English language assessment in business context: a case study

Although English language is considered an essential requirement to find a position in the Brazilian work market, little do we know about what proficiency level is expected from workers by companies and how language assessment occurs at work. This investigation was developed in an automation company located in São Paulo metropolitan area. It is a case study which aimed to better understand the language use expectations and analyze the assessment process to identify: the assessment tools used in the company, its language view and if the assessment process meets the company’s language use expectations. This study uses questionnaires, interviews and documents analysis for data collection and triangulation of sources. The company is a place where English is used in daily tasks due to international partnerships and taught in an in-company course. The results show a mismatch between the proficiency and achievement tests applied in the company and its language view. In addition English language is a gatekeeper in recruitment process only for some positions. The language use expectations for workers vary according to their position and department but are not assessed likewise

Internationalization and english language in a public institution

Internationalization is defined as an integration process of international, intercultural or global dimensions with educational purpose and offers. There are many dimensions of educational institutions internationalization from research partnership to international mobility. Among the several requirements for students to participate in exchanging programs promoted by international universities and organizations is English language proficiency. On the other hand the proficiency level requirements can vary according to the mobility programs which set the minimum English level. One example is the SAKURA Science High School Program promoted by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) which selected science and technology students to participate in an exchanging program in Japan. In order to be selected, applicants needed to have B1 (CEFRR) as minimum English proficiency level. Thus this study aims to investigate if Brazilian students of an educational institution have such required level to successfully take part in mobility programs. The qualitative methodology of this research includes documents analysis - internationalization documents and English course program - and questionnaires to students and English teacher. The results show that students are expected to achieve B1 level by the end of high school according to the English subject program. However students believe that they do not have such level in speaking skill which would be one of the main skill in JST program. Most of them classify their level in A2. Furthermore the English teacher claims that although some students have already achieved B1 or even higher level the majority is at A2.Thus in order to allow more students to participate in mobility programs the institution should invest in extra-curricular English courses to increase study hours and focus more on developing speaking skills

English proficiency test in a logistics postgraduate course admission

The construction of English proficiency tests applied in college admissions is a complex activity as their content must reflect the language skills required in the program and their results can affect applicants’ lives. This study aims to establish the specifications of English language skills to be tested in an admission test for a postgraduate course in Logistics and Operation of a public institution. The qualitative methodology of this investigation encompasses the course documents analysis, the results of past tests, as well as the application of a questionnaire to the professors and the program coordinator. The investigation has a multidisciplinary approach, integrating different areas like Applied Linguistics and Administration. The preliminary results show that English language is considered important in the program documents although it is not clearly stated. In addition, professors seem to have different expectations on student English level but agree on the main linguistic skill

Avaliação em língua inglesa em contexto empresarial

Embora a língua inglesa seja exigida em processos seletivos de emprego, pouco se sabe como a avaliação ocorre dentro das empresas. Este estudo visou à investigação do processo avaliativo em língua inglesa em uma empresa na Grande São Paulo. Os dados foram coletados por meio de uma entrevista com o diretor responsável pela avaliação em língua inglesa dos candidatos a empregos; questionários realizados junto aos funcionários e análise dos testes de inglês utilizados. Os resultados mostram que o processo avaliativo ocorre na seleção de profissionais e no acompanhamento do desempenho dos funcionários que participam de um curso de inglês subsidiado pela empresa. Entretanto, foram identificados descompassos entre a concepção de linguagem inferida pela entrevista com o diretor e aquela operacionalizada nos testes utilizados e, entre a escola que ministra o curso de inglês e a empresa. Defendemos a avaliação de desempenho como a forma mais adequada de analisar a capacidade de uso da língua nesse contexto, pois o participante é avaliado pelo seu desempenho em atividades que simulam ou representam uma amostra do critério, que seria o desempenho alvo esperado. Nesse caso, portanto, trata-se de uma avaliação em inglês com propósitos específicos, mais especificamente, inglês para negócios

O diário como instrumento metodológico no ensino e na pesquisa em inglês

There have been criticisms about the validity of research in Humanities due to the specificities of its study object. Thus discussions on methodological tools are relevant. This investigation was conducted in a public educational institution and focuses on the use of diaries by students. The aim is to explore multiliteracies and develop autonomy in an interdisciplinary approach joining English and Automation subjects. The research questions are: is there evidence that diaries are an effective methodological tool? Which conclusions can be reached based on diary users’ opinions? A questionnaire with open- and closed-ended questions was also administered to the participants. Results show that diaries can be effective since they provide accounts which are not accessible by external observation and they can also help students reflect, understand and organize their learning process.A pesquisa em Ciências Humanas sempre enfrentou questionamentos sobre confiabilidade devido à complexidade de seu objeto de estudo, tornando discussões sobre seus instrumentos metodológicos relevantes. Este estudo, realizado em uma instituição de ensino pública, focaliza o uso de diários pelos alunos em uma investigação sobre multiletramentos e autonomia no ensino de inglês, por meio do trabalho em conjunto das disciplinas de automação e língua inglesa. Busca-se responder duas perguntas: há evidências da eficácia metodológica do diário? Quais conclusões podem ser depreendidas das opiniões dos participantes elaboradores dos diários? Um questionário composto por perguntas abertas e fechadas também foi aplicado aos alunos. Os resultados apontam para a eficácia do diário, que possibilita o acesso a dados que não seriam possíveis de serem identificados externamente e auxilia os alunos em reflexões, compreensão e organização do processo de aprendizado.

Aeromonas hydrophila and Campylobacter jejuni isolated in fresh tuna (Thunnus spp.) sold in São Paulo, Brazil

Aeromonas hydrophila e Campylobacter jejuni são bactérias de importância emergente em saúde pública, porém com escassos trabalhos publicados na área de pescado. O presente estudo investigou a presença de Aeromonas hydrophila e Campylobacter jejuni em amostras de atum (Thunnus spp.) fresco, capturados no litoral de Santa Catarina e distribuídos no comércio atacadista de São Paulo, SP. Foram colhidas 85 amostras de filé de atum e processadas por análises bacteriológicas e PCR. Do total, 11/85 (13%) amostras foram positivas para Aeromonas spp., sendo 10/11 (90,9%) confirmadas como Aeromonas hydrophila pela PCR. Para Campylobacter spp., 10/85 (11,7%) foram positivas, sendo 10/10 (100%) identificadas como Campylobacter jejuni pelas provas bioquímicas tradicionais e PCR ressaltando-se que duas (2/85 - 2,3%) amostras de atum albergavam ambos os patógenos. Trata-se do primeiro relato no Brasil de contaminação de atum fresco por Campylobacter jejuni e Aeromonas hydrophila, indicando que este alimento ingerido in natura pode ser um veículo de transmissão de agentes patogênicos, ressaltando-se a importância de estudos adicionais que deem suporte ao controle desses microrganismos em pescado consumido cru.Aeromonas hydrophila and Campylobacter jejuni are bacteria of emerging importance in public health. However, little has been published about fish contaminated by these pathogens. The present study aimed to verify the presence of Aeromonas hydrophila and Campylobacter jejuni in fresh tuna samples (Thunnus spp.) caught off the coast of Santa Catarina State and distributed in the wholesale market of São Paulo/SP. A total of 85 tuna fillet samples were collected and examined by PCR and bacteriological analyses. Aeromonas spp. was detected in 11/85 (13%) samples, with 10/11 (90.9 %) being confirmed as Aeromonas hydrophila by PCR. Campylobacter spp. was found in 10/85 (11.7%) samples, 10/10 (100%) identified as Campylobacter jejuni by PCR and conventional biochemical analyses. Both pathogens were found in 2/85 (2.3%) samples. This is the first report on the contamination of fresh tuna by Campylobacter jejuni and Aeromonas hydrophila in Brazil. In addition to show that tuna can be a vehicle for transmission of pathogens when consumed raw, it emphasizes the importance of further studies to support the control these pathogens in fish

Presence of virulence genes and pathogenicity islands in extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from Brazil.

International audienceExtraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) is associated with various diseases such as urinary tract infections, neonatal meningitis and septicemia. There are many virulence factors (VF) encoded by genes in ExPEC, including papC, papG, ecpA, iroN, fyuA, iutA, ompTp, tsh, hlyF, hlyA and iss. These virulence genes may be present in pathogenicity islands (PAI) or plasmids. In this study, we analyzed the presence of VF encoding genes, PAI sequences and phylogenetic groups of 96 ExPEC strains isolated from the urine and blood of patients at the University Hospital of Londrina, and we compared them with 50 faecal commensal strains from healthy individuals. The VF fyuA (65.60%) was detected in pathogenic strains and commensal strains (46%). A comparison of the distribution of ExPEC and commensal strains in the phylogenetic groups showed that more ExPEC strains belonged to group B2 whereas more of the commensal isolates belonged to group A. The distribution of the seven PAI sequences between commensal strains and ExPEC strains showed that PAI IV536 was common in both ExPEC and commensal isolates. These results showed that the ExPEC strains that belonged to group B2 had more PAI sequences compared to those of the other groups, especially group B1, which had virulence genes but the lowest percentage of PAI sequences, which leads us to conclude that the virulence of ExPEC strains characterized as B2 is likely attributed to PAI encoded genes, whereas the virulence of ExPEC strains belonging to phylogenetic group B1 is likely due to plasmid encoded virulence genes

Genomic insights of high-risk clones of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli isolated from community infections and commercial meat in southern Brazil

During a microbiological and genomic surveillance study conducted to investigate the molecular epidemiology of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli from community-acquired urinary tract infections (UTI) and commercial meat samples, in a Brazilian city with a high occurrence of infections by ESBL-producing bacteria, we have identified the presence of CTX-M (-2, -14, -15, -24, -27 and -55)-producing E. coli of international clones ST38, ST117, ST131 and ST354. The ST131 was more prevalent in human samples, and worryingly the high-risk ST131-C1-M27 was identified in human infections for the first time. We also detected CTX-M-55-producing E. coli ST117 from meat samples (i.e., chicken and pork) and human infections. Moreover, the clinically relevant CTX-M-24-positive E. coli ST354 clone was detected for the first time in human samples. In summary, our results highlight a potential of commercialized meat as a reservoir of high-priority E. coli lineages in the community, whereas the identification of E. coli ST131-C1-M27 indicates that novel pandemic clones have emerged in Brazil, constituting a public health issue