In this paper, we looked at how media influence education and how to provide students with tools for analyzing media messages in order for them to be able to reflect on that influence and foster critical thinking. We summarized research on media literacy in English language teaching and discussed how that may increase students’ language learning and critical thinking skills. To concretize our findings we developed a lesson plan using a contemporary YouTube genre, Epic Rap Battles of History, and used that as a basis for our discussions. This resulted in a discussion on the advantages of using media literacy to teach English and practical examples of how to do this in an English 6 course. We show the importance of connecting language learning to practical application as well as providing students with opportunities to develop their analytical and critical skills.

Young students learn through active and playful encounters with their environment. The Curriculum for Compulsory School (Lgr11) states the importance of play in students’ active learning. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the role that has been ascribed to play in research on early English language learning. The main questions address how play can be used to promote language learning in the early primary English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom and other methods teachers may use that benefit students’ language development. The method used for this thesis is a systematic literature review with a qualitative approach. Six studies were included in the analysis. The analysis shows that playful methods of teaching can help the teacher to develop students’ English skills. Research has shown that playful encounters during language learning help students feel more motivated and dedicated to learning a foreign language. The results indicate the importance of the teacher having knowledge regarding what is being taught, how it is supposed to be learned, and why it is meaningful for the students in their own personal language development. Based on the thesis results further research is needed to understand the teachers’ methods of teaching English as a Foreign Language in the early primary classroom. / <p>Engelska</p>

Este trabalho tem como principal objetivo analisar as representações do falante nativo e do falante não-nativo de inglês construídas sob o ponto de vista do aluno brasileiro, e as implicações dessas representações no processo de constituição da identidade desse aluno, que tem o português como primeira língua e aprende inglês como língua estrangeira. Nossa hipótese é que a diferença significativa que se observa na relação entre o aluno brasileiro e falantes nativos, de um lado, e entre o mesmo aluno e falantes não-nativos, de outro, afeta as representações construídas pelo aprendiz, podendo resultar numa tentativa de resistência ao lugar aparentemente fixo ocupado pelo brasileiro enquanto falante não-nativo de inglês. A análise dessas representações baseia-se num corpus constituído por dez entrevistas com alunos brasileiros de inglês de uma escola de idiomas de São Paulo. Nossa pesquisa é embasada nos preceitos teóricos da Análise do Discurso, assim como em conceitos dos Estudos Culturais e da perspectiva psicanalista. Com base na análise da materialidade lingüística do corpus, destacamos representações sustentadas por oposições binárias que, se por um lado, parecem imobilizar o sujeito-aluno na relação com o falante nativo, pelo fato de o aluno brasileiro ser sempre representado como o polo negativo da oposição, por outro, permitem, na relação com o falante não-nativo, vislumbrar a possibilidade de um deslocamento dessas representações associadas ao aprendiz brasileiro. Porém, observamos que esse deslocamento é sempre adiado e não se concretiza devido à força que o falante nativo ainda exerce sobre o aluno brasileiro/falante não-nativo. Concluímos que essas representações fixistas, baseadas em oposições binárias, dificultam a prática de ensino de língua inglesa como um lugar de produção de novos sentidos. Com base nessa conclusão, ressaltamos a importância de uma prática pedagógica que vá além do ensino de inglês como mero instrumento de comunicação, permitindo desconstruir as oposições binárias e contribuir para uma ressignificação do lugar do aprendiz brasileiro/falante não-nativo de inglês em relação ao falante nativo e à língua inglesa. / This work aims at analyzing the representations of native and non-native speakers of English built by Brazilian students, and the implications of these representations to students identity as Portuguese native speakers and learners of English as a foreign language. Our hypothesis is that the significative difference noticed in the relationship between Brazilian students and native speakers of English, on the one hand, and between these students and other non-native speakers, on the other, affects the way Brazilian students represent themselves and other speakers, and may result in an attempt to resist the apparently fixed place occupied by Brazilians as non-native speakers of English. The analysis of these representations is based on a corpus containing ten interviews with Brazilian students of English from a language school in São Paulo. Our work is based upon the theoretical tenets of Discourse Analysis, as well as on concepts from the Cultural Studies and Psychoanalysis. The analysis of the linguistic materiality of the corpus showed representations that were sustained by binary oppositions, which seemed to immobilize the learners in the interaction with native speakers, since the Brazilian student is always represented as the negative pole of the opposition, but also suggested the possibility of dislocation of these representations when the interaction involved Brazilian students and other non-native speakers of English. However, it is argued that this dislocation is always postponed and never takes place because of the power that the native speaker has over the Brazilian student/non-native speaker of English. We concluded that these fixed representations, based on binary oppositions, make it difficult for the English language teaching practice to allow for the production of new meanings. Based on this conclusion, we highlight the importance of a pedagogical practice that goes beyond teaching English merely as a communication tool, by deconstructing binary oppositions and making it possible for the Brazilian student/non-native speaker of English to occupy a new place in the relationship with the native speaker and the English language.

Diploma thesis Michaela Skřepská, NMgr. AJ-NJ DIPLOMA THESIS Use of film applications in English language teaching: Case study of the mobile application Mooveez Abstract This diploma thesis concerns with analysis of the software application Mooveez - English with movies which offers a new method of learning foreign languages by watching movies, fairy tale movies or documentaries. In the theoretical part the theory and methodology of current learning and teaching foreign languages is described as well as the development of education in the field of foreign languages. The theoretical part also contains information about modern technologies used in contemporary foreign language learning and teaching. The practical part depicts and evaluates the software application Mooveez in detail which includes its principles, origin, methodology and functions. This part also informs about the usage of Mooveez as a tool and as a method. Then, it is described how this application is presented in public, and whether there are other applications which could be compared with the application Mooveez - English with movies. Key words: software application, Mooveez, movie, technology, English language learning/teaching, English language, methodology, method

Este trabalho tem como principal objetivo analisar as representações do falante nativo e do falante não-nativo de inglês construídas sob o ponto de vista do aluno brasileiro, e as implicações dessas representações no processo de constituição da identidade desse aluno, que tem o português como primeira língua e aprende inglês como língua estrangeira. Nossa hipótese é que a diferença significativa que se observa na relação entre o aluno brasileiro e falantes nativos, de um lado, e entre o mesmo aluno e falantes não-nativos, de outro, afeta as representações construídas pelo aprendiz, podendo resultar numa tentativa de resistência ao lugar aparentemente fixo ocupado pelo brasileiro enquanto falante não-nativo de inglês. A análise dessas representações baseia-se num corpus constituído por dez entrevistas com alunos brasileiros de inglês de uma escola de idiomas de São Paulo. Nossa pesquisa é embasada nos preceitos teóricos da Análise do Discurso, assim como em conceitos dos Estudos Culturais e da perspectiva psicanalista. Com base na análise da materialidade lingüística do corpus, destacamos representações sustentadas por oposições binárias que, se por um lado, parecem imobilizar o sujeito-aluno na relação com o falante nativo, pelo fato de o aluno brasileiro ser sempre representado como o polo negativo da oposição, por outro, permitem, na relação com o falante não-nativo, vislumbrar a possibilidade de um deslocamento dessas representações associadas ao aprendiz brasileiro. Porém, observamos que esse deslocamento é sempre adiado e não se concretiza devido à força que o falante nativo ainda exerce sobre o aluno brasileiro/falante não-nativo. Concluímos que essas representações fixistas, baseadas em oposições binárias, dificultam a prática de ensino de língua inglesa como um lugar de produção de novos sentidos. Com base nessa conclusão, ressaltamos a importância de uma prática pedagógica que vá além do ensino de inglês como mero instrumento de comunicação, permitindo desconstruir as oposições binárias e contribuir para uma ressignificação do lugar do aprendiz brasileiro/falante não-nativo de inglês em relação ao falante nativo e à língua inglesa. / This work aims at analyzing the representations of native and non-native speakers of English built by Brazilian students, and the implications of these representations to students identity as Portuguese native speakers and learners of English as a foreign language. Our hypothesis is that the significative difference noticed in the relationship between Brazilian students and native speakers of English, on the one hand, and between these students and other non-native speakers, on the other, affects the way Brazilian students represent themselves and other speakers, and may result in an attempt to resist the apparently fixed place occupied by Brazilians as non-native speakers of English. The analysis of these representations is based on a corpus containing ten interviews with Brazilian students of English from a language school in São Paulo. Our work is based upon the theoretical tenets of Discourse Analysis, as well as on concepts from the Cultural Studies and Psychoanalysis. The analysis of the linguistic materiality of the corpus showed representations that were sustained by binary oppositions, which seemed to immobilize the learners in the interaction with native speakers, since the Brazilian student is always represented as the negative pole of the opposition, but also suggested the possibility of dislocation of these representations when the interaction involved Brazilian students and other non-native speakers of English. However, it is argued that this dislocation is always postponed and never takes place because of the power that the native speaker has over the Brazilian student/non-native speaker of English. We concluded that these fixed representations, based on binary oppositions, make it difficult for the English language teaching practice to allow for the production of new meanings. Based on this conclusion, we highlight the importance of a pedagogical practice that goes beyond teaching English merely as a communication tool, by deconstructing binary oppositions and making it possible for the Brazilian student/non-native speaker of English to occupy a new place in the relationship with the native speaker and the English language.

English is used by enormous number of people in the world, and most learners of English can be found in monolingual classes in Brazil, where all the students share a common language Portuguese. It has been a practical concern throughout history the reflection on finding more efficient and more effective ways of teaching languages. Many theoreticians in the field of Applied Linguistics have worked on research to provide a background for discussion of new ideas which are based on different theories of how people learn a foreign language. The objective of this work is to look for answers and instruments, in the specific field of English language teaching, in a classroom of adolescents, through the introduction of teaching materials used with a communicative approach, which will emphasize the processes of communication in a way that will help the students realize that the learning of a foreign language can be used as a real means of communication. The data were collected by recording in audio, as well as by taking field notes. This study suggests that there was a natural interest by the students in trying to communicate in English, without fear of corrections, and sometimes in starting conversations in this foreign language. Finally, the aim of this study is to offer teachers of English suggestions, as well as provide directions for further research in classrooms, to what concerns the process of teaching and learning a foreign language, in a way that we, English teachers, can teach our students, not to speak about the English language, but speak the English language. / O inglês é usado por um grande número de pessoas no mundo e muitos aprendizes de inglês são encontrados em turmas monolíngües no Brasil, onde todos falam português. Os métodos e abordagens de ensino de línguas têm mudado e aumentado, refletindo a preocupação de se encontrar formas mais eficazes para o ensino de línguas. Muitos teóricos da área de Lingüística Aplicada têm trabalhado com o intuito de implementar pesquisas no campo de ensino e aprendizagem de línguas, a fim de levantar discussões de novas idéias, as quais são baseadas em teorias sobre como as pessoas aprendem uma língua estrangeira. Este trabalho tem como objetivo procurar respostas e instrumentos, no campo específico de ensino de língua inglesa, em uma sala de aula de adolescentes, do Ensino Médio, através da introdução de materiais de ensino usados com uma abordagem comunicativa, os quais enfatizarão o processo de comunicação de forma a ajudar os alunos a perceber que a aprendizagem de uma língua estrangeira pode ser usada como um meio real de comunicação. O corpus para tal investigação foi estabelecido por meio de gravações em áudio com suas respectivas transcrições, bem como com anotações de campo. O estudo nos mostra que houve um interesse natural dos aprendizes em tentar se comunicar na língua inglesa, sem receios de correções gramaticais e, algumas vezes, com iniciativas próprias de diálogo nessa língua estrangeira. Finalmente, este estudo pretende oferecer sugestões para professores de línguas, e indicações para futuras pesquisas em sala de aula, no que concerne ao processo de ensino e aprendizagem de uma língua estrangeira, de forma que possamos ensinar nossos alunos, não a falar sobre a língua inglesa estudada, mas, a falar essa língua.

The aim of this essay is to distinguish whether the activity of playing video and online computer games as a leisure activity could be considered to be a learning situation. With the focus on vocabulary, this study investigates the possibility that gamers could improve their language proficiency while playing video and online computer games. The methodology is based on qualitative observations (Patel &amp; Davidson 2011) and on interviews with seven players of five different games. The observations mainly considered the vocabulary used in the games and how the players used the English language while playing. The interviews are constructed with the methodology mentioned by Kylén (2004). The interview questions aimed to answer if the players had been noticing an improvement of their vocabulary. The data are mainly acquired from the observations and interviews. The background sections build on studies relating to computer-based language learning and on the previous research on ELF, primarily from Barbara Seidlhofer (2011). Even though the data acquired from the observations and interviews are limited, it is apparent that video and online computer games have a noticeable impact on language development, regarding vocabulary. The main conclusion of this study is that the games do not influence the players’ language proficiency as considerably as the engaging in the functions in conjunction with the games.

Det här examensarbetet behandlar musik som redskap i engelskundervisning. Syftet med litteraturstudien var att söka svar på vad forskning säger om hur musik kan användas i undervisning och andraspråkstillägnande. Därutav sökte vi svar på vilka musikaktiviteter som skulle kunna användas i undervisning, vilka förmågor dessa har positiv inverkan på samt varför lärare sällan använder musik som hjälpmedel i undervisning trots stark koppling mellan musik och språk. Det visade sig att den mest framträdande musikaktiviteten var sången. Andra aktiviteter vi hittade var musiklyssning, dans, rörelse, rytm och att arbeta med sångtexter. Förmågor som tal, uttal, läsa och skriva samt egenskaper som motivation påverkas alla positivt av att musik vävs in i undervisningen. Det mest uppenbara skälet till att musik inte används mer i undervisningen verkar vara att det inte finns modeller att tillgå för lärare. Andra skäl hade med attityder om musik att göra, till exempel att musik bara ska användas för “musikaliska” personer, osäkerhet att använda musik, frånvaro av utbildning i musik, otillräckligt med tid för att planera in musik med mera. Vi anser att lärare behöver utbilda sig i hur de kan integrera musik som ett hjälpmedel i språkundervisningen under lärarutbildningen. Vi hittade mycket intressant forskning i ämnet och det är tydligt att det krävs mer forskning på området om lärare ska övertygas och motiveras till att använda musik som ett språk verktyg i andraspråkstillägnande.

In recent years, the age of additional language learning has been lowered in school education. What separates current students from the previous generation, however, is the fact that they use modern technology, such as digital games, and this can be used as a teaching strategy. Several studies show that modern technology can benefit students in their language learning, especially when it comes to vocabulary whose acquisition helps students to develop and master the four language basic skills (listening, reading, speaking, writing). The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the literature concerning the use of digital games and their characteristics in middle school in Sweden(ages 9-12), looking at the positive and negative effects game-use has on English vocabulary learning. Results from different studies indicate that the advantages of using digital games with the aim of vocabulary acquisition outweigh the disadvantages that this computer technology can cause. Using digital games together with pedagogical materials can, for example, reduce speaking stress, increase students’ interest, motivate them to language learning, and develop language learning strategies. It is nonetheless important to take the risks of modern technology into consideration, such as behaviour change or addiction, especially with young users. Overall, integrating entertainment games into educational contexts can result in effective student learning gains.

The possible benefits of digital games for English language learning and teaching have received increasing attention in recent years as more research shows that digital games can affect students’ learning and motivation within formal education. A great deal of the integration of digital games in school contexts depends on the attitude of teachers and students. The aim of this study is to investigate upper-secondary teachers’ and students’ attitudes toward digital games in the English language classroom in a Swedish context. Additionally, this study will also examine teachers’ and students’ views regarding the effects of using digital games for learning English. This is a mixed-method study, where semi-structured interviews and online surveys were conducted by participants from Uppsala, Gävleborg and Dalarna. 106 students and 11 teachers responded to the online survey, and 3 teachers participated in the semi-structured interview. The results found in this study confirm the findings from the majority of previous studies. Teachers and students are generally positive toward digital games in English language learning, and they see potential effects of using games in class. However, teachers find it difficult to implement digital games due to different obstacles, such as preparation time, lack of knowledge, and finding quality games.