Abstract:

The paper reflects on the impact of globalization and internationalization in education in general and in the English language teaching and learning (ELT) in Brazil in particular. Based on the assumption that access to information and technology is necessary to build social capital (Warshauer, 2003) and that this access requires some English knowledge and digital literacy (Finardi; Prebianca; Momm, 2013) the study reflects on the roles of ELT methodologies, technologies and language policies in Brazil. The article reviews ELT methodologies, technologies and language policies to suggest that both the resistance to and the uncritical use of English and technology may bring negative consequences to social development in Brazil. The study concludes that in the post method (Kumaravadivelo, 2003) and information era (Levy, 1999) we live in, technologies have a relevant and crucial role that should be critically considered in ELT methodologies. The study also suggests that the informed use of technologies and methodologies, allied with the teaching of English as an international language are essential to leverage the development and the internationalization of education in Brazil in a critical way in relation to the negative effects of globalization.

Keywords:

Globalization, Internationalization, ELT Technology, Methodology, and Language Policy in Brazil.