Connecting Cultures
Over the summer, First Coast High School Principal Debbie Smith and other school district representatives met with members of the Jacksonville Port Authority. The goal was to learn about the major role that Brazil plays in the Florida economy and the impact it has here on the First Coast. Brazil is Florida's top international trading partner and the second largest in Jacksonville, behind Puerto Rico.
Thus, JAXPORT officials say, a knowledge of Portuguese will give students increased employment opportunities statewide.
Participating students have two options: a year-long language class taught by Sueli Wilkerson, a teacher from Brazil, or an intensive 12-week language program administered by a business professional or parent. Each option matches local students with those attending a sister school in Positivo, Brazil and provides mock business training. Each classroom will create a small business corporation, electing leaders, developing a product and selling stocks to raise funds to purchase the goods or raw-materials to make the products. Students from Brazil will export their products and sell them to the students in Florida, and visa-versa.
The program is administered by Junior Achievement chapters in Jacksonville and Curitiba, Brazil.