Phrases that inspire stories

Abstract

Currently, learning a second language represents a major barrier faced by many students. Anxiety and fear levels are factors that lead to frustration and, consequently, to a loss of motivation. Faced with this reality, the role of the teacher as a mediator is essential so that students not only trust their learning abilities but also manage to make the transition from theory (grammar, semantics, and lexis) to oral and written performance. Teaching practice is key to fostering the self-confidence, motivation, and autonomy that students need as responsible agents of their own learning process and, therefore, to achieve linguistic competencies in learning a new language. To accomplish this, teachers must implement diverse methodological strategies that allow students to overcome these fears and thus perform better in the new language. This article presents the pedagogical mediation strategy Frases que inspiran historias (Phrases that Inspire Stories), which can be used not only to add dynamism to lessons but also to facilitate the transition from teaching-centered instruction to learning-centered education, as established by the new approach of the emerging paradigm.