Language is a bridge, not a barrier — and as the bell rings, students from across the globe enter an English as a Second Language (ESL) classroom as this message reverberates in their mind. With years of teaching experience spanning continents, ESL educator Ms. Thais Goncalves proudly marked a new place on her map this year as she took her place in the Westwood community.
Ms. Goncalves began her 23-year teaching career in her home country of Brazil, where her love for teaching and giving back to her community started. Upon arriving in the U.S., she spent three years teaching English Language Arts and five years teaching ESL in California, the latter being a course she still teaches to this day.
“When I was in school, I used to love math, so my teacher would ask me to help the students who were struggling with it,” Ms. Goncalves said. “I would stay after school once a week to help, and that’s pretty much when I decided that I wanted to be a teacher.”
While mathematics initially sparked her love for teaching, Ms. Goncalves eventually found her way into the world of English and received her bachelor’s degree in the subject. She began teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) at schools in Brazil. With her unique international teaching experience, Ms. Goncalves has noticed many cultural differences between teaching English in Brazil compared to the U.S..
“In Brazil, students would have EFL classes twice a week for only 40 minutes, so there’s only so much you can teach,” Ms. Goncalves said. “They weren’t required to communicate in English. It was just one of the school subjects. [In the U.S.], English is a survival skill. These students need to learn how to communicate with it on a daily basis.”
Learning English as a second language can be challenging, as English is regarded as one of the more difficult languages to master — especially for teenagers who are already juggling homework and other responsibilities. Ms. Goncalves wants her students to recognize their own growth in the language-learning process, an undertaking that requires determination and constant practice. Her top priority is providing personalized support to her students as they navigate the language acquisition journey.
“I want my students to feel empowered, confident, and really believe they can do hard things,” Ms. Goncalves said. “I also want to get to know them better, so they feel they can count on me as a helpful resource.”
Outside of school, Ms. Goncalves loves exploring creative outlets like books and music and spending quality time with her family.
“I used to be a dancer in Brazil, so I like to take a few classes when I can,” Ms. Goncalves said. “I also love watching my kids play competitive soccer and volleyball.”
Even with just a few weeks of Westwood experience under her belt, Ms. Goncalves expresses enthusiasm regarding her experiences as a part of the school’s community.
“The staff [and] teachers have been so helpful and supportive. They’ve been there for me since day one,” Ms. Goncalves said. “I love learning about my students’ cultures and backgrounds. They tell me about how their day has been, the things they were happy about, [and] the things they’re struggling with.”
