A little over a two hour flight from Brasilia to Sao Paulo then a three hour car ride saw us safely to Itapeva. As was the case all throughout Brazil, we received a warm welcome with, of course, local food. On our last day before heading north to Salvador, we visited a fabulous school in Itapeva. We met an English teacher who used American songs to teach students the language. They played guitars, sang, danced, and created posters with lyrics for other students to see. This school had a student who was hearing impaired, so they got together with the staff and began teaching sign language. The chorus sang a song while signing. It was quite beautiful. We visited several classrooms and saw science fair projects and how the students are learning about environmental issues so crucial to their country. We observed a theatre class performing shadow plays. Finally, we sat on a panel for the student body. Select students had prepared thoughtful questions to ask us about schools and students in America and did so in English. While we are accustomed to people everywhere speaking English that is not the case in Brazil, especially outside city centers. English Language learning is mandated by law, and the United States does a great deal to support that effort. Organizations through the US State Department design and distribute lesson plans, materials, and even video games for students of all levels.
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Jayme Holaway HicksMs. Hicks is a 12th grade Language Arts and Advanced Placement teacher at Peachtree Ridge High School in Suwanee, Georgia. Archives
October 2015
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