LEFFA, Vilson J. Se mudo o mundo muda: o ensino de línguas sob a perspectiva do emergentismo. In: Calidoscópio. Unisinos, 2009. p. 24-29.

According to Leffa, emergent systems are all around us and they can be, for instance, climate and the traffic system, however, in language teaching, to work with an emergent system is to work with language as a system in constant evolution that is composed by interactive parts. The classroom is not an isolated place and students are not uninfluenced beings. So, it is totally different from the traditional approach given to language as something simple and static.

Following the emergent approach the teacher will get better results and less extra work. Although working with this concept is much more challenging and will demand a more flexible and interactive attitude from teachers, the results will be much more satisfactory and students will understand that a foreign language is not something impossible to be understood or learnt.

Leffa also explains that Psycholinguistics is part of an emergent system, in other words, Psycholinguistics studies are extremely helpful to understand the process of language acquisition and also to comprehend how our brains work when they are receiving new information.

As it was mentioned before, it is a challenge to work with such approach but, at the same time it, is the guarantee of unexpected results.

LEFFA, V. J. Aspectos políticos da formação do professor de línguas estrangeiras. In: LEFFA, Vilson J. (Org.). O professor de línguas estrangeiras; construindo a profissão. Pelotas, 2001,   v. 1, p. 333-355.

In this text, Leffa discusses the role of foreign language teachers as professionals that are able to touch students on their essence, in other words, a language teacher can change our opinions, can bring us a different world view and make us reflect about many different social situations as well.

Another aspect discussed by Leffa is the required conditions to have such a professional, many things are involved and the most relevant on is “to rule the knowledge” concerning language and teaching approaches.

Leffa clearly states the difference between “treinamento” and “formação”. Two words easily mixed but they have huge practical differences. To train a teacher is to show him/her how to use a certain material without making inferences just applying what is on each page according to a determined timetable. One “treinamento” has an end while “formação” hasn’t. “Formação” involves constant update, dedication and search for better ways of applying theories to our daily practice.

And our practice involves political choices and these choices will affect our students so, a teacher needs to be able to make their students think about each choice made, not based on superficial arguments but looking for reflection, critical thinking to promote the growing of more committed social beings in the future.