Ottawa, Ontario –June 21, 2018 – The largest association of language schools in the country, Languages Canada (LC), experienced an exceptional week in Brazil. In the past days, LC signed a formal agreement with the Association of Brazilian Rectors of State and Municipal Universities (ABRUEM), met with the Secretary of Higher Education and Governor of the State of Paranà to discuss the Paranà Parle Français program, and entered into a formal agreement with the State of Goiás—yet another state that wants to benefit from LC’s expertise.
“Brazil is a rapidly growing market and one of the most important ones in the world,” explains Gonzalo Peralta, Executive Director of LC. “The population and Brazilian leaders are seeking to perfect their language skills to continue their extraordinary development. They can count on us and our Canadian partners.”
In 2017, the 210+ LC member schools hosted 150,000 international students here seeking to learn English or French—nearly 24,000 of them were Brazilian. International students from Brazil alone account for 16% of all these students in Canada.
Assistance from LC and its partners allows Brazilian organizations to implement second language education programs, often in universities. In certain circumstances, this assistance goes so far as to send Canadian students to Brazil for extended stays. In other circumstances, the assistance from LC and its partners takes the form of a trip to Canada—largely funded—for a few Brazilian students. The foreign students selected can then benefit from intensive training in English or French and the protection of host families.
“We would like to genuinely thank our partners and collaborators in this venture. Without them, this progress would not be impossible,” concludes Mr. Peralta. LC especially thanks ABRUEM, the Secretary of Higher Education and Governor of the State of Paranà, the Economic Development Secretariat of the State of Goiás and all of the education partners involved in these efforts.
Mr. Peralta has also spoken at the Languages Without Borders conference on Tuesday. The two organizations work collaboratively to send Canadian students to Brazil to offer help in classrooms to students learning English or French.
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About Languages Canada
Languages Canada/Langues Canada is Canada’s national language education association representing more than 210 private and public members that offer accredited English and French programs. Overall, more than 135,000 students come to Canada every year to learn English and/or French.
Contact:
Rachel Lindsey
Director, International Affairs and Operations
rlindsey@languagescanada.ca
+1-613-794-7224
