Our program: How we work

IBEC offers classes of Portuguese as heritage language with an communicative and intercultural approach. We teach language-culture! What does it means? It means that Portuguese language and Brazilian Culture are learned for real-world purposes in a culturally-appropriate ways.  At IBEC, we understand that the cultural experience of our children will be different from a native Brazilian, but not less rich and interesting. Classroom instruction is conducted primarily in Portuguese. The children are separated by age 4-7, 8-12 and 13-17.  We offer a safe and supportive environment in wish our students are encouraged to talk, ask questions and expose their opinions freely about the language and the Brazilian Culture.

The focus of heritage language instruction is to develop the student’s literacy to complement the usually already developed listening and speaking skills. At IBEC, the student will learn to read and write in Portuguese, using appropriate sentence structure and will also be able to use the everyday, current conversational speaking patterns of Brazil. Our unique curriculum is theme-based where your child will learn practical Portuguese lessons with a larger view of Brazilian culture, while acquiring vocabulary for an everyday conversation. Our teachers use Brazilian books and authentic material (material created by Brazilians for Brazilians). Each lesson incorporates several items of the live language spoken in Brazil, such as stories, games, greetings and much more!

Our goal is to excite and engage children in Portuguese language and culture by immersing them in an environment full of fun discoveries.

INTRODUCING TEEN PORTUGUESE HERITAGE CLASSES

We are starting classes for teens at IBEC this semester! Initially, they will be offered in the cores of San Francisco and East Bay (following the current location and schedule).

Classes for teenagers will be shaped according to the needs and knowledge level of students enrolled. All classes follow an intercultural communicative approach, ensuring our students are able to communicate through speech and writing in Portuguese and have contact with elements of Brazilian culture.

Classes for teens include many interactive activities. Students will have the opportunity to experience the oral and written language through culturally contextualized activities, fun and stimulating.

The teachers for groups of teenagers, Fernanda (SF) and Valdira (EB) are professionals trained in literature and experienced in teaching this age group. Classes will be thematic and the content directed to meet the communication needs of each student.

We ask that parents bring the interested teenagers on the first day of class as we are unsure if we will have enough students to form a classroom.