Microestrutura de um dicionário de latim para alunos iniciantes

Abstract

Nowadays dictionaries began to be interdisciplinary studies objects, including Language Teaching and Learning studies. Despite this reality, in general, Classical Language Teaching keeps traditional. Consequently, Latin dictionaries reflect this context. The present work, “Latin Dictionary Microstructure for Beginner Learners”, aims to present contributions from new language teaching theories, more specifically, those that focus on the use of the dictionary as a language teaching tool (WELKER, 2004; PONTES, 2009; among others), for the teaching of Latin language (LONGO, 2006; MIOTTI, 2006; MOITA LOPES, 1996; among others). We also seek to add to the discussion issues related to the use of visual resources in such works (PETERMANN, 2006; KRESS; VAN LEEWEN, 1996), and these visual resources can make easier the learning process, if they are utilized adequately. The confluence of such contributions is converged in the form of a proposal of entry microstructure that may optimize the learning process of students who are in contact with the language for the first time, this thesis object. The proposal now defended was tested in four beginner classes in the study of Latin language of two different universities. The tests included: questions about students' knowledge in how to use dictionaries, especially the Latin language ones; questions about the grammar knowledge of this language and a translation, in which the students should to use a proposal sample; and an evaluation of the proposal by the students. The results pointed 49,2% of the individuals had no difficulties in to utilize the sample, while 30,8% had. Among the difficulties pointed by the students, 33,7% had problems due to a lack of a previous grammatical knowledge necessary to a basic comprehension of the Latin language and 8,3% had problems related to a lack of orientation and experience in how to use lexicographic work. Therefore, the information contained in the entries goes unnoticed to the inquiring neophyte. Notwithstanding these difficulties, the final results pointed an acceptance of 73,8% of the proposal by the individuals, what was recognized here as a positive result.