Kyria Rebeca Finardi

TECNOLOGIA NA EDUCAÇÃO: O CASO DA INTERNET E DO INGLÊS COMO LINGUAGENS DE INCLUSÃO

O presente artigo propoe uma reflexao critica sobre o papel da tecnologia e do ingles como lingua internacional na educacao e inclusao social analisando possibilidades de ferramentas tecnologicas educacionais existentes no mercado atual para a democratizacao da educacao em geral e para o acesso a informacao e o ensino e aprendizado de ingles especificamente. Para tanto, o estudo faz uma breve revisao de literatura sobre conceitos de aprender e ensinar em geral e no âmbito do ingles como lingua estrangeira a fim de analisar possibilidades de metodologias hibridas de ensino para o aprendizado de lingua estrangeira e algumas ferramentas tecnologicas da internet.

Working memory capacity and speech production in L2: evidences from a picture description task

This is an experimental study which aimed at investigating theralationsship between working memory capacity and measuresof L2 speech performance in a picture description task. The mainassumption underlying the present study was that L2 speaking isa complex cognitive task which is carried out within theconstraints of a limited-capacity system, namely, working memory.In this system, there are trade-off effects between the storage andprocessing functions of working memory just as in L2 speakingthere are trade-off effects among fluency, accuracy and complexitywhen L2 learners perform under processing pressure.

English distance learning: possibilities and limitations of MEO for the Flipped Classroom

The study investigates possibilities and limitations of the course My English Online (MEO) for the inverted classroom format. Two hundred and eighty-nine Brazilian federal university students evaluated MEO software in terms of usability features. Three participants were interviewed for data triangulation. Results of the study suggest that users with more experience are more sensitive to aspects of human-computer interaction than less experienced ones, particularly when the criteria of Flexibility, User Experience, Informational Density and Feedback are considered. In addition, findings also show that the speaking and writing skills are the most difficult to develop in MEO course. The study concludes that, in order to overcome limitations in MEO, especially in terms of the Feedback criterion, the software can and should be used in the flipped classroom format.

La adquisición de una estructura sintáctica en el habla del L2: el papel de la capacidad de memoria operativa

En este estudio se analiza si la capacidad de memoria operativa esta relacionada con la adquisicion de una estructura sintactica en el habla del L2. Partiendo de la Teoria del Procesamiento de Informacion, el habla en L2 es vista como una habilidad compleja que requiere procesos automaticos y controlados para su ejecucion. Los procesos controlados necesitan una atencion que en la memoria operacional es limitada. La produccion y adquisicion del habla en L2 es explicada a traves de la operacion de un sistema cognitivo doble, compuesto por un codigo basado en la regla y otro basado en la memoria. La memoria operacional esta involucrada en la ejecucion de los procesos controlados que operan en el sistema basado en la regla y que, por su parte, son parcialmente responsables de la adquisicion de una estructura sintactica en el habla del L2. En terminos generales, los resultados de la investigacion muestran que la capacidad de la memoria operacional esta relacionada con la adquisicion de una estructura sintactica en el habla del L2. Un aporte linguistico del procesamiento en L2 tambien es utilizado para complementar y explicar la adquisicion de esa estructura sintactica, con lo que se lleva a cabo una discusion de los datos desde una perspectiva de la complejidad linguistica y psicolinguistica de la estructura investigada. La discusion tambien abarca el procesamiento de la forma versus el procesamiento del significado, la adquisicion de una estructura por el sistema basado en la regla, variaciones linguisticas en L1 y L2 y, finalmente, las limitantes de la produccion del habla en L2.

Working memory capacity in the production and acquisition of a syntactic rule in L2 speech

Este estudo investiga se ha relacao entre a capacidade de memoria de trabalho e a aquisicao de uma estrutura sintatica na fala em L2. A Teoria do Processamento da Informacao orienta a pesquisa, a medida que se pressupoe a existencia de um sistema cognitivo de codigo duplo, constituido de um sistema baseado em regras e outro baseado na memoria (SKEHAN, 1998), os quais sao responsaveis pela analise e pela sintese da linguagem, respectivamente. A aquisicao da L2 tambem e discutida no que diz respeito ao processamento de input para o significado e para a forma. Os resultados indicam que a capacidade da memoria de trabalho esta relacionada com a producao e a aquisicao de uma estrutura sintatica na fala da L2, mas esse relacionamento e mais forte na aquisicao.This study investigates the extent to which working memory capacity is related to the production and acquisition of a syntactic structure of L2 speech. Information Processing Theory guides the research, as the authors assume the operation of a dual code cognitive system made up of a rule-based and a memory-based system (SKEHAN, 1998) responsible for analyzing and synthesizing language, respectively. L2 acquisition is also discussed in terms of processing input for meaning and form. Overall results show that working memory capacity is related to the production and acquisition of a syntactic structure in L2 speech, but this relationship is stronger for acquisition.

Análise de um Software Educacional para aprendizagem de línguas: interpretação do ponto de vista da modificabilidade cognitiva estrutural e da interação Homem-computador

The aim of the study is to analyze a software for teaching English as a foreign language reporting (i) the interaction between the software and the learner; (ii) the cognitive/mental operations required to perform the tasks in software and (iii) the pedagogical strategies implemented by the software. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) aspects of the software were also analyzed so as to evaluate its degree of interactiveness and usability (Ergolist, 2011). Results of the study suggest that the software is content-oriented and the ergonomic analysis revealed that the didactic resources applied by the software meet most usability criteria, requiring few modifications.

Washback Effects of the Science Without Borders, English Without Borders and Language Without Borders Programs in Brazilian Language Policies and Rights

The paper reviews language policies and rights in Brazil discussing the washback effect of the government funded internationalization programs Science without Borders (SwB), English without Borders (EwB) and Language without Borders (LwB) in them. According to Archanjo, the SwB is the most expensive investment ever made in Brazil for international mobility in higher education for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.) areas and according to Finardi, the LwB investment in its offshoot English without Borders (EwB) program is both a consequence of the SwB and proof of the status of English in relation to other languages in that country. These authors also suggest that the SwB and LwB/EwB programs have also promoted and influenced language policies and rights in Brazil and that multilingualism is yet to be equally addressed in those programs. The paper describes the contemporary linguistic and political landscape in Brazil before addressing the washback effects of the SwB, EwB and LwB programs in that country and which are related mainly to the promotion of language policies and rights in Brazil.

Working memory capacity across L2 speech proficiency levels

This study investigates whether working memory capacity (WMC) varies across languages and in the course of L2 speech proficiency levels. Following suggestions in Finardi and Weissheimer (2009) and Prebianca (2010), who found that WMC varied as a function of L2 speech proficiency, the present study assessed three proficiency levels (elementary, intermediate and advanced) and two languages (L1-Portuguese and L2-English). Two WM tests were used, one in the L1 and another in the L2, both in the speaking mode. Sixty adult learners of English as a foreign language participated in the study: 19 elementary, 19 intermediate and 22 advanced learners. Results of Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests corroborate Finardi and Weissheimer (2009) and Prebianca (2010) suggesting that WMC measured with a speaking span test in L2 seems to conflate the relationship between speech proficiency levels and WMC.

Working memory capacity and L2 speech production in a picture description task with repetition

O estudo investiga a relacao entre a capacidade de memoria de trabalho e os ganhos na producao oral em L2 durante uma tarefa de descricao de figura com repeticao. Partindo de Fortkamp (2000) que encontrou correlacoes entre a capacidade de memoria de trabalho e medidas de producao oral em L2 e Bygate (2001b) que mostrou que na repeticao de tarefas os participantes ganham em complexidade de fala em detrimento, principalmente da acuracia e da fluencia, este estudo propoe que pode haver correlacoes entre os ganhos na complexidade da fala em L2 e a capacidade de memoria de trabalho. Resultados do experimento mostram ganhos na complexidade da fala em L2, mas os mesmos nao correlacionam com a capacidade de memoria de trabalho. A falta de correlacoes e explicada em razao do pequeno numero de participantes que nao permitiu variacao na capacidade de memoria de trabalho.