Projekt EPSULA is preparing a final conference in Ecuador
The conference will take place in a hybrid format on June 17-19 in Cuenca, Ecuador.
"Extremely valuable, yet rarely included in our school curricula in Brazil": CJV intern Isabela Magalhães describes her work for the EPSULA project and the language centre
"Rewarding, challenging, and fun."
That is how Isabela, who came to our Language Centre from University of São Paulo through INCBAC (Institute of Czech-Brazilian Academic Cooperation), described her 2 months with us. She worked alongside our lecturer Athena Alchazidu on workshops, translations and videos for the EPSULA project and enjoyed a bit of spring in central Europe. Read more below.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us why you decided to do your internship in Brno?
My name is Isabela, and I am a final-year pedagogy student at the University of São Paulo – USP, at the Ribeirão Preto campus, which is located in the countryside of São Paulo state, Brazil. This exchange program was almost 100% connected to my academic and professional journey. My goal was to find a program that would allow me to experience a new culture while aligning with my professional expectations. I also needed it to last less than one semester due to academic reasons. During my research, I came across the opportunity offered by INCBAC (Institute of Czech-Brazilian Academic Cooperation) through the Unigou program, which brought me to Brno.
If you had to describe your internship in Brno in three words, what would they be?
Rewarding, challenging, and fun.
What was your role at the Language Centre?
As an intern at the Language Centre, under the supervision of Professor Athena, my main role was to assist with tasks related to the projects she was developing, particularly the EPSULA project.
What kind of projects did you work on?
I was involved in various projects, ranging from research—where I studied cacao for an exhibition—to contributing to a workshop at the Anthropos Museum. So, I would say I participated in both research and creative projects, all connected to my supervisor Athena’s ongoing work, which focused on community and indigenous culture.
Was there a particular task or project you enjoyed the most?
I really enjoyed taking part in the workshop at the museum with students from Brno’s schools. It was a great experience, especially because I got to witness active learning methodologies in practice and how they help engage students outside the classroom.
You worked on exhibitions and an international project—what was the most interesting or challenging part of that?
I think every project was challenging in some way, mainly because of the subject matter. Since I wasn’t deeply familiar with indigenous cultures, these projects pushed me to expand my knowledge on the topic. In a way, that was also the interesting part—studying a culture that has such a strong presence in my country and continent.
The project EPSULA is about indigenous communities in Ecuador and El Salvador. Since Brazil has several communities in Amazonia, was there anything particularly interesting for you to find out?
At first, the most interesting thing for me was discovering and understanding the EPSULA project, which carries out very important and precise work. Moreover, it was incredibly valuable for me to listen to Indigenous people sharing their knowledge, from everyday life to rituals—topics I knew very little or nothing about before gaining access to all the interviews and modules. It is an extremely valuable body of knowledge, yet it is rarely included in our school curricula in Brazil.
What was your first impression of Brno?
When I arrived, it was raining and very cold, but since I was happy and excited, my first impression was, "Wow, I love it! The buildings are beautiful, and I’m going to enjoy walking around here." And I really did—I think I’ve never walked so much in my life (hahaha).
How does Brno compare to São Paulo in terms of lifestyle and atmosphere?
They are completely different places. I feel that life in Brno moves at a calmer pace—at least, my days did. People walk leisurely, and public transportation is very efficient. On the other hand, in São Paulo, everyone is always in a hurry (haha, seriously!). We’re constantly anxious, and the way people enjoy life outside their homes, in parks or public spaces, is very different. We have less time for that, and the lack of safety limits us a lot. I will definitely miss that aspect when I return home.
Did you learn any Czech words or phrases? What was the most random Czech word you remember?
Shame on me, haha. I only learned very basic things because my colleague Marta helped me. The pronunciation was really difficult for me, so I learned things like "good morning," "good afternoon," and "hi." I also managed to pronounce the name of the street I lived on—two weeks before leaving (haha, thanks, Hana!). That was pretty random.
What’s one thing you’ll definitely take back to Brazil from this experience?
A lot of souvenirs, haha. But I think resilience, courage, and the friendships I made are what will stay with me the most. These things accompanied me throughout my journey here. I had the chance to travel alone to other countries, which challenged me in many ways. Stepping out of my comfort zone is tough, but once we do it to experience something new, life happens. Everything here was a lesson and a learning experience, and I’ll take that with me to Brazil and wherever I go. On my birthday, Athena told me that this experience was far beyond academics and would transform me as a person—and I couldn’t agree more.
If someone from Brazil were coming to Brno, what advice would you give them?
Don’t forget to bring an umbrella—crazy weather! Hahaha. Jokes aside, I’d say to enjoy nature and walk a lot around the city, especially in the city center!
