ETHNOGRAPHY AS A RESEARCH TOOL IN APPLIED LINGUISTICS: THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS

This article investigates ethnography as a theoretical and methodological approach to research in Applied Linguistics in Brazil. Initially, I discuss ethnography as a research method, highlighting its main characteristics. Subsequently, I present transcriptions of an interactional episode that occurred in a bilingual Portuguese-English classroom, illustrating how these interactions can be analyzed. I argue that the analysis of language practices, when conducted in conjunction with ethnographic fieldwork, offers a deeper and more contextualized understanding of situated actions. Furthermore, I examine how this methodological combination can reveal subtle and complex dynamics of school interactions, which often go unnoticed in less contextual approaches. Finally, I emphasize the importance of a detailed and contextualized perspective in researching school environments, highlighting how this view can enrich discussions on educational practices and contribute to the improvement of educational policies and practices.