Introducing Leandro...

Introducing Leandro from Escola Professor Mourão Filho...

How did you learn about this opportunity?

“I learned about the project from Luciana, who is a teacher at E.M. Londres.”

Is English hard to teach in Brazil?

“I think so. Unfortunately education is hardly seen as priority and most Brazilian students do not see any good reason to learn English.”

What were your initial thoughts on this new project?

“Honestly, my initial thought was that it would not work out since most students do not really care about learning English. However, as being a teacher involves believing and not giving up easily, I have decided to give it a chance.”

How do you think having the opportunity to interact with a school in Brazil and England help your school?

“I think that will help a lot, as having this interaction will encourage all the staff to embrace the project.”

What are the children most looking forward too?

“I guess they are most looking forward to chatting with and sending letters to the students in England.”

How will this project effect the children in your school?

“I think that will open their minds to the real importance of learning English.”

What is the impact of this project on other teachers in your school?

“I hope this project will encourage other teachers to take part and help the English teachers implement the project.”

What hope do you have for the future with this project?

“I hope this project will be well availed and that this be the first of many projects in my school.”

Introducing Rio de Janeiro...

Introducing Wladilene from Escola Municipal Ministro Gama Filho...

How did you learn about this opportunity?

“A friend of mine, Luciana Oliveira, told me about this project.”

Is English hard to teach in Brazil?

“In public schools, it is hard to teach English because most of the students are not aware about the importance of learning a second language.”

What were your initial thoughts on this new project?

“I thought it would be a good way for them to be familiar with the English language.”

How do you think having the opportunity to interact with a school in Brazil and England help your school?

“In my opinion, the contact with others will encourage them to interact in English because they will see other Brazilian students doing it from Curitiba.”  

What are the children most looking forward too?

“When I told them about this project, they became interested in meeting the people from England and they started to ask questions about the country.”

How will this project effect the children in your school?

“I think it will spark student’s desire to explore a world that they do not know that exists.”

What is the impact of this project on other teachers in your school?

“I believe it will have a great impact on them. I have not had time to talk to them yet as I have just talked to my directors and they are really excited about it.”

What hope do you have for the future with this project?

“Firstly, I hope the children become more interested in learning a second language. Secondly, that they explore, investigate and understand their world and the wider world.”

That time teachers from England visited Curitiba...

Its extremely repetitive, but have to say thanks to everyone that has supported the journey since 2013. It sounds quite far fetched to say that seven teachers from North Tyneside schools spent last week in Curitiba, Brazil with their partner schools but they actually did as part of a successful British Council funding bid that came about the beginning of this year. In 2013 they decided to do a Brazil Day for two lads hoping to get to Brazil and make a bit of difference, but also impacting the local community. I don't think we can not be proud of what has been achieved, however it is very much rolling with opportunities that came about and delivering outcomes with a passion to achieve.

I decided that I had to join the English teachers visiting Brazil and see them meeting their schools in person for the first time because I felt it was something I couldn't miss...and it would be nice to return and see what the schools are doing. The aim was to keep this trip to the other side of the world a secret from the Brazilians so as not to distract them from the English arrivals. I succeeded, although not without problems...at a local game in Curitiba the first impression for the teachers was a fan holding a hand gun as we ushered them through the gates!

The experience was unbelievable because you could literally see communities come together as they laughed, joked and discussed their schools in detail through broken English and Portuguese. Similarities and differences came up, but what overshadowed the trip was the awe in which everything was received. The Brazilian schools delivered welcome presentations that blew the English away with cultural dances, local music, fantastic displays and of course the national anthem. The children mobbed the English teachers as if they were celebrities and had a reel of questions they couldn't wait to ask them. The hope is this continued influence and communication keeps the English language 'real' and Brazilian children understand the need to learn and actually have the desire to pursue it. The other side of the project is the English children understand more about the world we live in and also the need to appreciate others.

The local government in Curitiba (Prefeitura de Curitiba) were fantastic and looked after the English teachers fantastically. I had to improve my Portuguese as there was a need to have a bit of translation, but sometimes words couldn't cover the emotions that filtered through the corridors. Two stand out moments include a Skype between Romario Martins and St. Cuthbert's where you could see how moved the English staff were, its hard not to get attached to the story or as started a project about happiness where Brazilian children and staff had to write what made them happy. It was a hard question to answer, but translating the responses was tougher - "gratitude for having the opportunity to meet new friends", "having a loving family" and "my children are the treasures in my life" just a small sample of responses.

The next year will see schools collaborate on various projects such as a joint diversity week, an eco friendly garden and introducing Children's Day to North Tyneside. Its almost a perfect pilot for the British Council to run with as more schools engage in the Newcastle to Brazil project in their own ways.

Three Brazilian teachers are coming to Newcastle in a couple of weeks and the nerves/excitement kicks in again. Whats the plan? the outcome? In all honesty it really is endless possibilities...

You can watch the TV report in Portuguese which covered the teachers arriving in Curitiba http://g1.globo.com/pr/parana/paranatv-2edicao/videos/t/edicoes/v/professores-ingleses-retornam-a-curitiba-para-conferir-resultados-de-projeto-feito-na-copa/4551971/

We used to joke about having 1000 nephews in Brazil, the reality is we've probably got about 3000-4000 across two continents!

For English staff thanks for being great sports and taking the moments for what they were...classic!