Percepções de aprendizes da primeira serie do ensino médio sobre a integração da internet à sala de aula de Inglês: um estudo de caso

Abstract

This case study focused on a group of 16 Brazilian beginner students of English, studying at CEFET-MG. The project aims to integrate CALL into EFL teaching and learning curriculum in order to investigate how students feel about the use of Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) in their classroom. Students' perceptions through a number of Internet-based activities were closely monitored during the five-month period of the data collecting. The research addressed the use of e-mail, writing web pages and the use of World Wide Web as a starting point of EFL writing classes. In my dissertation I reflect on my own experience as a foreign English teacher and discuss specific details about how the integration of CMC in the conventional language teaching environment has worked to develop students motivation and autonomy towards language learning. This discussion is based on the data collectedfrom students' journals, teacher's field notes, previous and final questionnaires, a placement test and notes taken by an observer teacher. It is expected that this discussion can help to promote a shift in the teacher centered culture of teaching towards a more interactive and formative process which would support this innovative teaching and learning environment. Although integrative CALL may increase student satisfaction and maximize their English ability, I argue that before institutions attempt to throw money at computerizing their students' learning environment, they need to create the right pre-conditions in their professional practices.