My Personal Journey as an IB Student and the Beginning of My Passion for This Project Us
My name is Shantal De Azevedo, a 12th-grade student in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Downtown Doral Charter Upper School (DDCUS) in Doral, Florida. I am proud of my Portuguese and Venezuelan roots. Since moving to the United States in 2015, I have been immersed in bilingual education, choosing the Portuguese language track offered at my school. I began formally studying Portuguese in second grade, but my connection to the language started much earlier at home, with my family, and especially with my grandmother, who taught me my first words in Portuguese through stories, traditions, and food.
Portuguese is not just a language; I study it is the living bond that connects me to my roots, to my grandparents who were born and raised in Portugal, and to the rich Lusophone culture that shaped my identity. I have visited Portugal, walked the streets of our hometown, and felt a deep sense of belonging. It is through these experiences that I developed a profound respect for the language and a desire to preserve and promote it.
However, throughout my academic journey, I encountered a significant and disheartening gap: despite the growing number of students learning Portuguese across the U.S, there is no Advanced Placement (AP) course available for this language. In 9th grade, I witnessed firsthand how students studying Spanish had access to AP Spanish, gaining academic advantages and GPA weighting, while Portuguese-speaking students like myself were left without an equivalent pathway to certify our advanced skills. That year, I earned straight A’s and ranked among the top of my class, but I was excluded from the Elite and Exceptional student list simply because I didn’t have an AP course in my language to boost my GPA like my peers. It was a painful but eye-opening moment that made me realize: something needed to change.
This experience became the catalyst for my project. I decided to take action, not just for myself, but for the thousands of students across the U.S. who speak or study Portuguese and deserve the same academic recognition and cultural validation as others. This initiative is about representation. It’s about equity. And it’s about giving a voice to a community that has long been underrepresented in the national academic landscape.
The Impact of AP Portuguese on Lusophone Students and Its Cultural Relevance
Implementing an AP Portuguese course would have profound implications for Lusophone students across the United States. It would offer formal recognition of their language proficiency, providing them with the same opportunities as students studying other languages such as Spanish, French, or Italian. This certification would not only improve college applications but also affirm the cultural identity of Portuguese-speaking communities. Moreover, it would encourage the preservation and appreciation of the rich Lusophone heritage, promoting greater cultural diversity within the educational system.
Seeking Support from Embassies and Organizations
To turn this vision into reality, I am actively seeking support from embassies of Portuguese-speaking countries, cultural organizations, and educational institutions. Collaborating with these entities will be crucial in developing a robust curriculum and garnering the necessary backing to present a compelling case to the College Board. By uniting efforts, we can advocate effectively for the inclusion of AP Portuguese, ensuring that future generations of students have the opportunity to achieve advanced certification in this globally significant language.
The College Board 45 Columbus Avenue New York, NY 10023 Dear Members of the College Board, My name is Shantal De Azevedo, and I am a student in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Downtown Doral Charter Upper School in Doral, Florida. Since I arrived in the United States in 2015, I have had the privilege of studying the Portuguese language as part of my academic journey, starting in the second grade. Over the years, I have seen firsthand how my school and other institutions have worked diligently to offer Portuguese classes, which reflects the growing demand for the language in the U.S. education system. However, despite these efforts, there is currently no option for students to certify their advanced proficiency in Portuguese through an AP exam.
Language is more than words, it is identity, culture, and opportunity. Together, we can make AP Portuguese a reality for future generations.
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Shantal De Azevedo.
