Brazilian Kids Learning English By Video Chatting With Elderly Americans 147
Hugh Pickens DOT Com (2995471) writes "Tim Nudd writes that it's the perfect match: Young Brazilians want to learn English. Elderly Americans living in retirement homes just want someone to talk to. Why not connect them? The advertising company FCB Brazil did just that with its 'Speaking Exchange' project for CNA language schools where young Brazilians and older Americans connect via Web chats, and they not only begin to share a language—they develop relationships that enrich both sides culturally and emotionally. 'The goal of the Speaking Exchange project is to transform lives,' says Luciana Fortuna. 'Our students have the opportunity to practice English with people who are willing to listen. During the chat sessions, the students discuss ideas and information from their lives in Brazil with the American senior citizens, many of whom have never had contact with anyone from Brazil before.' The pilot project was implemented at a CNA school in Liberdade, Brazil, and the Windsor Park Retirement Community in Chicago. The conversations are recorded and uploaded as private YouTube videos for the teachers to evaluate the students' development. 'The idea is simple and it's a win-win proposition for both the students and the American senior citizens. It's exciting to see their reactions and contentment. It truly benefits both sides,' says Joanna Monteiro."
Is this a good idea? (Score:2, Funny)
Yeah, let's teach the children that it's a good idea to videochat with older strangers on the internet, what could possibly go wrong?
Meta-pedant (Score:2, Funny)
Sorry, i don't want to be pedantic on this but really upsets me when people say "Americans", it's wrong in so many ways that worries me a lot for the kind of education that US kids have.
No problem, I'll do it for you, sans-apology.
First up "i" should be uppercase, even my spiel chucker knows that.
Second, depending on where and when you were born/educated there are between 5 and 7 continents. [wikipedia.org] There's also a reductionist 4 name convention for academics that's based on contiguous land masses (ie: each continent is an island).
The meta-pedant is as follows:
1. There is no such continent called "America" in English speaking nations.
2. Slashdot is published in English.
3. "America" is globally recognised as an abbreviation of "The United States of America" by English and non-English mass media. If the author/speaker is taking (in English) about the definition of "America" (in Spanish), then the context should make that clear to the reader in order to be understood.
Therefore: When posting on Slashdot, Brazil is most definitely a South American nation and "America" is a North American nation.
"For example, it would be awful if you refer to a french and a portuguese in this way: Portuguese kids and Elderly Europeans"
You think so? - What's the problem? ALL Portuguese are European, NOT all Europeans are Portuguese, right?
I highly recommend using logic and reliable data to alleviate your emotional stress about the issue, It works for me, believe it or not, I do not suffer any mental trauma reconciling the facts that, 1. Victoria is in Canada. 2. I'm a Victorian living in Australia who has never set foot in Canada.
Re:Yet more English learning (Score:0, Funny)
I was wondering where you liberal arts majors went after graduation.
Wait.. now I *am* getting confused. L Ron, is that you?
Re:Brazilian kids and Elderly Americans? (Score:2, Funny)
Don't worry, we still call you what we always call you when you're not around to hear it...
Re:Winner (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Winner (Score:5, Funny)
This is a good story for everyone.
I don't know. Just wait until have a generation of Brazilians speaking English and sounding like a Jewish grandmother. ;-)