Go Balance Brings English Language Course to Borba, Building Local Skills for Eco-Tourism
Go Balance Trocano REDD+ Project Empowers Borba Communities with English Language Skills for Sustainable Tourism Services
As part of our ongoing commitment to strengthening the link between environmental protection and socio-economic development, the Go Balance Trocano Project REDD+ has launched an English language course designed to prepare the people of Borba for the growth of sustainable tourism in the region.
The inaugural course was held between 18 August and 19 September 2025 in partnership with the Lar Cristo Rei Association. The course focused on practical language skills for hospitality and visitor engagement — ensuring that local people are equipped to welcome and guide visitors as Borba develops as a nature-based tourism destination.
Empowering Communities for an Eco-Tourism-Ready Future
Eco-Tourism is one of the most promising opportunities for sustainable economic growth in Borba. With its extraordinary natural capital, unique cultural heritage, and proximity to the Amazon rainforest, the municipality is well-positioned to attract visitors from around the world. But to fully realise this potential, it is vital that local people have the skills needed to participate in and lead this development — and language is a cornerstone of that capacity.
Recognising this, the Trocano Project REDD+ organised a free, community-based English Language course focused specifically on tourist services and hospitality. A total of 33 students enrolled, and with an impressive 85% retention rate, the course proved both popular and impactful. Importantly, this initiative ensured that cost was no barrier to participation, opening access to valuable skills for people across the community.
Practical Learning Designed for Real-World Application
The course was led by instructors Gabriel Peiter and Raidê Ferreira Carvalho. They designed a curriculum built around active learning methodologies and real-world scenarios. Participants practised conversational English, hospitality vocabulary, and everyday phrases such as “How can I get there?” and “Where are you from?” . This approach was aimed at enabling them to communicate confidently with visitors.
Key Learning Skills Included in the English Language Course
Learning focused on the four key language skills — listening, speaking, reading and writing — with a range of interactive exercises:
- Listening: Audio recordings, music, and authentic dialogues helped build comprehension.
- Speaking: Guided conversations, simulated dialogues, and games encouraged natural communication.
- Reading: Texts tailored to each student’s level supported vocabulary growth.
- Writing: Short exercises and dialogue creation reinforced grammar and structure.
Students were assessed throughout the course, starting with a diagnostic proficiency test and followed by continuous evaluation, ensuring that lessons were tailored to the pace and needs of each group.
From Classroom to Community: Putting New Skills into Practice
A highlight of the training was a practical field exercise held at the Basilica of Santo Antônio de Borba, one of the city’s main points of arrival for visitors. Here, students simulated interactions with foreign tourists seeking directions. They applied the communication techniques and hospitality principles they had learned in class.
This exercise helped students consolidate their skills in a real-world context. It also raised community awareness about the importance of language training for Borba’s future. Passers-by observed as students guided “visitors” through the city, demonstrating that language learning is more than an academic exercise. This is a practical tool for building a stronger, more inclusive local economy.
Building Sustainable Opportunities Beyond Carbon
For Go Balance and the Trocano Project REDD+, protecting forests and reducing emissions is only part of the story. Equally important is supporting social and economic development in the communities that safeguard those forests. Initiatives like this English language course are central to that mission. This creates opportunities for people to participate directly in new industries linked to conservation and sustainable development.
We invest in language education to make sure tourism benefits stay within the community and empower Borba’s people to lead the region’s future. It is this combination of environmental protection, socio-economic empowerment and practical capacity-building that defines the Trocano Project’s approach.
At Go Balance, we believe protecting forests goes hand in hand with empowering people.
Our work in the Trocano Araretama REDD+ Project in Borba extends beyond carbon — it’s about building skills, creating opportunities, and ensuring local communities lead their own sustainable future.
Explore our community impact stories on the Go Balance Blog or the Trocano Araretama Project website to read more about how the Trocano Project REDD+ delivers real impact on the ground.
