A língua inglesa como capital cultural: percepções de estudantes da pública de Coelho Neto-MA sobre desigualdades e oportunidades sociais

Abstract

This study analyzes the perceptions of third-year high school students from public schools in the municipality of Coelho Neto, Maranhão, regarding English language teaching and its relationship with educational and professional opportunities. The research is based on Pierre Bourdieu's theory of cultural capital, understanding English as a valued social resource. This is a qualitative and quantitative study conducted with 53 students through structured questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and sociological interpretation. The findings show that, although most students recognize the importance of English for their academic and professional futures, many complete high school with a low level of proficiency and consider the instruction they receive insufficient. The study also found that many students seek to complement their learning through music, films, television series, games, and digital resources. The results suggest that the limitations of public education may restrict access to English language proficiency, contributing to the maintenance of educational and social inequalities. It is concluded that English language teaching can represent both an opportunity to expand cultural capital and a mechanism for reproducing inequalities, depending on the conditions of access to learning.