Resumo

COUCEIRO-FIGUEIRA, Ana Paula  e  PEREIRA-SERRA, Maria Alice. The teaching-learning process of English in the first school cycle. A preliminary study. educ.educ. [online]. 2010, vol.13, n.1, pp. 43-59. ISSN 0123-1294.

The article presents the results of a study on the perceptions and experiences of primary school teachers with respect to introduction of the English language at this level of schooling. The sample was comprised of eleven teachers from several schools in the city of Coimbra (Portugal), who were interviewed in depth. The information collected was subject to a qualitative analysis based on predetermined categories. The study concluded that teachers feel they are not sufficiently prepared to teach English to children who are so young. They believe doing so leads to indiscipline in the classroom and discourages students from learning the language.

Palavras-chave : Bilingual education; teaching English; education policy; children's education; Portugal.