O ensino de língua inglesa via internet e a autonomia do aluno

Abstract

Public and private institutions as well as graduate and undergraduate programs are taking advantage of innovative technology to offer courses on line. In response to the increasing use in classrooms the general objectives of this research are to verify the contributions of this new technology to the learning process mentioned by learners as well as to identify the opinions of students studying English mediated through the Internet. The specific objective is to analyze how learners deal with autonomy in the process of using the Internet. The methodology used in the study was a qualitative case study of an extension course offered by a Public University in the State of Minas Gerais. Data were collected using on line diaries, field notes of the researcher and two questionnaires administered among the five participants. The data were then cross-checked to assure validity. Results suggested that most of the learners were able to deal with autonomy in the context of learning English mediated Internet and most of them appreciated the experience of dealing with it. This new form of technology, in fact, contributed to a positive attitude toward learning English in addition to providing opportunities to expand vocabulary and learn to use the Internet effectively.