Isabel Oliveira

• Teacher of Portuguese Native Language/ French Foreign Language

I teach Portuguese and French, and collaborate with colleagues to design and implement engaging, meaningful learning experiences that promote student development and academic success. In the American context, where English predominates, the challenge of engaging students in other modern languages proved particularly interesting, requiring creative strategies to spark curiosity and sustain motivation for language learning.

• Teacher of Portuguese A Lang / French Lang & Lit (MYP and DP) /Teacher of Portuguese B

I taught Portuguese and French within the frameworks of the MYP and IB Diploma Programme. I was responsible for developing the course outline for the French A courses, which were being offered for the first time at the school. This task presented particular challenges, as the students—though all native French speakers—had varying levels of proficiency due to inconsistent prior language instruction. Plans had to be often revised and adjusted to best fit the students progress or difficulties. Despite these challenges, all students successfully passed the final IB examination and gained a renewed passion for the french language.

• Teacher of French / Portuguese Language and Portuguese Literature (IGCSE & A Levels)
• IGCSE Coordinator | Exams Officer | Counsellor for Portuguese Equivalence

My time at this school was particularly challenging and rewarding. I initially joined as a teacher, and over time, my experience and contributions naturally led to a leadership role under the title of IGCSE Coordinator. Although the title was broad, the role encompassed a wide range of responsibilities, including exam organization, curriculum alignment, and strategic planning of course offerings, among other tasks. n addition, I worked closely with both parents and students to provide informed guidance on subject selection, ensuring choices aligned with students' academic goals and individual strengths.

• Teacher of Portuguese and French / Portuguese Language & Literature (IGCSE & A Levels)

Working at a newly established school during its formative years was both demanding and enriching. I drew extensively on the expertise I had gained at my previous institution, a well-established and structured school, to navigate the challenges of this evolving environment. Although I held no official leadership title, over the course of five years I actively supported and mentored new modern languages teachers, contributing to the development of the department. I also managed the delivery of oral examinations and taught across a broad spectrum of Portuguese and French courses, including both first and foreign language tracks within the IGCSE and A Levels programs.

• Teacher of Portuguese and French IGCSE | Portuguese and French Lang & Lit (IBDP)
• Careers Advisor for admission to Universities in Portugal

These formative years marked the foundation of my teaching career and introduced me to the field of international education, which profoundly shaped my professional identity. It was during this time that I defined the kind of educator I aspired to become—one driven by curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning. The opportunity to work across various stages and year levels, combined with ongoing training and the freedom to experiment with different approaches, allowed me to develop into an agile, adaptable, and well-rounded professional.A particular point of pride during this period was being regularly chosen to serve as an Extended Essay supervisor, particularly in the areas of literature and language/culture—an opportunity that stemmed from the strong intellectual rapport and mutual trust I had cultivated with my students

• French Tutor in Intensive French Courses
• Private French and Portuguese Tutor (Preparation for Exams)

• Portuguese and French Teacher
• Seminar in Education at Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto