CELPE-BRAS E CAPLE: A PROFICIÊNCIA EM PORTUGUÊS COMO LÍNGUA NÃO MATERNA EM PARALAXE

In this study I investigated the exams produced by the Centro de Avaliação de Português Língua Estrangeira (CAPLE), from Universidade de Lisboa, and Celpe-Bras, produced by the Brazilian government. I have chosen to do this contrastive analysis due to the lack of this kind of research in language field. With this study my aim was to highlight the political and epistemological basis related to the concept of proficiency that is inherent to both Celpe-Bras and the exams produced by CAPLE. Making use of document analysis and literature review, my specific aims were 1) to place these exams as instruments of language policy, 2) to place these exams among the politics involving Brazil and Portugal, 3) to analyze the concept of proficiency in these exams, 4) to map the competencies and abilities required in these exams. As it was expected, when analyzing the concept of language in the exams (which is not always what is said in the official documents about them), I could see that this concept is connected to the understanding of proficiency and assessment. The analysis of Celpe-Bras showed that its task-based nature is related to its understanding of language. The concept of proficiency in this exam takes into account less formal aspects of language, having interaction and language use to perform actions in the world as its strongest feature. The analysis of the Diploma Intermédio de Português Língua Estrangeira (DIPLE), from CAPLE, showed, on the other hand, an idea of language focused on formal aspects of language, highlighting the use of lexical and grammatical competencies. By analyzing separately oral comprehension, reading comprehension and written production and interaction, the exam makes it clear what it understands for language. Proficiency in this exam considers formal aspects of language. The overall results opened a path to the understanding of proficiency as a social and political concept; beyond the linguistic one. The issues raised in this study can be used to foster future discussions that seeks a ...