English Language Programs

The Regional English Language Office (RELO) strengthens the U.S.–Brazil Strategic Partnership by building capacity through English language programs throughout Brazil. Based in the U.S. Embassy in Brasília, the RELO in Brazil is one of twenty-five such offices around the world, funded and coordinated by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of English Language Programs.

The RELO in Brazil supports U.S. public diplomacy efforts to enhance mutual understanding (through English) between the people of Brazil and the United States. The RELO liaises with the Ministry of Education, State and Municipal Secretariats of public education, English teacher associations, public and private universities, and other partners in order to offer professional development, educational exchange programs, and resources for English language teachers and students.

To keep up-to-date with all our resources and opportunities for teachers, subscribe to our newsletter by emailing RELOBrazil@State.Gov and follow the RELOBrazil Facebook page.

If you have any questions about the RELO’s programs below, please feel free to contact us!

Regional English Language Office
Telephone: +55 (61) 3312-7000
Email: RELOBrazil@State.Gov

  • Scott Chiverton, Regional English Language Office Director
  • Helmara de Moraes, RELO Deputy Director
  • Juliana Ribeiro, RELO Access Coordinator
  • Felipe Ferreira, RELO Digital Coordinator

  • Essay Writing Resource Center: This free, open-access resource on academic writing was specifically designed for Brazilian students. The repository of materials comprised of six independent modules is self-access and includes units to help students apply for study in the U.S. and prepare for successful writing in their studies in the United States. The material might be used by high school or university students or teachers looking for high quality resources about writing.
  • Slice of Life Podcast: This podcast is made for Brazilian Portuguese speakers of all ages who want to improve their English and understanding of U.S. Culture. This collaboration between RELO Brazil and the University of Texas in Austin includes fifty episodes of learning. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!
  • English Olympics: This one-month competition is designed for middle and high school students and teachers. You can practice your English and join for free to participate using WhatsApp! This annual event is held in partnership with ChatClass and RELO Brazil and seeks to incentivize and recognize the learning of English. This year’s event is scheduled for October 2020 and the theme is “The Future of Work.”
  • American English Learner MOOCS: These Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) help pre-intermediate, intermediate, and advanced level learners improve their English skills in five major career fields: English for Media Literacy, English for STEM Fields, English for Business and Entrepreneurship, English for Journalism, and English for Career Development. Each MOOC is self-paced and is five weeks long.
  • American English Website: Discover podcasts, videos, games, and American culture resources for practicing English from Voice of America Learning EnglishSmithsonianthe National Park Servicethe Library of Congress, and more! Popular items for learners include
    • American English E-BooksRead anytime, anywhere — on the go or in the classroom! Free, American English E-books are available to download in both .pdf and audio files. Titles are adapted from American classics by Mark Twain, Jack London, and Edgar Allan Poe and are intended for intermediate learners of English.
    • American Teens Talk: Interviews with American teenagersgive learners a view into the lives of adolescents in the U.S. Through the written and audio format of the interviews, learners can increase vocabulary, practice reading and listening skills, and learn more about U.S. culture.
    • Web Resources for Language LearningFind innumerous high-quality online tools for your independent study of English in this guide of web resources.
    • Sing Out Loud: Children’s SongsSing Out Loud: Traditional Songs, and Sing Out Loud: American Rhythms: These high-quality collections of songs are designed for learning English. Download the songs, listen along, and amplify your vocabulary and language skills.

Online Professional Development

  • The Online Professional English Network (OPEN) offers virtual learning opportunities to foreign English language educators, professionals, and learners worldwide and provides free access to teaching and learning materials which can be reused, adapted, and shared. OPEN professional development opportunities are developed by U.S. academic institutions and experts in the field of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
  • American English Live Events:  American English Live offers three event series each year for English language educators around the world. At the end of each session, participants can complete a short quiz to earn a digital badge. Series events take place every other Wednesday.
  • Previously Recorded American English Webinars: Search and watch recorded videos on methodological topics that foster interactive, student-centered language instruction. Each webinar includes corresponding downloadable presentations and additional resources.
  •  OPEN MOOCs: These free online courses are designed for English language teachers and open to an unlimited number of participants. The program is ongoing and offers various courses that are facilitated and self-directed. Grab some teacher friends and start up a MOOC Camp!
  • OPEN Global Online Courses: This program offers Brazilian English teaching professionals the opportunity to take innovative, online university-level classes. Administered by well-known U.S. universities and educational institutions, OPEN courses introduce and explore methodology, connect participants to U.S. English language teaching experts, and create a professional network of international teachers. To learn more, contact the RELO office.
  • American English YouTube ChannelThis resource includes over 650 videos, divided into sections for learners and teachers. More than 15 thematic playlists consist of full-length professional development webinars or teaching tips.

Materials and Resources for Teaching

  • English Teaching Forum: Since 1962, English Teaching Forum has been a useful, friendly magazine for English Teachers. English Teaching Forum is available online with an archive of searchable articles. Most articles  are submitted by its readers, and the journal solicits submissions from teachers on a wide variety of topics in second/foreign language education.
  • The American English WebsiteAmerican English is a resource center for teaching and learning about American English language and culture. This website provides a variety of engaging materials and resources for professional development and the classroom.

Public School Teacher Programs

  • The RELO office sponsors programs throughout Brazil with the aim of providing long-term professional development for public school English teachers. Brazilians Innovating on the Teaching of English (BRITE) is a semester-long program that takes place in various locations throughout Brazil. In addition, the RELO office sponsors English language learning opportunities for early-career teachers through the English Access Microscholarship Program.

Resources for Institutions and Partnership

  • The English Language Specialist Program: The Specialist Program recruits U.S. academics in the fields of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Applied Linguistics for short-term projects that focus on teacher training, materials development, curriculum design, or assessment.  Projects occur throughout the year and can include face-to-face and virtual components. Email the RELO office for more information on submitting a proposal.
  • The English Language Fellow Program: The Fellow Program places talented, highly qualified U.S. educators with Master’s degrees in TESOL or Applied Linguistics at universities, secretariats of education, and other centers of education throughout Brazil. Fellows share their expertise, gain international and professional experience, and learn about the cultures of Brazil. The RELO office solicits proposals for Fellows annually.
  • The English Access Microscholarship Program: This learner-centered program provides a foundation of English language skills to learners from economically disadvantaged sectors through extracurricular classes and intensive sessions. Access provides participants with improved English skills that may lead to better jobs and educational prospects, including future exchanges and study in the United States. Originally conceived for teenagers from non-elite communities, the global Access Program has provided scholarships to over 180,000 students in 86 countries since its inception in 2004.The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Brazil have hosted Access Programs since 2008, and more than 2,500 learners  have participated in the program. Currently, there are nine Access program sites with local partners throughout Brazil that focus on teens, early-career English teachers, and alumni leadership. Proposals for hosting Access Programs are solicited annually.
  • Professional Development Seminars and Workshops: The RELO office provides workshops and professional development sessions in partnership with secretariats of education, teachers associations, bi-national centers, and schools. To find out more about upcoming events or to request a speaker, contact the RELO office.
  • Support for Innovative Projects and Small Grants: The RELO office provides a limited number of small grants on a very competitive basis to support professional development opportunities in the field of English Language teaching in Brazil. Grants are typically used to help start, support, or expand professional groups for English teachers, develop English language teaching materials that build a better understanding of Brazilian and American cultures, or support unique professional development projects that have a deep and lasting impact on the English language teaching community.
  • Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant and English Teaching Assistant programs: The U.S. Embassy in Brazil works together with U.S. Department of State programs from the Fulbright Commission, several of which directly contribute to English language teaching and learning:  the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA), Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching (DAI), the Fulbright Professional Development for Teachers Program  (PDPI), and Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) programs.