Winnie Masanya

This summer, the English Language Institute, Missouri State University had the honor to host 34 teachers for the PDPI program (Programa de Desenvolvimento Profissional para Professores de Lingua Inglesa nos EUA). This 6-week English language training program was specifically designed for English teachers in public schools across Brazil.

The intensive 6-week program offered a comprehensive curriculum that included TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) methods, pronunciation workshop, lesson planning and materials design, project mentoring, and US history and culture. The TEFL methods course covered a range of topics, such as language analysis and awareness, assessment, differentiated instruction strategies, cooperative learning techniques, TEFL methodologies, and classroom management. The pronunciation workshop aimed to enhance participants’ awareness of English pronunciation features, provide techniques for teaching pronunciation, and offer opportunities to practice their own pronunciation.

In the lesson planning and materials design class, participants learned how to evaluate classroom materials, textbooks, and technology to determine their appropriateness and benefits for themselves, their students, and their institutions. They also engaged in a dynamic mix of workshops, enrichment activities, and other experiences, all designed to immerse them in the latest best practices, tools, and technologies in English language education.

Several activities and trips were integrated into the U.S. history and culture course, giving participants the opportunity to engage with locals and deepen their understanding of American history. The group visited the Museum of Native American History, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, took an overnight trip to St. Louis, and explored the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, as well as the Fantastic Caverns in Springfield.

At the end of the program, the teachers hosted a Brazilian art walk and fiesta, showcasing their culture, cuisine, and the vibrant diversity of their Amazonian homeland. The event was largely attended by teachers, students, and the larger Springfield community.