Contextualization

The ability to interpret texts in a foreign language is a crucial skill that transcends the classroom. Mastering this skill in English, in particular, opens doors to a wealth of global information and opportunities in the international scenario. English is the lingua franca in the world of business, science, and technology, and having the ability to interpret texts in this language allows not only access to these domains but also active participation in them.

In this project, we will explore two key theoretical concepts for text interpretation: the recognition of textual genres and the development of reading strategies. Understanding the genre of the text we are reading helps us predict its structure and the type of language used, while reading strategies such as skimming (quick reading to identify the main idea) and scanning (looking for specific information) are essential to manage our time effectively and extract relevant information efficiently.

Interpreting texts in English involves not only understanding the literal meaning of words and phrases but also the ability to analyze the context, discern the author's intentions and opinions, and evaluate the credibility and relevance of the information. These skills are important not only in the academic field but also in everyday life, where we are constantly exposed to a flood of information in English, whether in product labels, instruction manuals, news articles, or social media posts.

To build on and delve deeper into the topic, it is recommended to consult reliable resources such as the British Council (https://www.britishcouncil.org.br), which offers educational materials and relevant information about learning English. Another valuable resource is the Duolingo platform (https://pt.duolingo.com), which provides interactive English lessons, helping in the development of reading and interpretation skills. Additionally, the BBC Learning English website (https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish) offers a variety of resources, including articles, videos, and textual interpretation exercises, which can be used for practice and deepening of the learned content.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: Decipher The Message - The Interpretation Journey

Project Objective:

To promote the understanding and practical application of textual genres and reading strategies in the interpretation of texts in English, in a collaborative environment.

Detailed Project Description:

This activity will consist of the interpretation and presentation of different textual genres in English, followed by the production of a detailed report and a creative group presentation that demonstrates the interpretation and analysis process carried out.

Each group, consisting of 3 to 5 students, will choose a general theme (for example, environment, technology, health) and, based on that, investigate three different textual genres (opinion article, news, instructional manual) related to the theme. The chosen texts should have a complexity level suitable for the third year of High School.

Required Materials:

• Internet access for text research.
• Computers or mobile devices for report elaboration and presentation.
• English dictionaries (online or physical).
• Text editing and presentation programs (Word, Google Docs; PowerPoint, Google Slides).

Detailed Step-by-Step:

1. Group Formation and Theme Selection: Divide the class into groups and allow them to choose a common interest theme.
2. Text Research and Selection: Each group must find three texts of different genres related to the chosen theme.
3. Reading and Analysis of Texts: Apply skimming and scanning strategies to identify the main idea and specific information of each text.
4. Report Preparation: Groups must document the characteristics of each text, applying concepts of recognition of textual genres and report the reading strategies used.
5. Presentation Development: Create a creative presentation (can be a play, a video, a slide presentation, etc.) that demonstrates the interpretation process and their findings.
6. Review and Editing: Review the report and presentation to ensure the quality and correctness of the work.
7. Final Presentation and Report Submission: Each group must present their work to the class and submit the report to the teachers.

The estimated duration for project completion is 5 to 10 hours per student, with a final deadline of one month for delivery and final presentation.

Project Deliverables:

• Written Report: Should contain sections of Introduction, Development, Conclusion, and Bibliography, detailing the learning experience during the project.
• Creative Presentation: A visual/performative representation of the text interpretation process and the discoveries made by the group.

Relationship between Activities and Deliverables:

Students will explore the texts and theoretical concepts, apply reading strategies, and, from the experience, will build a report that contextualizes the theme, describes the interpretation process, uses examples from the analyzed texts, and discusses the results and learnings reflectively. The report should be clear, concise, and well-structured, following the academic format.

The creative presentation should be a synthesis of the group's journey, demonstrating how they applied technical and socio-emotional skills to interpret and analyze the texts, engaging the audience and dynamically showing the application of the learned concepts.

Students should write the written document (report) as a formal record of their discoveries and reflections, integrating theory into practice and demonstrating collaboration and teamwork throughout the project.