Systemics functional grammar: applying the interpersonal function to the analysis of EFL pedagogical material and for suggestions of pedagogical activities

Abstract

This paper was developed to explore how the use of Systemic Functional Grammar, specifically the Interpersonal Function, can help teachers in English as a Foreign Language courses. The Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) was developed by Halliday, who thought about how language works with the relation between speaker/writer and listener/reader. In this paper, SFG is introduced, with a brief explanation of the Experential and Textual Metafunction, and a more detailed one of the Interpersonal Metafunction, which is the focus of this work. To examine how the use of SGF can help teachers, seven coursebook activities from five different books were analyzed. The main objective of the analysis is to make suggestions on how the exercises chosen can work with a functional perspective. From the analysis it is possible to conclude that SFG may be an advantageous tool for teacher to improve students learning from coursebook material, helping them learn how to truly manipulate language to communicate better in real life situations. [resumo fornecido pelo autor]