Language learning, identity and globalization: Learners of Brazilian Portuguese in England and learners of English and Spanish in Brazil

Lucia Rottava; Antonio Márcio da Silva

doi:10.4025/actascilangcult.v36i2.21906

Language learning, identity and globalization: Learners of Brazilian Portuguese in England and learners of English and Spanish in Brazil

Authors

Lucia Rottava Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Antonio Márcio da Silva University of Kent, Inglaterra

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4025/actascilangcult.v36i2.21906

Keywords:

perceptions, linguistic backgrounds, context, foreign language

Abstract

This article focuses on language perceptions of language learners in theUK andBrazil. Most participants in theEngland are British but there are also some from different linguistic backgrounds: Chinese, French, Hebrew, Italian, Polish and Spanish. As for the Brazilian participants, they study English or Spanish as FL. This study discusses how these learners’ identity characteristics and the reasons why they have chosen to learn the language impact on their perceptions about language learning. The Brazilian Portuguese learners’ perceptions will be compared and contrasted with those of Brazilian students learning English and Spanish inBrazil. The research data was collected primarily through an adapted version of the BALLI questionnaire answered by all learners in two contexts, complemented by an interview. The results suggest that students have different perceptions about language learning due to their distinct linguistic backgrounds, the context in which they live, their interests (both professional and personal), and their opportunities to interact, among other reasons for choosing to learn each language.

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Author Biographies

Lucia Rottava, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Professora do Departamento de Letras Cássicas e Vernáculas do Instituto de Letras da UFRGS
Antonio Márcio da Silva, University of Kent, Inglaterra

Lecturer in the Department of Hispanic Studies at the University of Kent, England
Department of Hispanic Studies
School of European Culture and Languages
Cornwallis Building
University of Kent
Kent
CT2 7NF

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Published

2014-05-06

Issue

Vol. 36 No. 2 (2014)

Section

Linguistics

License

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How to Cite

Rottava, L., & Silva, A. M. da. (2014). Language learning, identity and globalization: Learners of Brazilian Portuguese in England and learners of English and Spanish in Brazil. Acta Scientiarum. Language and Culture, 36(2), 171-181. https://doi.org/10.4025/actascilangcult.v36i2.21906