Recently, in the television program, “Today in Toronto with Manuel Alexandre”, Dr. José Mendes, Consul General of Portugal in Toronto, in a brief participation, once again referred to the great quality and usefulness of the Go Live Tv service and the Mr. Manuel Alexandre and how this is reflected in the strengthening of the Portuguese community.

Then, Mr. Consul introduced Dr. José P. Ferreira (coordinator for the teaching of Portuguese in Canada), highlighting his professional qualities and dedication to this task of great responsibility and socio-cultural importance.

After a short introduction by Manuel Alexandre, Dr. José P. Ferreira immediately began to remember the history of the Portuguese-speaking presence in Canada.

He found that the language arrived with the first Portuguese emigrants and their families in the 50s and 60s. From the end of the 70s, the Canadian School Boards introduced in their programs, the teaching of foreign and heritage languages, among which they have already was Portuguese.

Currently, Dr. José P. Ferreira continued, there is an offer of teaching our language in 20 School Directions and 12 Community Schools, covering the levels of: pre-primary / basic, secondary, university and adult education.

He continued, congratulating for the fact that the Instituto Camões renewed the memorandum of understanding with the Toronto Catholic School Board (preferred by most Portuguese families) and also with the Toronto Public School Board.

He enumerated the following Catholic School Directorates with which the agreements already work: Dufferin / Peel, Halton, Waterloo, St.Clair / Windsor and Hamilton / Wentworth, in the latter began the program of classes this week, thanking the excellent work of the teachers Fernanda Adams and Anabela.

For more information about programs or registration, you can contact us by email “sepe.canada@camoes.mne.pt”, by tel: 416 706 2443 or on facebook “coordination of Portuguese teaching in Canada”.

The interviewee also emphasized that for the success of the programs, the involvement of all is essential, starting with the Consulate and authorities, including schools, teachers and families.

Instituto Camões supplies printed manuals, referred Porto Editora and also access in digital format of several didactic materials provided by Lidel. By the way, he mentioned a recent training for the production of digital games, directed by Dr. Isabel Alves, at Escola Comunitária Fernando Pessoa at the Centro Cultural Portugues de Mississauga.

A training meeting (in digital format) for Portuguese teachers in Canada is planned for May 2021.

Then, Dr. José P. Ferreira presented and highlighted the excellent service provided by Dr. Manuela Sequeira (present in the program via Whatsapp), especially in connection with the Catholic School Board.

Dr. Manuela Sequeira underlined the financial and logistical support she has received from Instituto Camões and government agencies. She referred to concrete data on how classes and schedules work, namely: 30 minutes teaching time 4 times a week and post-teaching hours, on Saturdays 2 hours and 30 minutes in 30 sessions. There are currently 44 schools offering Portuguese language teaching.

There are 2,500 students (not all Portuguese) learning our language at 10 schools in downtown Toronto, eg D’Arcy McGee, Pope Francis, St. Anthony, St. John Bosco, St. Matthew, St. Sebastian, Stella Maris and St. Mary Angels, where I was the director in this last one, said Dr. Manuela with audible pride.

Then she explained in detail many more aspects of the different programs and made herself available to help anyone who needs some additional information.

The program, which was running in a great atmosphere, was approaching the end and Manuel Alexandre reminded all the viewers that in the next program on February 25, 2020 at 5 pm, Mr. Consul, Dr. José Mendes will be on his program to answer the questions that were put to you on the portal ” pergunteaoconsulado@gmail.com “.

We promise to be attentive and report the event.

(Carlos Lima)