taynara Alcantara Cangussu

Affiliation

Florida International University

Biography

Taynara Alcantara is a Ph.D. student in the Teaching and Learning program at Florida International University (FIU), where she focuses on bilingual education and translanguaging pedagogy. Originally from Brazil, she holds a Master's degree in Language Teaching and a Bachelor's degree in Portuguese and English Language Studies. Before coming to the U.S., she worked as a language teacher and researcher at the Federal Institute of Paraná (IFPR), where she also coordinated the language center (CELIF) and developed international education initiatives. Taynara has also mentored students applying for international scholarships and contributed to the development of pedagogical materials that reflect diverse linguistic realities. At FIU, she collaborates with faculty and fellow researchers on qualitative studies that investigate teacher beliefs, classroom strategies, and student agency in multilingual contexts. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to social justice in education and the belief that every student’s language is a resource, not a barrier. She aims to continue developing inclusive, research-based educational practices that honor students' cultural and linguistic backgrounds.