With its globally widespread presence, English is considered a universal language. It is the standard language for international business, tourism, and technology. However, according to a survey by the British Council (a United Kingdom cultural institute that promotes English culture around the world), only 5 percent of the Brazilian population can communicate in English, and only 1 percent is fluent.
Certain that fluency in English can bring better opportunities to its students, Adventist Education in Brazil has created a bilingual program in partnership with the publisher responsible for its teaching materials, Casa Publicadora Brasileira (CPB).
The program has been given the name “Sky English,” and, according to Pastor Edson Erthal, CPB's general director, the initiative arose to meet a need in the Adventist Education Network. "We've known for a long time that speaking two languages is very important in this globalized world. By meeting this demand, we understand that this partnership adds up so that our students continue to have a differentiated quality of education," he says.
Launch Event
To introduce the program and materials to the managers of the Adventist Education Network who work in the Adventist Church's administrative offices throughout Brazil, in August 2023, CPB held two launch events for Sky English. The first took place in Guarulhos, São Paulo; the second, in Campinas, which is in the interior of the state.
For Pastor Antônio Marcos Alves, Education director for the South American Division, the launch event was professionally organized. "When we arrived at the venue, the first thing we saw was the visual impact. Everything was done with great care. And in this visual impact, we have a demonstration of the depth and seriousness with which Adventist Education and CPB are dealing with this new service," he says.
Alves also recalls that dozens of Adventist schools here in Brazil have already been practicing the bilingual program for some years. Now, Sky English is coming with an innovative proposal that will add even more knowledge to the students. "We already have more than 25,000 students in Sky English. At the event, we celebrated the launch of new material for our program. I feel that people left here very impressed. Our coordinators, principals, and other managers left convinced that this is a program that needs to be implemented in our schools," he says.
Implementation
Implementation has already begun. In the southeastern region of the state of São Paulo, for example, education professionals have been preparing for three years. "We started doing instructional English with our coordinators and teachers. Since then, they have been prepared in the language, with a pilot program in one of our schools. And by 2024, we'll have all nine units with a bilingual program for early childhood education. The idea is to expand it to include all basic education," explains Marizane Piergentile, Education director for the Southeast São Paulo Conference.
In the northwestern region of Brazil, Adventist Education has 20 schools, in which 15,000 students are enrolled. According to Professor Vanderson Costa, Education director for the Northwest Brazil Union, the implementation of the program will be gradual. "Our goal is to reach all the schools that have the possibility of implementing Sky English," he says.
Program
Sky English serves students from kindergarten through high school, with classes occurring five times a week. However, each school can adapt the teaching methods according to its needs.
Sky English is based on the same content taught in Portuguese and aims to develop four essential language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. As well as valuing citizenship and promoting a global vision, it emphasizes respect for cultural diversity and Christian values.
As mentioned by Vivian Fiuza, pedagogical coordinator for Casa Publicadora Brasileira, Sky English was developed using a methodology that integrates the contents of the regular curriculum to be taught in English. "This integration happens in a playful and creative way. We work with the teachers to ensure this interaction happens in the best possible way," she says.
Mission
Fiuza adds that another purpose of Sky English is not just to teach another language but also to collaborate with students who dream of being missionaries in other countries in the future. "Our aim is also for them to be able to preach the message of the Gospel anywhere in the world, with the certainty of Jesus' return and sharing this with others," she says.
Pastor Erthal agrees with Fiuza, adding, "The Gospel needs to be preached, and the world speaks English. This connection between education and mission, for me, is the most important part of a program like this."
Around the World
Today, Adventist Education is present in 160 countries. There are more than 2 million students. In Brazil alone, there are around 260,000 students.
Pastor Alves observes that consolidating a bilingual program is a way of internationalizing Adventist education. "It's a way of preparing students for their future. And we're already doing this without losing our principles," he concludes.
The original version of this story was posted on the South American Division Portuguese-language news site.