O uso de ferramentas da internet para auxiliar adultos na aprendizagem de inglês como língua estrangeira

Abstract

Interest in the use of technology in language classrooms has grown considerably. In the field of language education, in particular, several studies on the use of technological tools to enhance foreign language learning have already been conducted. The main objective of this research is to analyze whether technology can bring better learning results when it is used to help adult pupils over forty years of age learn a new language. The main research question asked in this study is: what effect does the use of internet technologies have on the learning process of a foreign language for students who are over forty? The central hypothesis of this study reflects the main curiosity of the researcher in analyzing comparatively the performance of two groups of adult students that studied English with the same teacher, used the same books, and experienced same content: Group 1, who was exposed to internet technology in language learning, and Group 2, who used readers (story books) for the same goal. For this purpose, this work is theoretically based on: (1) studies of E-learning (EAD), (2)socio-constructivist activities, which are supported by Vygotsky s learning and development theories, especially as regards the learning process and the pupil s and teacher s role on the net, and (3) the concept of Communicative Approach in language learning. Five months of classroom lessons were involved in this research, at a private English school in Recife. The participants included in this project were the researcher, the teacher and 20 students, divided into two groups. The analysis provided relevant information that will help the teacher s work with adult pupils learning a new language. The results of this research suggest a strong relationship between motivation and learning. They have also revealed that, despite the short period of exposure to the new language, the pupils have been able to benefit from the process of language learning with the aid of the Internet, especially their oral development. The results also suggest that the use of technological resources can offer several benefits to adult students throughout the process of learning a foreign language. By using such tools as: educational chats, educational e-mails, learning tasks on language education websites, and virtual interviews with guests through the Skype, this study brings authenticity to the classroom, more extensive exposure to the language and increased motivation, in order to benefit the adult student in the pedagogical, technological, and psychological dimensions when acquiring and learning a new language