JUVENAL, THE KNEE: PRAXIOLOGIES IN LITERARY TRANSLATION AND LINGUISTIC EDUCATION WITH CHILDREN

ABSTRACT

Critical language education with children and research in this area have been in particular evidence in the last decade (Merlo; Malta, 2022; Tonelli; Kawachi-Furlan, 2021; Malta, 2019; Merlo, 2018; Tonelli; Pádua; Oliveira, 2017). Due to the complexity of pedagogical work with children, thinking about language and education correlated with pedagogical praxis becomes necessary nowadays. Therefore, this article aims to share two experiences that link translation studies (Zaidan, 2012; Arrojo, 2007; Bassnett, 2003) - of children’s literature - to language education in English with children. Both experiences were carried out during the preparation of final papers (Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso) for the Letras-Inglês course at the Federal University of Espírito Santo. In the first one (Oliveira, 2022), we report the translation process of the literary work of the writer Ziraldo (2005) entitled O Joelho Juvenal. Together with the translation of the book, that study brings suggestions for using the material to teach English with children from a decolonial perspective (Menezes de Souza; Figueiredo; Martinez, 2019; Mignolo, 2018). In dialogue with this work of literary translation, the second experience consisted of the elaboration and development of lesson plans based on the translation carried out by Oliveira (2022). Thus, the research by Silva (2023), in addition to promoting reflections on praxiologies (Pessoa; Silva; Freitas, 2021), considers the relevance of literature in early childhood education (Tonelli, 2008) and argues that storytelling practices help to promote a Freirean perspective (Freire, 1997; 1996; 1987) for critical language education with children. Finally, we reflect on how both experiences contribute to the initial teacher education of these students in the final stages of undergraduate courses, while at the same time cooperating in the construction of their own curricula and their pedagogical practices with children.

Keywords:
praxiologies; literary translation; language education with children; teacher education; children’s literature