Abstract: Discussion regarding the pursuit of careers and opportunities in Portuguese in the US.
Dr. Célia Bianconi is a Master Lecturer and head of the Portuguese Language Program at Boston University, where she teaches courses on Portuguese language and Brazilian culture. She holds a PhD in Educational Studies from Lesley University. Dr. Bianconi’s main research and publication are devoted to teaching and learning of Portuguese as a foreign language (PFL) in the United States. Dr. Bianconi was awarded the 2022 Frank and Lynne Wisneski for Excellence in Teaching. She has experience in Portuguese Teacher training funded by Startalk, a national professional development program for critical language teachers. She is the coauthor of: Brazilian Chronicles: The Reader, Third Edition. Currently is the Co-director of Portuguese Test Development of NPE (National Portuguese Exams) and AATSP Student’s Adviser of Portuguese Honor Society, Pi Beta Sigma at Boston University.
Dr. Silvia Ramos-Sollai researches Brazilian collective identity and cultural stereotypes in Portuguese World Language Education. At Duolingo, the market leader free application with 500 million registered users around the world, Dr. Sollai aligned the curriculum digital content with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), AI and Chat GPT. Author of several methodological articles, whose specific aim is to equip readers with creating their own authentic materials, Dr. Sollai designs, pilots, analyzes, and reports the impact of content for Language for Specific Purposes along the K-12 curriculum as a pipeline to higher education.