Em busca de definições para o bilinguismo: um mapeamento dos espaços de aplicação da língua inglesa na cidade de Natal

Abstract

The "bilingualism" phenomenon has been growing in Brazil and, consequently, this growth reaches the city of Natal. As a phenomenon and, although observable, bilingual manifestation in school spaces is relatively recent and, therefore, its definition becomes still somewhat hazy. In order to unravel these probable confusions between concepts and spaces in which they are applied, this article intends to present some of the different understandings of use for the term bilingualism, as well as for bilingual education in Brazil and, more specifically, in the context of the city of Natal. To do so, throughout the work, it makes references to what is understood by the concept of bilingualism, resorting to one historical record regarding the use at term throughout the years, and then describes the teaching spaces and what they call bilingualism based on its characteristics. The methodology of the study is an exploratory and descriptive one, with a bibliographical review and questionnaire survey, which is done from the understanding of how the teaching/learning of the English language was given in the educational context of the city of Natal. At the end of the study, it suggests a reflection about the importance of having a clearer definition of the bilingual concept and its application in educational contexts, in order to maximize the chances not only of professionals in the field, but of the whole school community, to know how to direct their interests, and to develop as close as possible to the goal to be achieved. We also point out some developments from the results presented here in order to address the apparent reasons for growth regarding the phenomenon of bilingualism and the path to where research seem to be following.