Brazilian students learn English through video chat with retired Americans

[Evil Eye]

While technology is often criticised for making society more solitary and less likely to engage with each other, it can also be used to bring us all closer together.

Brazilian students looking to improve their English have participated in a language project enabling them to video chat with Americans living in retirement communities.

Speaking Exchange, a heartwarming project developed by Brazilian language company CNA, connects the two communities through a free video chat programme.

A Brazilian student is able to log into the app, select an elderly person who is online and begin a conversation via webcam. The initial conversation is guided through a suggestion of topics, before the pair are allowed to chat freely.

The final conversation is uploaded via private link to the company's YouTube channel for teacher assessment.

Retirement communities are able to register elderly participants who'd like to be part of the scheme, and schedule a day and time for the conversations to begin.

While the project is currently in trial mode, CNA hopes to role it out across more educational institutes and retirement communities worldwide.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/10824993/Brazilian-students-learn-English-through-video-chat-with-retired-Americans.html


Thoughts?

I think it's a rather interesting idea. Gives these retired people something to do while helping others.

 

[Jazzy]

The Speaking Exchange Project

This Video Of Lonely Retirees Teaching English To Brazilian Students Will Make Your Day. Many students learning English in Brazil can't afford to study abroad. The Speaking Exchange project tries to mitigate that barrier by matching students with people in retirement homes just looking for someone to talk to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S-5EfwpFOk

Source

What an excellent idea.

What do you think?