EDUCAÇÃO DE JOVENS E ADULTOS E O ENSINO DE LÍNGUA ESTRANGEIRA: UM ESTUDO DOCUMENTAL À LUZ DAS POLÍTICAS LINGUÍSTICAS

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to investigate the approach of language policies in documents that guide the teaching of a foreign language in the Education of Youth and Adults (EJA, in Portuguese), focusing on the main aspects that characterize the implementation of this subject in the curriculum, as well as the relevance of the teaching and learning process of students in this modality of teaching. In addition to the bibliographic survey, a study was carried out regarding the documents that guide the teaching and learning process of foreign language in the EJA, such as: ONCs (2006), PCNs (1998), DCEs – LEM (2008), DCE’s – EJA (2006), DCN’s (2000), Instruction nº 004/2010 and Instruction nº 019/2008 – which bring guidelines for the implementation of this subject in the curriculum in institutions of the state education system that provide EJA teaching, in addition to the reading of the PPPs of the main centers that help EJA in the city of Ponta Grossa, PR, which is the focus of our study. Therefore, our research was qualitative (BORTONI-RICARDO, 2008; LÜDKE and ANDRÉ, 1998), with documental analysis (MEDEIROS, 2014; SILVA, 2009). The theoretical background comprised studies regarding language policies: Altenhofen (2013), Calvet (2007), Correa (2014), Kramsch (2014), Oliveira (2007a; 2009a; 2009b), Pinto (2010; 2014), and Rajagopalan (2003; 2014), among other investigations directed to the connections that involve the insertion and relevance of a foreign language into the basic education curriculum, more specifically in the EJA modality. Through document analysis, it was possible to observe, among other aspects that were investigated, that the role of language policies in the process of choice and insertion of a foreign language into EJA begins with the in vitro management, when the documents determine the implementation and its process, and is resolved with the in vivo management, deciding which language is implemented in the curriculum. However, what is determined by the in vitro management is not always followed by the in vivo procedures; in other words, our study pointed out the existing requirement in written law, but in practice some of its aspects are not always provided. The results also show that, on the one hand, language can be an important instrument for the access to information, other cultures, and social groups, which should mean that learning a foreign language can (and must) provide EJA students with a wider world perspective, contributing to the (re)construction of the identity of learners that go through the process of acquiring a foreign language. On the other hand, it can also be an instrument of control and domination. Therefore, we reaffirm that it is very important to better comprehend the history and processes of inserting the foreign language into the curriculum, notably the EJA and its aspects, as well as the relevance of the study and learning of this subject for the young and adult students.