English Communication Skills Give Brazilian High-Schooler More Confidence

(Part One of Two)

By Leslie Cranford, Section Manager

Gabrielle Dytz has always loved to learn. Now, at age 16, she is preparing to graduate with not one, but two high school diplomas. In December she will graduate both from her high school in Brazil and also from Texas Tech High School in the TTU K-12 concurrent diploma program.

"I have always liked to study, and the expectation of learning something new every day is a part of me," she said. "This has led me to walk eagerly every time I enter a classroom and to expect my knowledge to grow during those hours I spend at school."

Gabrielle began her concurrent program in 2016, and she says learning in another language and taking courses not offered in her regular school have expanded her skills and her possibilities more than she ever dreamed.

"I've done regular school and American high school simultaneously, although Texas Tech High School was able to offer me subjects regular school didn't, such as economics, speech and government," she explained. "I think they complemented each other very well and deepened my knowledge. Also, the TTU K-12 classes made me more confident to speak and write in English and strengthened my vocabulary; it has developed enormously because of the program and allowed me to have a bigger and better contact with the language."

Passionate about reading, writing and travelling, Gabrielle believes these activities can transport someone into an entirely new world, and if one is willing to explore, they contribute to the construction of knowledge and the development of creativity.

"I love admiring nature in all its perfection, as the city I live in is surrounded by the ocean and offers the most incredible sunsets, and spending time with my family and friends, who always make me laugh," she said. "I deeply enjoy reading, from short stories to poems or long novels. It is difficult for me to determine my favorite author or genre, but I have read countless detective stories, especially the ones written by Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I also enjoy reading Shakespeare's classic stories, such as Hamlet, and George Orwell's Animal Farm, as well as Brazilian classics like Dom Casmurro, written by Machado de Assis."

Gabrielle went on to say that her American courses also broadened her thoughts and consequently allowed her to think about different future paths and careers, presenting possibilities she hadn't considered before.

"I have more confidence communicating in English and speaking in public, skills I will certainly need professionally," Gabrielle said. "Moreover, these courses also allowed me to become more responsible and learn how to organize my schedule, so that I can fully develop all my projects and study for all exams."

There is much more to tell about Gabrielle; read the second installment of her story!