A influência do aconselhamento linguageiro na trajetória de uma aluna de letras - inglês

Abstract

Learning foreign languages (FL) implies the interconnection of several factors that contribute directly or indirectly in the process. However, studies on learning resent the lack of a holistic view, which can provide a more complete understanding of the trajectory of the students. Advising is a form of learning support that consists of meetings between the counselor and the student, usually individually (REINDERS, 2008). The counselor works with the student as a facilitator, mentor, adviser, helper, support staff and consultant (MOZZON-MCPHERSON, 2001). This dissertation aims at advancing the study on language advising and its contribution in the process of learning a foreign language. The purpose is to observe how advising interferes in the formation of a student of Letters, English, at UFPA. Through predominantly a qualitative approach, this case study follows a single subject, a language student of English, for two academic years. Data were collected through participant observation - advising - and includes testimonials, stories, interviews and reports. The material collected was analyzed according to the precepts of Complexity Theory (CT), which according to Vasconcelos (2002) is presented as a new paradigm and goes beyond the Newtonian model. CT accounts for the stability of phenomena at the same time that it recognizes that they may be unstable; in addition, it takes into account the inter-subjectivity between phenomena. This leads to a better understanding of the processes of identity and motivational (trans)formation in learning a foreign language. Larsen-Freeman and Cameron (2008) consider that the CT content is seen as part of the system and not merely as its background. Data analyses showed us that advising contributed to the formation of the student; it could also perturb her learning trajectory and develop the student’s autonomy.