English with Thiago
Why Most Brazilians DON'T Speak English Fluently - Analyzing English Learning in Brazil
May 7, 2025
Brazil faces significant challenges in English language learning, despite mandatory education. Systemic flaws in schools, lack of resources, and ineffective teaching methods contribute to the problem. Cultural attitudes often prioritize work-related purposes over personal interest in learning. Intriguingly, many Brazilians struggle with Portuguese itself, affecting their ability to learn English. The episode highlights the need for greater engagement, accountability, and resource accessibility to boost fluency among future generations.
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Quick takeaways
- The quality of English instruction in Brazil is hindered by underfunding in public schools and teachers' inadequate fluency, leading to ineffective learning.
- Many Brazilians perceive English primarily as a career necessity, resulting in surface-level engagement and minimal motivation for deeper understanding of the language.
Deep dives
Systemic Barriers in Basic Education
In Brazil, English education is part of the national curriculum; however, the quality of instruction is severely lacking. Many public schools are underfunded, resulting in outdated materials and a lack of resources such as audio equipment, which hampers practical listening and speaking skills. Furthermore, English teachers often have inadequate fluency themselves, leading to a focus on grammar and rote memorization rather than real communication. As a consequence, students may spend years in school learning English yet still be unable to hold a basic conversation upon graduation.
