Pedagogical innovation in the teaching of foreign languages (FL) as a factor of change in the context of the pandemic

Abstract

This work collects the experience of continuous training of teachers of the 350-group carried out at the Centro de Formação de Associação de Escolas (CFAE) in Matosinhos from April to July 2020, precisely when the COVID 19 pandemic struck. The participants were 10 Portuguese teachers of Spanish as a foreign language (SFL) from eight public schools in Porto (Portugal). The objectives of the training were adapted to the immediate need of online teaching teachers, introducing pedagogies and activities that would renew and expand their teaching strategies in the SFL class. In short, it was about reinforcing their skills as Spanish teachers to face the challenge of virtual classes. Several digital tools for the creation of SFL activities with weekly practical tasks. Visual thinking and the use of infographics to develop activities were worked on; gamification and the Quizlet and Kahoot tools were worked on; the emotion in learning SFL and the Escape room technique. The classroom research methodology with recourse to the interview and the discussion group and the reflective portfolio. The results of this training experience resulted in: a) a reinforcement of teaching skills for the SFL class with the use of tools and innovative didactics in a practical way to be implemented in the class; and b) the improvement of the participants' self-esteem as SFL professionals, among others.