Speaking club : um estudo de caso sobre um ambiente de aprendizagem colaborativa de produção oral em língua inglesa

Abstract

Oral production is very important in the learning process of a FL, although it is treated by many as a challenge (GOH; BURNS, 2012). As a result, this linguistic skill has become a research topic in studies regarding theoral production performance and the teaching of the oral skill in FLs in the field of applied linguistics (BERGSLEITHNER, 2011). The objective of this research was to analyze interactional and communicative aspects in the learning process promoted by the Speaking Club, by means of the monitoring of its sessions, intended to characterize the nature of the interactions taken place in this environment. We also sought to investigate communication strategies and the most used tools by the attendees in order to better comprehend the environment and what it represents for its participants. A qualitative case study was carried out, according to concepts by Lüdkeand Andrew (1986), Watson- Gegeo (1998) and Rees and Mello (2011). The data of this study were collected at IFG- Goiânia, from August to November 2014, with the participation of the seven most assiduous members. The sessions were recorded on video and two questionnaires were answered by the participants, who were also interviewed at the end of the semester. This research investigated and analyzed the nature of the relationships experienced by the participants, through the interactions and mediations, based on researchers who have relied on using the sociocultural theory as theoretical basis (VYGOTSKY, 1998; FIGUEIREDO, 2006; MASETTO, 2012). The instruments description and the detailed analysis of the most used communication strategies are supported in Dörnyei and Scott (1997), Figueredo (2001), Kensky (2005) and Oliveira( 2012). The participants perceptions about theS king club , through excerpts and reports, indicate that oral production from environments such as the Speaking Club can be something pleasant, as the moments of collaboration and information exchange represent a path to be walked together. The data reveal that in addition to explaining what the Speaking Club is, these participants can realize and point out that there is involvement in it, there is collaboration, there is language produced naturally, there is alive and creative language. This study is a humanistic, interactional and collaborative learning proposal, which are essential factors for the expansion of knowledge and the effective use of English (SABOTA, 2002; FIGUEIREDO, 2006). Data analysis confirms the importance of collaboration in the teaching and learning process of English, since this is a process that can lead the apprentice to ways that make him/her more autonomous.