Edwiges Rego “ELT in Rio de Janeiro: Rio Global Child Programme”, Brazil

Municipal Secretariat of Education Secretary: Cláudia Costin Regional Offices of Education: 10 Schools: 1,072 (including 23 experimental schools – Ginásios Experimentais Olímpicos and Ginásios Experimentais Cariocas).

6th – 9th grade students: 234,895 (including 1,209 specialneeds students) 1st – 5th grade students: 292,210 (including 3,675 specialneeds students) Teachers: 41,969 Websites: www.rioeduca.net http://www.rio.rj.gov.br/web/sme [Last update: 17/9/2012]

ELT in Rio de Janeiro: Rio Global Child Programme 2010 – 2012

English lessons in all schools.

Expansion of ELT in primary education (1st - 9th grade).

Curriculum guidelines for EFL: focus on intercultural competence and on language use in social contexts.

Newly hired teachers: 1,438 (public contest) Total number of English teachers in service: 1,830.

Teacher training: at least a 12-hour workshop for novice teachers and a 4-hour workshop for all teachers twice a year.

ELT in Rio de Janeiro: Rio Global Child Programme 2010 – 2012 Provision of educational materials free of charge: a student’s book, two booklets, a teacher’s guide, an audio CD, a CD ROM, a DVD and puppets.

Digital lessons hosted in a collaborative educational platform: Educopédia - www.educopedia.com.br More hours of English lessons per week in experimental schools: 5 lessons (GEO); 4 lessons (GEC).

Costs fully funded by the Municipal Treasury: in 2010, US$ 3,41 million; in 2011, US$ 13,93 million.

ELT in Rio de Janeiro: Looking back on the past years ELT limited to the second half of Basic Education (6th-9th grade).

Non-regular courses – French and Spanish offered occasionally instead.

No specific curriculum.

Focus on the development of reading skills and on grammar.

Restricted opportunities to foster fluency.

No materials provided.

Training attended by a reduced group of teachers.

The way ahead (2012 – 2016) & Challenging issues Call for another public contest (to hire more English teachers).

Development and assessment of oral skills in large groups.

ELT from 1st to the 9th grade (at least 2 lessons per week).

Adequate learning environment for YL

Implementation of 10 bilingual schools.

An investment of US$105,31million.

More experimental schools and extended school hours (more English lessons per week).

The use of IT (by teachers and learners).

Teacher professional learning and development.

The role and the status of ELT in primary schools.