait of the learner relate to his/her additional language learning performance?, (2) How does the type of learning task mediated by the IWB impact the learner s motivation?, (3) How does motivation vary along the learning task mediated by the IWB? and (4) What is the relation between the learning task motivation and the learners perception about the task mediated by the IWB? Data collection lasted four months with 29 learners from a private language school. The instruments used were the following: (a) an initial questionnaire (adapted from the Attitudes/Motivation Test Battery by GARDNER, 2004), (b) situation-specific on-line scales to assess learners motivation in three moments: before, during and after the task, and analyze how motivation varies along the task; (c) class observations and field notes resulting from these observations, (d) participants end-of-course grades to understand the connection between academic success and their motivational profiles and (e) a final questionnaire with the qualitative purpose to know learners perceptions about the tasks mediated by the IWB. Our theoretical framework is based on Task-Based Learning and cognitive aspects present in tasks (WILLIS, 1996; SKEHAN, 1996), theories on motivation and second language learning (GARDNER, 2001; DÖRNYEI e OTTÓ, 1998; DÖRNYEI, 2000; 2002) and conceptions about L2 learning mediated by technology (GIBSON, 2001; OLIVEIRA, 2001; MILLER et al, 2005). Our results do not point out to a significative correlation between learners end-of-course grades and their motivational profiles. However, they indicate that there is some variability in situational motivation along the tasks, even among learning tasks from the same type. Furthermore, they show that learners report different perceptions for each learning task and that the impact of the IWB on participants did not have a large proportion

Motivação na aprendizagem de inglês como língua estrangeira mediada pelo uso da internet

Pós-graduação em Estudos Linguísticos - IBILCE

Ensino de inglês para crianças: uma proposta construtivista

Pós-graduação em Psicologia - FCLAS

O uso da língua materna nas aulas de língua estrangeira: estado de arte e propostas

Este trabalho visa analisar o uso da língua materna nas aulas de língua estrangeira. Para isso, primeiramente, aponta-se o espaço ocupado pela língua materna nas diversas metodologias de ensino-aprendizagem de línguas, levantam-se as causas de exclusão da LM e as razões para sua inclusão nas aulas de língua estrangeira e finalmente propõe-se uma categorização das funções que a LM pode exercer no contexto de ensino-aprendizagem de LE. Uma pesquisa de campo envolvendo três instituições de ensino de língua inglesa no Pará foi realizada para se observar concretamente se a LM, de fato se manifesta nesse contexto e, caso positivo, com que freqüência ela ocorre; que funções a LM exerce; quais as funções predominantes, para então avaliar se o seu uso favorece ou não o ensino-aprendizagem de LE.

Buscando significações na aprendizagem de inglês no ensino médio: uma experiência de fomento de autonomia

Apresenta resultados de uma pesquisa investigativa realizada no campo do ensino e aprendizagem de línguas buscando desenvolver a autonomia do aluno referente à aquisição do conhecimento de língua inglesa em uma escola rural. Este trabalho derivou da necessidade de tornar significativa a aprendizagem de inglês levando em consideração também a motivação como um elemento importante na construção desse conhecimento. Do ponto de vista teórico foram relevantes as contribuições de e Harmer (2001), Brown e Jacob (apud WILLIAN et al, 2004) sobre motivação; Holec (apud PAIVA, 2005), Little (1991), Dickinson (1994) Benson (2001) e Paiva (2007) no que se refere à autonomia no ensino e aprendizagem de línguas. Do ponto de vista metodológico, as contribuições de Hadley (2004) e Viana (2007) foram importantes para o direcionamento dos procedimentos de constituição dos dados à luz dos estudos da pesquisa-ação. Este trabalho foi realizado por mim enquanto professora e pesquisadora, coletando os dados em minha sala de aula com uma turma de Ensino Médio composta por vinte e oito alunos do primeiro ano do turno da noite em uma escola pública na cidade de São Francisco do Pará. A análise dos dados permitiu afirmar que uma aprendizagem significativa deve partir de situações que envolvam os alunos em condições de uso da língua. Ele também mostrou que situação de uso da língua em contexto real faz a aprendizagem ter mais sentido para os alunos ao mesmo tempo em que adotam autonomia. A atividade que conduziu este estudo foi chamada de foi Posters' show cujo objetivo desenvolver nos alunos comportamentos diferenciados em relação à aprendizagem. Pois, em se tratando de autonomia, a vivência dos alunos, a experiência, e a responsabilidade na situação de aprendizagem são mais importantes do que o domínio das regras gramaticais ou mesmo do conteúdo programático anual destinado à cada etapa de ensino. A análise dos dados permitiu afirmar que o trabalho obteve resultados positivos, pois ocorreram mudanças nos alunos acerca da própria aprendizagem, evidenciando que é possível construir atitudes autônomas se forem dadas condições apropriadas aos alunos.

Traçando um perfil de usuários de dicionários- estudantes de letras com habilitação em língua inglesa: um novo olhar sobre dicionários para aprendizes e a formação de um usuário autônomo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo semiótico sobre a verbovisualidade em manuais de língua inglesa

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

A autonomia no contexto Teletandem institucinal integrado

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A interação na sala de aula de língua estrangeira

The world we have been living in has adopted competition as the way for surviving in it, especially due to the capitalism and consumer habits. In this research speaking English is considered one of these differentiations, i.e., distinguishing individuals a unique people. In addition, it is expected that by using this language, among other things, people could have access to: education, a better job and a higher quality of life. However, the process of learning a foreign language is very complex caused by many features that are involved in it, e.g. the impossibility to dissociate language, culture and society. Moreover, it was contemplated if from this language learning, it would be possible to build social and ideological relations as well as personal identities. The most applicable conclusion of this research is the requisite of making students aware of the process for an effective foreign language learning. As a consequence, the context and social, cultural, and ideological characteristics that are part of the mother tongue society must be taken into consideration in the same way as the foreign language society.

Non-verbal markers of modality and evidentiality in MarENG

[EN] This article examines a variety of options for expressing speaker and writer stance in a subcorpus of MarENG, a maritime English learning tool sponsored by the EU (35,041 words). Non-verbal markers related to key areas of modal expression are presented; (1)epistemic adverbs and adverbial expressions, (2) epistemic adjectives, (3) deontic adjectives, (4) evidential adverbs, (5) evidential adjectives, (6) evidential interpersonal markers, and (7) single adverbials conveying the speaker’s attitudes, feelings or value judgments. The overall aim is to present an overview of how these non-verbal markers operate in this LSP genre.

Uso de textos musicales (canciones) en la enseñanza del inglés

[ES]El presente artículo de investigación tiene como objetivo principal evaluar cómo el uso de los textos musicales –canciones, como popularmente se conocen– influye en el aprendizaje del inglés como lengua extranjera. Una investigación llevada a cabo con estudiantes de una clase de 2º de ESO nos ha servido para confirmar las hipótesis que en un principio teníamos en lo concerniente a la adquisición de las ocho competencias básicas mediante tareas en las clases de lengua inglesa. Así, el diseño de rúbricas con unos criterios e instrumentos de evaluación específicos nos ha permitido evaluar el grado de adquisición de competencias básicas concretas. [EN]This paper focuses on the impact that the use of music texts –commonly referred to with the term ‘songs’– has on students in teaching English as a foreign language. Through a survey carried out with students of a 2nd year class of Spanish Secondary Education, our initial assumptions in terms of acquisition of key competences in English learning were validated. in acquiring specific key competences by using tasks, rubrics –consisting of detailed assessment criteria and tools– were designed and implemented as the assessment method in order for students to successfully attain specific learning objectives.

Normalização de dispositivos móveis no processo de aprendizagem de inglês : um estudo à luz da complexidade

We live in a world inherently influenced by technology and in which education is immersed in realities made possible by the support of digital technologies, such as electronic mobile devices. Thus, the general aim of this study lies in mapping and analysing the influence of mobile devices on teaching, especially with reference to learning the English language. The specific aims are to investigate how the use of mobile devices is present in the research participants’ practices, consider whether such use is beneficial, according to the students, to the English language learning as well as mapping how the use of mobile devices favours the normalisation stage, taken in this research as a complex process.The theoretical background of this study includes the premises of the Paradigm of Complexity, especially concerning the acquisition of a second language, as well as the precepts of Normalisation, which is related to the total integration of digital technologies into the English teaching and learning process in such a way that they become invisible, and the theories of language learning mediated by computers and mobile devices. Methodologically, this is an ethnographic qualitative research and its context is a language institute located in the Triângulo Mineiro region. In addition to students from five groups in the institution, two teachers and an administrative assistant participated in the survey. Data was collected through an online questionnaire, learning reports produced by students and interviews with teachers and administrative staff. The analyses indicate that mobile devices are present in the daily practices of English learners, but these uses, in most cases, are carried out through the teacher's encouragement. Moreover, despite having positive sayings on the role of digital technologies in the process of English teaching and learning, there is, among students and teachers, a dichotomy between saying and doing about the learning contexts considered valid. Additionally, the use of mobile devices in the English learning process is not yet established as a normalised issue because the process of integration of technology in teaching is still ruled by traditional uses of the technology. I conclude that the use of mobile devices in the English learning process is still not normalised, because even if students use their mobile devices every day, they generally do not realize the affordances of such use as possibilities to learn English.