Learning a new language, especially English, has become essential to stand out in the job market. Therefore, in recent years, the demand for bilingual schools has grown significantly, according to data from the Brazilian Association of Bilingual Education. Between 2014 and 2019, the number of these institutions grew by 10% in the country.
In this e-book prepared by Faculdade Insted, you will understand the definitions of Bilingual Education and the requirements to work in the area.
- What is Bilingual Education?
Until 2019, many people had doubts about what Bilingual Education is. In 2020, the Ministry of Education, through the National Education Council, published a document that establishes norms on the subject and obligations of institutions and teaching staff in relation to Basic Education.
The National Curriculum Guidelines for Multilingual Education defines bilingual schools as characterized “by promoting a single, integrated curriculum taught in two languages of instruction, aiming at the development of linguistic and academic competences and skills of students in these languages”.
- National Curriculum Guidelines
In 2020, the National Education Council (CNE) approved the National Guidelines for Plurilingual Education in Brazil, a document that defines requirements for schools to call themselves as such.
Among the main requirements, the National Guidelines for Plurilingual Education in Brazil define that:
- In Early Childhood Education and Elementary School, language instruction time must cover at least 30% and maximum 50% of curricular activities;
- For High School, the instruction time in the additional language must cover at least 20% of the workload.
The document also provides that:
- By the end of the 6th year of Elementary School I: 80% of students reach the minimum level of proficiency A2 in the Common Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR);
- By the end of the 9th year of Elementary School I: 80% of students reach the minimum level of proficiency B1 in the Common Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR);
- By the end of the 3rd year of high school: 80% of students reach the minimum level of proficiency B2 in the Common Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR);
- Teacher training
For teachers who wish to work in these institutions, their training remains in degrees such as Letters, Pedagogy or Licentiate in specific areas of Elementary School and High School and they start to need additional training in Bilingual Education. Professionals must also present proof of proficiency at the minimum level B2 in the Common Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
The National Council of Education (CNE) admits professionals who have extension courses with at least 120 hours or postgraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees in the area, recognized by the MEC.
- How do I specialize in Bilingual Education?
Faculdade Insted offers a postgraduate degree in Bilingual Education, with a workload of 360 hours. Aimed at education professionals and/or those who want to insert themselves in the context, the course works on concepts, models and types of bilingual schools, as well as didactic processes, biliteracy techniques and technology.
Invest in your training!
Bibliographic references:
BRASIL. (Parecer CNE/CEB nº 2/2020). Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais para a oferta de Educação Plurilíngue. Brasília: MEC. 2020.
