English language teaching in a public school in Brazil: an experience of a student teacher in a state school

Abstract

This study revolves around the English practicum experience of a Brazilian student teacher in a state school of Goiás, in Brazil. The objectives of this paper are to investigate the aspects that stand out in the experience in question and the impact of it on the undergraduate’s professional life. In dialogue with studies carried out by Weiss (1999), Bernardo (2007), Andrade et al (2013), Marzari and Genhres (2015), among others, the topics addressed are: general problems concerning the teaching and learning process; specific issues that affect the work development of the collaborating teachers; the characterization of the English classes observed; and the impact of the practicum experience on the student teacher. This research is a qualitative case study, with its focus on documental analysis. As results, several aspects regarding daily difficulties and challenges faced by teachers are highlighted, from the undergraduate’s perspective, as well as consequences of their influence on the teaching and learning process of English in the state school where the study was undertaken. Besides that, it is possible to perceive that the English practicum can affect student teachers greatly, leading them to changes in the professional choices made by them.