Welcome to
Richards
Who We Are:
We are an online English school focused on corporate education since 2005. Our greatest motivation is to develop skills that empower our students to communicate effectively in English in the business environment, in the short term.
We are very practical and get straight to the point, applying group dynamics, presentations, and simulations, combined with training focused on interpersonal skills (Soft Skills).
With strong management and frequent feedback, We avoid complicated and tedious grammar rules and focus on speaking usage first.
Who Are Our Instructors?
For us, it’s not enough to just be an English teacher; our instructors are qualified professionals passionate about developing people.
Our team consists of professionals with higher education who live and breathe the corporate world and know what they’re talking about.
All instructors are in constant training, including in the United States, to bring you the best English teaching practices.
Our History:
From the beginning, in 2005, we knew we had to do things differently and be the difference in our students’ professional and personal lives.
We had a big mission to fulfill. There was a conflict and discomfort within me regarding the methodology and vision of English schools. Throughout my career as an instructor, I saw hundreds of professionals finish their courses without knowing how to speak English.
Frustrated professionals losing opportunities in their careers, tired of traditional schools, recorded courses, private teachers, and exchanges. We knew we couldn’t make the same mistakes and be JUST ANOTHER English school.
Our exclusive focus, since our inception, has always been on the corporate segment, as we needed to provide an answer for this specific and underserved audience.
All these factors forced us to seek and develop methodologies and materials from abroad that could accelerate the pace of English learning for this niche of clients, eliminating theories and implementing practices with management.
Seeing our students communicate in English during calls, meetings, presentations, fairs, and international events in such a short time is, for us, the assurance that we are on the right path.
Our mission is to develop people and transform careers.
The Evolution of Our Mission:
From 2005 to today: the relentless pursuit of transforming professionals through English.
2002
English teachers Ricardo Nogari and Herika Fondazzi met at a language center in Londrina, Brazil. At that time, Herika was the coordinator, and they began working together on various projects, initiating a transformation in the teaching approach at the school where they worked and achieving incredible results in student fluency.
2004
At the end of 2004, they identified a promising market niche and developed an 'In Company' English project focused on the needs and activities of businesses.
2005
The business model of RICHARDS emerges. Already working with some multinational companies in Londrina, the founders spent the next two years structuring the teaching system
2008
The challenge of a difficult moment in the global economy forces RICHARDS to reposition itself in the market, adopting a new commercial approach and solid values of excellence. The result is a year of significant growth.
2011
With the consolidation of regional growth and having served the vast majority of companies with a demand for English at the invitation of local multinational companies to bring training to São Paulo, RICHARDS structures itself to reach new states, opening its office in the capital.
2012
Seeking continuous improvements, RICHARDS focuses on adding partnerships with American universities to its work structure for knowledge exchange and training.
2013
RICHARDS undergoes a visual identity change, and the need for companies to internationalize increases. With thousands of students already fluent, RICHARDS achieves its highest number of companies served in its history.
2015
With the improvement of online broadcasting platforms, RICHARDS began developing strategies and adaptations to establish itself in the digital market. This was a significant challenge, requiring a shift in the business model from the in-person "in company" B2B format to an online model.
2016
With the intention of giving back to society, RICHARDS Social was created, focusing on the professional development of the lower hierarchical levels within partner companies, offering these individuals the opportunity to rise within the organizations where they work, both in the "In Company" and online models.
At the same time, the focus on teacher development also grew, leading to significant investments in hiring and continuous training of our teaching staff.
2018
We expanded beyond just serving the B2B market and moved into B2C. After years of development and hard work, we launched our online broadcast platform, a perfect tool for professionals from multinational companies across Brazil, while maintaining the same high standards of results as our in-person groups.
2020
Due to the pandemic, RICHARDS made significant changes to its business model. The entire class broadcasting structure, which was previously conducted in studios at the headquarters, was shifted to a remote "home office" model, while only the administrative areas remained in a hybrid setup with some in-person presence.
2021
It was a year of incredible progress. RICHARDS consolidated and enhanced its training platform, aiming to accelerate student development through relevant content for corporate professionals. The company also launched "RICHARDS Business English Lives," a series of weekly gatherings with our CEO, designed to provide important content to students in the corporate environment, at a time when everyone was working remotely.
2022
The need to provide more practical and faster content for students led to the creation of the "Saturday Bonus Class," where the focus is on sharing relevant topics in a straightforward manner. This increased the weekly meetings from 2 to 3 times. At the same time, a management overhaul took place, with significant investments in financial and commercial consulting for the company.
2023
Two incredible programs were implemented: the "RICHARDS Advantage Club," an exclusive benefits club for our students, offering discounts and cashback at over 3,000 establishments in the largest retail chains across Brazil, and "RICHARDS CONNECT," a referral program created to help our students save on their tuition fees through recommendations.
2024
A year to reap the rewards of all the processes and improvements implemented. It is a year of steady growth, with the expansion of both the teaching and administrative staff, and a record number of students transforming their careers through corporate English.
VISION, MISSION, AND VALUES
Our Vision:
To be recognized among corporate professionals as the ultimate and innovative solution for achieving fluency in Corporate English, developing people, and transforming careers.
Our Mission:
To develop simple and practical techniques and methodologies, tailored to the specific needs of the corporate world, enabling professionals to achieve English fluency in the short term with a precise focus on the daily activities and challenges of our students.
Our Values:
Responsible and professional work: We act with integrity and excellence in all our actions, ensuring quality at every stage of the process, whether administrative or pedagogical.
Comprometimento e sinergia com nossos alunos: Atuamos em estreita colaboração com nossos alunos, entendendo suas necessidades e trabalhando juntos para alcançar os resultados esperados em nosso treinamento.
Respeito aos colaboradores e parceiros: Valorizamos cada indivíduo que faz parte do nosso ecossistema, promovendo um ambiente de respeito, aprendizado, inclusão e crescimento mútuo.
Desenvolvimento contínuo de nossa expertise: Investimos constantemente em inovação e capacitação, assegurando que nossa equipe esteja sempre à frente das melhores práticas do mercado.
Trabalho efetivo em equipe: Acreditamos na força da colaboração, onde cada membro contribui para o sucesso coletivo, criando um ambiente de aprendizado e suporte mútuo.