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."
Yet more English learning (Score:3, Insightful)
Brazilian kids and Elderly Americans? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Disgusting (Score:4, Insightful)
They are being used to further facilitate the downfall of the USA and its cultures and history.
By helping to spread the language and culture prevalent in the US?
Intresting theory.
Comment removed (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Brazilian kids and Elderly Americans? (Score:3, Insightful)
Does nation of Brasil have the word "America" in its official name?
How about Canada? Mexico? Guatemala? Let's go down the list and see.
Re:Disgusting (Score:2, Insightful)
So your choice is....
You go to the seniors who reek of piss and vomit and spend the time with them.
Here we have a win-win. The oldies of your decadent country are helping disadvantaged kids learn about English and your US Culture, improving them markedly. And as the payoff to the other side, your piss-smelling grandparents are able to have a little human interaction, a little break from the fact that you are too fuvking lazy to visit them.
If ANYTHING is facilitating the downfall of your country, it's you and your pathetic ilk.
Who Cares, Still Useful (Score:5, Insightful)
Not all of us care to read Reddit.
The ones who sure surely are mentally strong enough to handle a repost every now and again?
Besides, don't you have the private pleasure of reading it first...
Re:Winner (Score:5, Insightful)
"This scheme is a great success that is transforming the Brazilian culture"
And American culture too, I predict. As we don't have time for our elderly, I wonder how many more will find new little friends on the internet to whom they can recount their stories and who will keep them company?
This is a good story for everyone.
Re:Disgusting (Score:5, Insightful)
I have seen far too much senior exploitation
My son participated in something similar in the early 90's. He was in the last year of primary school (Australia), after introducing the kids to a group of senior via a "party" in a nearby retirement home they paired off kids with seniors followed by maybe a dozen weekly visits where the kids and seniors just sat around and talked. The class was the weekly visit itself there were no set topic of discussion and no notebooks, the home work was to describe each weeks visits in writing. My son was paired up with a Hiroshima survivor who had fought for the Japanese army in Burma, not an everyday lesson but certainly a valuable one.
Having said that, I fully acknowledge that the majority of old people living in these places are either not lucid, require hospitalization, or are not lucky/rich enough to land in descent seniors accommodation: I drove a taxi for 3yrs during the 80's, I've probably seen the inside of more old people's homes than you would care to imagine. A "computer pen pal" scheme such as this one would be a welcome improvement to the depressing circumstances I witnessed in at least 3/4 of those homes. I can still picture the (very)old man with a vomit stained dressing gown tied to a wheel chair in a "geriatric centre" that had been built in the windowless basement of a large hospital, they hadn't even bothered to paint the concrete walls. It's one of the most pitiful real life scenes I've witnessed in 55yrs. But old people wallowing in "piss and vomit" is much worse than just "exploiting" someone vulnerable for financial gain, it's two of the worst of human traits combined - cruelty and neglect.
What these disgracefully neglected people need is basic dignity and respect. Assuming the status-quo in old folks homes doesn't inexplicable change tomorrow, a "bright-eyed and bushy tailed" teenager that reacts to them as a student reacts to a respected teacher is precisely the psychological boost they need. Life experience is all they have left to offer society and they find dignity in the fact that a "young person" (under 70) accepts their offer. Assuming there's no "profit sharing" arrangements between the entity running the old folks home and the advertising company providing the ad-supported social network, I really can't see why you would have a problem with it.
Re:Brazilian kids and Elderly Americans? (Score:5, Insightful)
Does nation of Brasil have the word "America" in its official name?
How about Canada? Mexico? Guatemala? Let's go down the list and see.
Except that the America in the name of the USA refers to its location. Everyone in North and South America is an American. Because, as per your logic, they live on a continent with America in its official name. When I travel abroad and people ask me where I am from, I tell them I am from the United States. I do not tell them that I am an American because that narrows it down to 35 countries.