BEYOND THE CLASSROOM: FOREIGN LANGUAGE STRATEGY RETENTION AND TRANSFER

Abstract

Considering that the basic aim of Education is to provide knowledge that extends beyond the classroom, thus contributing to learner’ autonomy, this study investigated whether the processes of L2 learning strategy retention and transfer have been the focus of research in the last ten years. Scientific international journal and magazine articles, and doctoral theses and Masters Degree dissertations published in Brazil from 1999 to 2010 formed the corpus of this study. Data, obtained by means of a qualitative analysis, indicated that the processes of foreign language learning strategy retention and transfer as a result of explicit instruction have not been the main concern of researchers in Brazil. In the international context, on the other hand, results demonstrated that retention and transfer have been investigated in the last ten years, but the long-term effects of the instruction provided have not been considered in most studies. Thus, it is expected that this study can contribute not only to provide a general view of the studies conducted in the country and abroad, but especially to attract researchers’ attention to the urgent need and relevance of investigating the processes of retention and transfer of foreign-language learning strategies to other contexts, once these are factors that promote true meaning to Education