Innovation in Language Learning

Through linguistic knowledge, this work aims to expand the forms of tourism in the Tocantínia-TO region, so that traditional populations can work to sell their tourism products and convey the importance of preserving their Xerente culture through other forms of contact. It was with this in mind that the indigenous people sought to prepare themselves for the future of ethno-tourism by showing interest in other language course, especially English, as it is considered a universal language and it has been a differential for the tourism sector worldwide. Our aim on offering this course is to promote English language learning so that these people can work in the tourism sector. In this way, we are starting to develop an English course applied to tourism as a third language for the Xerentes indigenous people. The influence of the English language is such that it is the most widely spoken language in the world by those whose mother tongue is not English. In fact, it should be clarified, it is perhaps the only language to have more non-native speakers than native speakers (CRYSTAL, 1997). That said, the theory to be developed for the classes will be the Multiliteracies, by Cope and Kalantzis (2005), working on oral and written skills in the classroom, so that the proposed content needs to be part of the students' world knowledge and textual organization, so that learning English makes sense. In addition, we intend to bring material focused on tourism. Crystal (2003) draws attention to the fact that the English language has become a global language when you are travelling, you see English signs and advertisements. Also, when you enter a hotel or restaurant in almost every foreign city, they speak English or understand it. Thus, this language is undoubtedly the most ideal for the tourism sector. Moreover, about the indigenous women, as OLIVEIRA (2021) points out, still make a living from handicrafts, producing countless products ranging from earrings, bracelets and necklaces to handbags, mandalas and so on, often using golden grass, while men produce coffins, bows, spears and so on, for sale and for their own use. As classes were going on we noticed some particularities teaching this people. In a near future we will have evidences about it.

Keywords: English, learning, multiliteracies, teaching, tourism.

References:

[1] COPE, B.; KALANTZIS, M. Multiliteracies. New London Group (COR): Routledge, 2005. 

[2] CRYSTAL, D. The cambridge encyclopedia of the english language. Cambridge: CUP, 1997. 

[3] OLIVEIRA, Luana de Sousa. O patrimônio alimentar do Povo Xerente e suas interfaces com o Turismo Étnico Indígena Gastronômico. Balneário Camboriú, SC: UNIVALI, 2021. p. 100-127.