Name: Ana Claúdia de Sousa

 

 

 

 

The first time I had an English class was in 1984

( yes! 21 years ago! I haven't realized that it was so long ago!). I was just 13 years old and I can say that, despite the teaching method of "the book is on the table", I fell in love with it!

 

 

My first English class was at Colégio Arquidiocesano de BH,

and my teacher was a nice middle-aged woman.

 I can't remember how classes were at that time, but I remember the book we used – it was by Amadeu Marques.

 

 

In 1986 I started studying English in language schools.

 I studied in many schools, and the first one was CENEX/FALE.

Yes! Believe me! I studied at CENEX 19 years ago!

I remember that there was not a portable CD player as nowadays

it was not even a K7 player! – it was an old fashioned tape player, with two big tape rolls!

 

Cd Player nowadays         Tape player at CENEX in the 80's

 

                                                                      I took the basic course at CENEX,

 the intermediate and advanced courses at Yázigi,

I prepared for the FCE test at Cultura Inglesa (I got this certificate in 1992),

I took conversation courses at Universitas (I think it doesn't exist anymore!) and Luziana Lanna,

 and finally I prepared for the CAE test (I got this certificate in 2000) at MAI.

 

 

I can say that in my life

 I had many opportunities because of the English I learnt! I'll list just some of them:

 

1 - I could work in a company for almost 10 years as a product manager.

The company Instant Shop imports products from different countries.

I was the person who did research on foreign product catalogues,

who made contact with the foreign suppliers, etc.

 

2 – I could visit the United States four times.

The first time was in 1998, when I went there to study English for one month.

I stayed in Fort Lauderdale, FL – a lovely city.

I could visit Disneyworld and fell in love with it! This is not only for kids – definitely!

The City's Famous Beach Wave Wall

 

3 – In 1999 I went to Chicago on business to visit a tradeshow.

That city is my favorite among all!

Every time I see it on TV or anywhere else I feel like crying!

Chicago Hotels at itravel.bz

 

4 – In 2001 I could go back to Chicago on business to visit a tradeshow again.

After the tradeshow I went to New York and Boston on vacation.

One of the best things I made was

 to watch the play "The Lion King" on Broadway, NY.

If you visit this site, you can listen to part of the soundtrack

 just check if the music is turned on or off! –

 there is a key on the up/right side of the webpage,

 just above the "box office" column).

Boston is also a lovely city that is worth a visit!

 

5 – In 2002 I started studying English at LETRAS/UFMG,

because I wanted to work with English.

At that time I didn't know if I wanted to be a teacher or not. I'm going to graduate in December/2005.

I've been learning a lot!

 

                5 – In 2004 I went to San Antonio, TX, to study there for one semester as an exchange student.

                                               It was just great! I could improve my English a lot!

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see, I've been investing my time (and money of course!)

 in my English learning, and I'm happy with it.

After all, I hope I'll be able to be a good English teacher!

 

The End