This research aims to analyze the foreign language classes in a technical course, taught using
the virtual learning environment (VLE) Moodle, from the perspective of the complex thinking,
in order to verify what are the contributions and the limitations of this teaching, considering the
development of the multiliteracies. We have considered that online foreign language
classrooms are complex adaptive systems and the question that guided the research was: What
are the contributions and the limitations for the foreign languages teaching in technical courses
in distance learning considering the development of the multiliteracies? What drove this
research was my experience and concerns raised when I was a distance tutor of three disciplines
in two different institutions; the need to assist distance teachers and tutors in preparing and
teaching online language classes; and also my interest about the Complexity Theory from
carried out studies (MORIN, 2005; LARSEN-FREEMAN, 1997; ELLIS et al, 2009). The
research was carried out in the post-secondary technical course in “Secretariado”, linked to the
“Rede e-Tec”, offered in the distance education modality by an educational institution in
Palmas-TO. The data were collected from an English language and a Spanish language
disciplines in this course. Thus, the study constituted a qualitative research, in a descriptiveinterpretative way, using as data source the guiding and/or regulatory documents of the high
school technical and professional education, the virtual classes and the interviews with the
teachers and the tutors of the disciplines. The analysis was done in a descriptive way, analyzing
and interpreting the data qualitatively. The results show that in spite of the importance and the
facilities of distance learning in terms of flexibility of time and space for study, there are still
problems regarding the use of technologies, both regarding technical knowledge and the use of
what is already available to make a VLE an interactive and collaborative environment for
multiliteracies development.
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