THE CULTURAL CAPITAL THAT THE ACQUISITION OF A FOREIGN LANGUAGE/CULTURE PROVIDES TO FUTURE INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERS OF THE FACULTY OF AGRARIAN SCIENCES OF THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF THE NORTHEAST: LOS HEREDEROS.

Abstract

The aim of this research work is to describe the cultural capital that the acquisition of a foreign language/culture provides industrial engineering students at the Faculty of Agronomical Sciences from the National University of the Northeast. Thus, the theoretical framework proposed by Piere Bourdieu as regards the cultural capital concerning habitus, game, and field is considered in order to determine if after attending the subjects English Language I-II-III or IV, from both methodological perspectives English for Specific Purposes and Communicative Approach, the student’s cultural capital is increased as well as their linguistic competence and performance according to the requirements in the field of industrial engineering as well as considering the functional-communication aspects of the use of the English language. A mixed methodological perspective has been adopted, in order to approach the object of this investigation from both quantitative as well as qualitative perspectives, which is why a descriptive methodological design with ethnographic traces has been chosen according to the phenomenological method. The data have been collected through Google Forms, focus groups with students, and interviews with teachers and students of English Language I-II-III or IV. The findings were divided into four blocks: firstly, the students’ cultural capital, secondly, the students’ academic performance in English, thirdly, gender studies, and finally the student’s centered methodological approach.