Once we had returned home, we asked our Brazilian students to tell us about their experience with the US-Brazil Connect program. Here’s what they said:
“We were able to work together and share knowledge at the same time. We had fun and learned many things. We surpassed our challenges and created cool videos. I enjoyed the unity of our group and also the friendships we developed. Even though we live in different countries, we don’t want to lose this connection with our new friends. It showed us that we can break down barriers.”
“With the EBEP/US-Brazil Connect Program, I really learned how to be a better person…. On the first day I already fell in love with this program, and honestly, going to school became a real pleasure. My English improved in ways that I couldn’t have imagined, because learning with a real American person is definitely better than learning with a Brazilian teacher. Mostly because your coach gives to you security and comfort by helping you when you need some correction, but making you feel free to talk, with no pressure.”
“I learned the time is speed when we are happy and live big moments, is speed when meet new people, make new friendship… I know I never will forget of the wonderful moments, don’t has enough words for translate, don’t have words in english or portuguease.”
“When I met my coach and the other students I was so happy to be there because I could see in their eyes that everybody wanted to learn, even our coach! In our first day of class everybody was so shy that we couldn’t even speak with each other, but we passed over it day by day. We weren’t just a teacher with his students in a classroom, we were friends talking about our lives, changing knowledge, playing, watching videos and learning with each other.”
But when I saw them in front of me the first time, just smiling and looking for us in the middle of people, I finally understand: We don’t have to feel fear! They are here to help us in everything we need about the exchange.”
“In this exchange I learned that learning English can be more than books, teacher and grammar, it can be fun and at the same time you can learn how things work in the United States. I also learned that Americans aren’t arrogant, boring and selfish. They are funny, they care about the others and they want to learn with us…. I hope to see my new American friends again and show to them everything I’ve learned in this exchange and I hope that this experience has changed their lives too.”
“This month I learned something very important, something I will take the rest of my life. We don’t need to speak the same language to make real friends and understand the other. We can turn everything possible when we have the two F’s: Faith and Friends. “
“In this short time I learned things that I didn’t learn in my entire life. Not just words, but a little piece of a big culture. A culture not just of countries, but the relationship with persons of different parts of the world.”
“This exchange was the first step for coaches and students began a amazing friendship. And I really hope this don’t end here, just with us, but go to others cities and make this project more incredible. I finally just have to thank you all, because the students, coaches, teachers who make this possible. Thank you.”
“[S]o many things that we believed or heard about the people from the United States were deconstructed in this unique experience.”
“It is hard to put into words all of the feelings I have felt this month, and I think the word ‘unique‘ explains it. How can we say in common feelings or words something so unique? Something we know will never happen again. I cannot imagine another experience that could happen with the same anxiety, with the same ‘butterflies in the stomach,’ the same enthusiasm. I could not have imagined how important this program would become to me, and I am glad to have been a part of it, every minute.”
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