Originally posted by UKCG Any one here raising bilingual children in Curitiba ? Would like to get some ideas about schools etc...

Get Sky TV. Lots of programming in English.

Can you afford international schools? Normally, only the very rich and the children of expatriated workers send their kids to such schools. If they were older and spoke no PT I would say it would be better for adaptation, but it's certainly not necessary for very young kids. I can afford it but don't consider it worthwhile. If you speak English at home and are an intelligent parent, that will be more than sufficient.

My five year old son and three year daughter were born here in Brazil but speak both languages absolutely fluently without accents in either. They were born into an English household and live in a PT world. It's really not a problem, especially with most TV has a split audio channel, where the original English can be set as the default.

Edited by man of leisure - 05 August 2012 at 19:56

I've been looking around for quite some time now in Ctba and there are plenty of schools that advertise as bilingual schools but quality is poor. Try Swiss school in Pinhais(but then German is also required, therefore not an option for me). There is Maple bear Canadian school, I believe about R$2,000 per month and not a great location (depends on where you live in Ctba, school is located in Bacacheri). Bom Jesus International school is located near to Graciosa condominium, pricey and classes only until 3.30, if I'm not mistaken.

My boys , 13 & 10 , were born in England and moved here 6 years ago.The older one had the benefit of 3 years schooling in the UK and hence his English is perfect. the younger one however, speaks without an accent can read to a very good level but his English is not perfect.

Some schools promote themself as bilingual (see this one in Rio for example).
http://www.miraflores.com.br/home/

However, all this means is that they have a few hours of basic English every week in an otherwise Portugeuse environment. Frankly, unless the school is a full international school where absolutely everything is taught in English (and carries a price tag to match that service), you will be wasting your money as your kids will already be streets ahead of the other children in the class. My five year old son has friends who attend that bilingual school and he can't speak with them in English as they don't have sufficient command of the language; even the 11 year olds. (but they can say the book is on the table and count to 20 in a heavy Brazilian accent!).

Edited by man of leisure - 06 August 2012 at 06:27