Estratégias de aprendizagem de anglês como língua estrangeira em EaD

Abstract

The main goal of this dissertation is to study the learning strategies used by distance learners of English as a Foreign Language in virtual environments. The study is based on Oxford‘s (1990) concept of strategies as steps taken by the learner to improve his/her own learning. The strategies are divided into two groups – direct and indirect strategies, and each group is divided into sub groups: memory, compensation, cognitive, metacognitive, affective and social strategies. In order to identify the different profiles of users of learning strategies, the translated version (PAIVA, 1998) of the Strategy Inventory of Language Learning (OXFORD, 1990) - SILL - was used. Results indicated that the average score in the SILL was 3.2 (three point two) among the distance learning learners. This average score places the learners in the profile of medium users of the strategies. The rank of use for the strategy groups was: 1st metacognitive; 2nd social; 3rd cognitive; 4th affective; 5th memory; and 6th compensation. The relationship between the user profile and the performance in English courses was also analyzed, using a non-parametric test of correlation (Spearman Rho). The results of the tests indicate a significant correlation between the use of strategies and learners‘ performance on courses that developed both oral (sig. 0.000) and written skills (0.012). The results yielded by the application of the Inventory of Learning Strategies were also compared to the results obtained by other studies using the same inventory in face-to-face contexts. Unfortunately, this comparison could not be made with Brazilian studies, since the methodology used by them did not allow for generalizations. The analysis of the results obtained by foreign studies indicated that the rank of use for the groups of strategies was: 1st metacognitive and compensation; 2nd Social and Cognitive; 3rd memory and affective skills, a rank very close to the one obtained by this study. This study has also raised the possibility of combining the concepts of Learning Strategies with those of learning autonomy, adding to the view of learning strategies as tools to develop autonomy, the possibility of using these strategies to evaluate learning autonomy.