B-LEARNING: LEARNING STRATEGIES OF TEACHING PORTUGUESE AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

ABSTRACT

The following research describes the development of a work project, based on a language institute within a South African context. The study aims to understand the implementation of a Portuguese language course within a b-learning environment and how this learning can improve on the non-attendance of students and how to increase levels of participation and interest. Whereby, allowing students to achieve higher language proficiency levels.

In the current investigation, a mixed method approach was applied through the use of questionnaires, language course enquiries and statistical data, which would assess whether a b-learning environment would benefit within a South African learning context. Of the sample, majority of the respondents who filled in the questionnaire and language course enquiries indicated that most were familiar with the new educational paradigms and preference towards these types of virtual environments.

From a South African perspective, the finding of this study demonstrates sufficient validity that teaching in a b-learning environment can result in having a significant positive outcome in teaching Portuguese as a foreign language. Therefore, it is important to continuously look for answers to improve on various teaching methods and to follow the digital interest.

KEYWORDS: Distance Education Online, b-Learning, Learning Strategies, Portuguese as a Foreign Language.