Tarefas geradoras de insumo e qualidade interativa na construção do processo de aprender LE em contexto inicial adverso

Abstract

This research aims at investigating the process of acquiring a foreign language (English) by students from beginner levels from a course of Letters, in a rather difficult context. This process was created based in a thematic syllabus with a main focus on the meaning and based on communicative tasks. A teaching material was elaborated about a short sketch of the history ofBritain. An experimental course was carried out during the first semester of 2003 with 40 hours/lessons in a private college in an evening course. The theoretical framework of this research is based on Cazden's (1992) and Ellis's (1996) studies about classroom interaction, Ellis's (1996) studies about second language acquisition and Prabhu's (1987) and Skehan's (1992) studies about the features and potential of tasks. The present research, characterized as qualitative research, was based on the principles of the classroom etnography. The interactions were tape recorded, transcribed and analysed. A questionnaire, tape recorded interviews and dialogued diaries were used as well. The results suggest that the use of a thematic syllabus as the one used in this research and which originated a coursebook and lessons metodologically more thematic and providing, in a short period of time, a development of the linguistic-communicative competence even in a such difficult context, when we could expect very little. In addition, we observed that more oportunities of interaction were created, being these interactions more meaningful and relevant for the students and having the meaning instead of the form as focus.Moreover, the data suggested that the use of such syllabus contributed for a positive configuration of the students's afective filter.xv SUMÁRIO CAPÍTULO I .