Internacionalização da educação superior: proposta de diagnóstico da proficiência em língua inglesa

Abstract

This study had as its starting point to diagnose the level of English Language proficiency of undergraduate and postgraduate students of the Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM), Brazil, Minas Gerais. This diagnosis is the guiding element to build a technical report about the impact of foreign language proficiency on the internationalization of higher education. This report will use two research sources, one is database of the Languages Without Borders Program that monitors the English proficiency test TOEFL ITP, and the other is mapping of institutional postgraduate programs through the Research and Post-Graduation Board of UFVJM. The first stage of data analysis will demonstrate the average level of English language proficiency of the students who took the test from 2013 to 2019, and the second analysis will show the availability of the TOEFL ITP as a proof of language proficiency for research and international academic mobility. The technical report will guide the actions promoted by the Languages Without Borders Program at UFVJM regarding the monitoring of foreign language proficiency for academic purposes, and the inclusion of TOEFL ITP in institutional postgraduate programs. The result of this study will highlight the need to expand the demand of language courses and improve the language proficiency of undergraduate and graduate students. Considering the hegemonic character of the English language in the global world, it will be possible to measure the impact of foreign language proficiency on the internationalization process of UFVJM.