After almost fifty years of teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in Brazil, I finally fully retired at the end of 2021 and moved with my husband from the city to the countryside, where I am now leading a healthier routine, tending to the garden, doing Pilates twice a week and occasionally engaging in my personal projects. You can reach me at beeonline at gmail dot com.
My affair with languages began in childhood and continues until today. Although my surname, Dieu, may sound distinctly French and even “omnipotent,” I owe it to my husband, who is Belgian. I was born in Brazil to Polish parents (Juźwiak), with whom I traveled frequently both to the US and Europe, where many members of the family and friends were living. This blend of linguistic and cultural influences helped me become fluent in four languages: Polish, Portuguese, English, and French.
My career in language teaching began in 1973, while I was preparing for the Cambridge Proficiency Exam after having abandoned my Political Sciences course at the University of São Paulo as the political climate during this period was not conducive to this kind of studies. I taught at Cultura Inglesa, a language school, where I worked with teenagers, adults, and business professionals. In addition to preparing students for the Cambridge Proficiency Exam, I also created and developed an advanced-level conversation course.
In 1981, I returned to university, this time to get a teaching degree in Language and Literature and deepen my academic knowledge. Two years later, in 1983, I joined the Lycée Pasteur (now the International French Lycée) in São Paulo, where I prepared secondary school students for both the French Baccalauréat and the Brazilian national high school certificate.
From 1985 to 2007, I coordinated the Foreign Language Department, representing English, German, and Spanish teachers in board meetings and organizing international multilingual and intercultural projects.
Throughout my extensive career, I engaged with a wide range of teaching methods and training programs and was fortunate to work in a multicultural environment that enriched my personal and professional life, shaping my values and perspectives. When I discovered that online collaborative learning could extend my individual teaching experience to broader communities, opening classrooms to new cultures and perspectives, I embraced the opportunity without hesitation.
In 1997, I initiated my first online project (USA Connection) with the students, at a time when my school lacked proper technological infrastructure and I had little experience with computers. The French curriculum at my school had not yet incorporated modern technologies or the concept of collaborative learning. Teacher workshops were rare, costly, and disruptive, typically focused on specific software for the science departments, and they were not aligned with the broader pedagogical needs of the faculty. I longed for more.
The internet provided me with the tools I needed, offering access to up-to-date information, inspirational examples, and international connections. I recognized that educational innovation was underway and that our students could only benefit from it. I also became involved in several international initiatives, where I had the opportunity to share my knowledge, experience, and insights with colleagues.
In the menu of this portfolio, the various sections showcase the projects and activities my students and I have worked on, as well as my professional contributions throughout my career. Links to these online projects and to personal projects I am currently working on have also been included.