Citizens of the 21st century: a way towards change (material didático para o ensino de inglês)

Abstract

This course conclusion work aims to present a pedagogical proposal for teaching English to students at level B2, in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The main objective is to address recurring themes together with the influence of the English language in the current global scenario, as a way of developing critical thinking and training speakers who can apply criticality through efficient and meaningful communication. This teaching material is divided into two thematic units, both based on the concepts of the communicative approach and the critical thinking approach, with references to Brown (2001), Richards and Rodgers (2014) and Mattos and Valério (2010). The first unit titled “Who are you?” discusses the topic of mental health and the impacts that people around the world can suffer from its implications. The second thematic unit called “The power of (in)justice” raises issues related to racial and social inequality faced by different people, and how this is reflected in the global community. In addition to the thematic units, this material consists of two assessments, one for each unit, and also a teaching guide for the teacher. It is hoped that this teaching proposal can enhance the capacity for more effective and, at the same time, critical communication, so that students feel prepared to be true citizens of the 21st century through the use of the English language.