1.1. "A característica principal desse tipo de material, ainda segundo Howat (1984), foi a substituição dos textos tradicionais por frases exemplificatórias. Essas frases, usadas para praticar a língua, exemplificavam a gramática de forma clara e em um nível de dificuldade sequenciado. Cada lição apresentava um ou dois pontos gramaticais, uma pequena lista de vocabulário e alguns exemplos práticos para traduzir."
1.2. I selected this excerpt because it is a very important milestone in the history of teaching materials. Previously, grammar books were used for this purpose, so this change was significant for the beginning of something that has changed so much over time.
1.3. Since it is something very old, I have never had any contact with this exact type of material, but in a way, it relates to the decontextualized content that some of my English teachers taught at school. Some would teach grammar, followed by an example sentence and its translation.
2. 2 - ÊNFASE NA LÍNGUA FALADA
2.1. “A partir do final da década de 40, os manuais de gramática e tradução começaram a dar lugar aos livros que davam ênfase também à língua falada.” “O foco nas habilidades orais partia do pressuposto de que o texto escrito poderia influir negativamente na aquisição da língua.”
2.2. This part indicates continuity with the previous aspect. Although there was also a loss of written text, it is an evolution considering that spoken language is essential for language study and learning.
2.3. Unlike the other aspect, this one has no connection whatsoever with my experience as a student, since at school the focus was on writing, and speaking was constantly neglected.
3. 3 - ABORDAGENS COMUNICATIVAS
3.1. “Em 1977, Brian Abbs e Ingrid Freebairn publicam a série Strategies, seguindo a abordagem funcional. O conceito de língua é o de língua como comunicação. [...] O livro contempla variações lingüísticas, acolhe como legítimos outros dialetos, utiliza a entonação como recurso lingüístico para produção de sentido, e utiliza material autêntico. Freebairn (1977, p.v) chama a atenção para o fato de os outros materiais darem ênfase apenas às habilidades orais e enfatiza que um aprendiz de férias na Inglaterra também precisa preencher formulários, ler avisos, etc., além de entender anúncios orais.”
3.2. This is a very important milestone, as teaching materials were beginning to be seen as something more elaborate and comprehensive, capable of exploring different aspects and skills. It is also worth highlighting the importance of the integrated teaching materials system that followed this moment.
3.3. I don't remember my school textbooks in great detail, but they certainly weren't at this level. They still focused too much on grammar, and inauthentic and short texts related to American English. However, now that I'm preparing to be a teacher, I've been analyzing some materials that are quite broad, integrate the four skills, and work well with authentic texts. I think this represents well what students should have the opportunity to study.
