UFSC, through the Office of International Relations (SINTER), will host an English Language Fellow from the Regional English Language Office (RELO) of the U.S. Embassy, starting in March 2025. The program aims to enhance English language teaching and learning, strengthen ties between Brazilian and U.S. universities, provide international experience for U.S. English language educators, and improve communication among educators, government officials, and industry professionals from both countries.
This opportunity was made possible through ongoing dialogues between the U.S. Consulate in Porto Alegre and SINTER, who have bene developing joint initiatives to expand international opportunities for the UFSC community. Recent opportunities include the selection of faculty members for the English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) course at Ohio University (Call 1/2023/SINTER) and for the Summer 2025 Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs for Scholars) Program (Call 2/2024/SINTER).
UFSC is one of eight Brazilian public institutions—five of which are universities—selected to host an English Language Fellow in 2025, marking its first participation in the program. Daniel Chavez, the fellow assigned to UFSC, previously served at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) in 2024. His activities at UFSC will align with the university’s internationalization priorities, the program’s objectives, and his professional interests.
The following activities are currently planned and will be further refined upon Mr. Chavez’s arrival at UFSC:
- Offering EMI courses in collaboration with the UFSC Committee for the Institutionalization of Foreign Language Courses, along with other activities within the Institutional Center for Languages and Translation (NILT/SINTER);
- Developing activities with faculty and students from the English Language and Literatures Program, as well as teachers and students at the Colégio de Aplicação [Laboratory School];
- Contributing to UFSC outreach projects.
Fernanda Leal, Director of International Relations at UFSC, and Marianne Behs, Public Affairs Specialist at the U.S. Consulate in Porto Alegre.
Between 21 and 23 February, UFSC’s Director of International Relations, Dr. Fernanda Leal, participated in the In-Country Orientation for 2025 English Language Fellows in Brasília. During the event, she received guidance on the Program and the potential activities to be developed by the fellow at UFSC. The orientation brought together the fellows assigned to Brazilian public institutions in 2025, along with Marianne Behs, a representative of the U.S. Consulate in Porto Alegre; representatives from other U.S. consulates hosting English Language Fellows in Brazil; and Helmara Moraes and Scott Chiverton, RELO directors at the U.S. Embassy in Brasília.
