Brazilian and American Students Cut Across Language Boundaries

When one wants to learn a foreign language, one is often advised to go abroad to be in contact with native speakers and their culture. However, throughout this semester, students from Oswaldo Aranha Middle School and their IVECA’s partners from Sunderland Elementary School experienced this journey to multilingualism without actually leaving their classrooms in Esteio (Brazil) and Massachusetts (the US).

These students took on a bilingual trip together where they worked on engineering, geography and language projects. During their travel, they sometimes got some fuel via assisted auto-translation. This has facilitated them to achieve progress on the path of intercultural communication and to take part in a very positive experience, as reminded by Oswaldo Aranha English teacher (Miguel Antônio Machado). He believes this type of exchange is essential for his pupils as it gives them the opportunity to connect directly with students with a different mother tongue and a different cultural background as well.

View full article here: Alunos interagem por videoconferência com estudantes dos Estados Unidos

Intercultural Understanding on Technological Impact in Colombia and the U.S.

What do maple syrup, drones, solar panels and ice cream have in common? Well, fourth graders from Abraham Lincoln International School in Colombia and their IVECA partners from Georgia Elementary & Middle School in the US helped us answer this question.

Indeed, they addressed these topics during their mid-December Live Classes which focused on how the respective industries of their regions use modern technologies.

Due to the fact that we live in a technology-driven world, American and Colombian students chose to explore together how technology influences their daily life. While Vermont students shared with their partner friends how modern science facilitates the manufacturing of some typical products of their area (maple syrup and ice cream), Colombian students worked, amongst others, on renewable technologies, drones and coffee industry.

By discussing throughout this semester how new technologies are creating massive changes in their regions, these students clearly increased their knowledge about industrial science. Students also had opportunities to build intercultural understanding of the technological impact on people’s life.  Abraham Lincoln School’s principal commented about their experience at the end of this three-month partnership:

“Educating children with a humanistic approach has been set as a priority and in that direction we cherish the possibility to establish interaction with people from different cultures. Today we praise greatly the chance you have provided us. It’s been an awesome experience working with you and IVECA organization these sessions that have contributed to expanding our intercultural understanding. Tons of thanks and may this be the first of many similar experiences.” –  Ms. Rocio Mongui

Korean and Brazilian Students Debate over Renewable Energy

Noeun High School and Instituto de Educação respectively from Korea and Brazil, met virtually on Tuesday 22th November in order to discuss sustainable development and renewable energy. Mr. Jonghyuk Keun (Korea) and Ms. Michele Wilbert (Brazil), in collaboration with a Brazilian geography teacher displayed their commitment to make the class successful.

For one hour and a half, the Korean and Brazilian students enjoyed participating in debates about renewable energy, its different advantages and disadvantages. The students exchanged points of view, presented arguments and raised questions concerning diverse types of renewable energy such as hydraulic and nuclear energy. Other than scientific discussions, students had the opportunity of giving artistic performances that reveal some cultural aspects in their countries. As clearly seen on their faces, students were amazed by each other’s shows which opened their eyes to different lifestyles.

All for intercultural competence, this Live Class made students aware of many aspects of renewable energy that concern their countries. Undoubtedly, these kinds of learning experiences  will contribute to raising a generation that is conscious of environmental issues affecting our planet, and that is capable of discussing, analyzing and finding solutions for these challenging