By: Thaís Trapp

In order to discuss the significance of the English language in the Information and Communication Technology industry (ICT), the Brazilian Association of Information Technology and Communication Companies (Brasscom), in partnership with the British Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Brazil (Britcham) and with the American Consulate, organized a meeting entitled ?English Education in the Brazilian IT Market?, in São Paulo. ?The availability of IT professionals who are fluent in English is essential to the competitiveness of a country when it comes to IT services. However, in Brazil, the number of bilingual workers is still unsatisfactory?, stresses Antonio Carlos Rego Gil, president of Brasscom.

Several important people in the industry attended the meeting that was highlighted by initiatives to encourage the training of professionals in the workforce. Helemara de Moraes is responsible for the implementation of English education for the American Consulate and presented the projects developed by the consulate. These include grants for youths in public schools to study English, programs for the immersion of Brazilians in the American culture, training for teachers in public schools and financial assistance for Brazilian teachers traveling to the US.

As a consequence of the difficulties in finding IT professionals that are fluent in English, IBM created classroom training programs for their interns and employees. The company started invested in hiring people who are fluent in English but not necessarily qualified to work in IT. ?In six months the company can train a person in IT, but not for fluency in English?, explains Sirlene C. F. de Toledo, manager of educational partnerships for IBM Brazil. These challenges are exemplified by a survey conducted by IBM's Human Resources that showed 40% of the candidates in the company's selection process are turned down due to low skill levels in English.

?Some of the problems shared by the companies are: the small number of professionals in the IT market who are fluent in English, the high turnover of professionals who ?migrate? between companies, and the difficulty in finding professionals who specialize in older technologies and are fluent in English?, estimates André de Castro, training and development manager in the HR department of BRQ. In search of effective alternative solutions to its problem, BT hired consultants who are able to choose professionals and establish barriers in the selection process. With its partners, the company has implemented a program called Brazilian Talent Factory. The goal is to develop people's English skills through online English classes.

According to Gil, from Brasscom, the training of an ICT workforce that is fluent in English, in large enough numbers to meet the demand, has become the greatest challenge for the institution since the implementation of the new Productive Development Policy (PDP). The policy was announced by the government in May, 2008 and benefited the software and service industry reducing companies? payroll INSS costs to 10% from the original 20%. ?We must win this new challenge in order to reach or goal of exporting US$ 5 billion in services; we must also fill the 100 thousand future job openings with professionals that are fluent in English?, concludes Gil.