Análise da seção de leitura da série Top notch sob uma perspectiva multimodal

Abstract

The presence and relevance of images in discursive genres of contemporary communication has led to concerns about the formation of visually literate readers. Among the multimodal genres, we foreground the textbook for English learning (LDI), which is typically rich in terms of images. However, the activities suggested in such materials rarely point to the visual language exploration (GRAY, 2010). Thus, in this study, the reading sessions of the Top Notch English textbook series are analyzed, together with the methodological instructions of the Teacher‟s guide, aiming to verify to what extent the reading of the images of the discursive genres is explored and the nature of this reading. A context of genre consumption analysis was carried out in the Brazilian Military School System (SCMB). Within the theoretical framework of Critical Genre Analysis (MOTTA-ROTH, 2008) and using the Grammar of Visual Design (KRESS, van LEEUWEN, 2006) as lexical-grammatical reference, all the ten reading sessions of intermediate level Top Notch textbook were analyzed. These reading sessions are composed of semiotic complexes assembled with verbal written language and images. The analysis showed that 32.8% of the reading activities are offered to be approached multimodally through LDI and Teacher‟s guide instructions and also that 67% of the images of the reading sessions are activated for visual reading, what points to the role of the image as a meaning carrier, not as an illustration. There was a predominance of representational meanings (71%) explored in the multimodal reading activities, majorly placed in the pre reading stage, as a way to prepare for the verbal reading. However, the reading activities of corpus do not promote multimodal critical literacy, once they do not stimulate on the student readers the development of critical consciousness, one which unveils the power relations that occur via the genre and also the relationship between the text and the context where it takes place. In the multiliteracies perspective, we hope to contribute for the development of a broader reading towards the comprehension of represented meanings, not only in written verbal language, but also in the images of multimodal texts.