Interference in Composition: a Study on Written Essays by Portuguese Higher Education Learners

Abstract

Higher education in Portugal suffered a deep transformation due to a new educationalmodel introduced by the Bologna Process. This European guideline also fosteredinternationalization and the exchange of students and lecturers. As a result, a commoncommunication language was imperative and English became a required course unitwithin higher education programs. In some institutions, English was already includedwhile in others it was introduced in the new study plans. Considering that these studentsare adults and that many have low skills in English language, interference of the mother

tongue, Portuguese, is recurrent. Based on a written essay with the topic “Writ

e about

the person who has influenced you the most”, a list of examples of different types of

interference was collected. False friends appeared as one of the most significant types,therefore becoming the first focus of research due to potentially leading tomisunderstandings in cross-linguistic communication (Chamizo Domínguez & Nerlich,2002). As studies on interference are scarce in Portugal, we aim to develop a project on

this matter, thus opening up new possibilities for research, contributing to educators’

awareness and proposing new methodologies towards a rethinking of teaching andlearning English as a second language within higher education.