Program
To offer you the most diverse range of destinations, we've chosen two locations for you to learn Portuguese in Brazil. The schools offer teaching of comparable quality at unbeatable prices.
Destinations
- Maceió, the capital of the state of Alagoas in the Northeast of Brazil, is a safe, relaxed and modern city with the most beautiful and alluring beaches in South America. Besides Praia da Pajuçara, its main attraction, with jangadas (small sailboats) that take visitors to the "piscinas naturais" (natural swimming pools) formed by the coral reefs and sandbanks which emerge at low tide, Maceió’s ocean and lagoons dominate the landscape, welcoming tourists from all over the world. The climate is a typical tropical climate with an average temperature of 25° Celsius and 2 seasons: summer and rainy summer.
Despite its condition as a beach city, Maceió also has a wide range of cultural and environmental places of interest to visit. Culturally speaking, places like Penedo and Marechal Deodoro (historic colonial cities),with their unique architecture and museums, are the favorite destinations. For outdoor fun, Pontal do Peba (shrimp fishing area), Murici (Atlantic forest) and Barra de S. Antonio (Sea Cow reserve) are the favorites. Maceió, also offers a wide range of annual events. The most famous are the street parties such as Maceió Fest (an out-of-season carnival in November) and, of course, the traditional Carnival in February. - São Paulo, the biggest city in South America and one of the three largest in the world, São Paulo is considered one of Latin America’s most important industrial and financial centres. It is the headquarters to the majority of Brazilian and multinational corporations.
Strong industrial development and cultural diversity have provided São Paulo with the largest, most cultured and educated middle class in Brazil.
São Paulo can be an intimidating place, but if you like big cities, it offers the excitement and nightlife of one of the world’s most dynamic. Attractions include the baroque Teatro Municipal, Niemeyer’s Edifício Copan, the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP) and the 16th-century Patío do Colégio.
Schools
Founded in 1991, the school is devoted to providing high quality and personalized instruction in Portuguese for foreigners. The institute is committed to excellence and and all of the teachers are professionals, native speakers and experienced instructors with university degrees in teaching. The instructors are from various parts of Brazil, allowing for exposure to different accents, expressions and styles of teaching.
- Our campus in Maceió is located in the Ponta Verde district, a modern residential area, just 4 blocks away from the beach, close to restaurants, gyms, etc.
- Our campus in São Paulo is located in Perdizes, on the city’s west side, one of the most populated districts in São Paulo, with 104,000 inhabitants. Perdizes is, in fact, a large neighbourhood which includes Vila Pompéia, Jardim Vera Cruz, Campos da Escolástica, Jardim D. José, Sumaré, and Bairro Urbanizadora.
Activities
Every two weeks, the institute organises excursions to cultural, historic, ecological and touristic sights such as Marechal Deodoro, S. Francisco river, Penedo or the Murici Forest. In all of the excursions, students travel together with teachers.
The school also provides all of the necessary travel arrangements for those students who wish to travel around Brazil to visit places like The Amazon Forest, Chapada Diamantina, Olinda, Fozdo Iguaçu, among others.
A language programme must be complemented with a wide range of social and cultural activities not only to allow students to use and practice the Portuguese language but also to maximize students' exposure to Brazilian culture. The school has an active and exciting social programme. Included are visits to theatres, restaurants, beaches as well as other events such as national festivals, sporting events and dance clubs. Among the most popular activities are:
- Café Regional: Every first week of the month, students, teachers and friends get together in school to have a typical evening meal and sing in a karaoke.
- Ritmos Nordestinos: See a show of Northeastern Brazilian rhythms and dances in a historic setting.
- Futebol: Watch a Brazilian Major Soccer League match by night.
- Capoeira: Visit a Capoeira school to learn about this Brazilian martial art.
- Passeio das 9 Ilhas: Boat ride along Lagoa Mundau, with stops to visit some of its islands.
- União dos Palmares: Visit to Quilombo dos Palmares which was one of the biggest colonies of runway slaves.
- Piscina Natural: Take a trip in a small sail boat to Pajuçara’s tidal pools where one can do snorkeling and hand-feed small fishes.
Courses
The school offers both group and private lessons for all students, from beginners to advanced speakers. The emphasis is on conversation, but the courses are supplemented with homework and classes take place principally in Portuguese. The general lessons below can be combined with courses in Brazilian history, literature, cuisine and dance.
We offer the following courses:
- Group Lessons
These lessons take place from Monday to Friday, either in the mornings or afternoons. The classes are 2 to 6 students in size and are available in two options:- Intensive Course:
4 lessons of 50 minutes per day, or 20 lessons per week - Super-Intensive Course:
6 lessons of 50 minutes per day, or 30 lessons per week
- Intensive Course:
- Private Lessons
These lessons take place Monday to Friday and schedules can be arranged to the student’s advantage. This course includes the following options:- Intensive Course:
4 lessons of 50 minutes per day, or 20 lessons per week. This option is ideal for beginners. - Super-Intensive Course:
10 lessons of 50 minutes per day, or 50 lessons per week. This is better suited for professionals and students should have at least two years of Portuguese. - Business Portuguese
This programme involves 6 lessons of 50 minutes per day, or 30 lessons per week. They are oriented towards business terminology and lunches with the teacher are included.
- Intensive Course:
Accommodation
Students board with Brazilian host families, allowing them to experience the day-to-day lifestyle and practice Portuguese with the host family.
The families are within walking distance from the school and from the beach. They are individually selected and personally inspected by the school.
Our families are carefully selected, ensuring a clean and comfortable home, a single, private bedroom and convenient location to the school.
Students are given a key to the house and are free to come and go as they please, but need to respect the routine of the family they are staying with. (Double rooms may only be booked by two students traveling together). Half board (café da manha and jantar).
Students may arrive the Sunday before their classes begin and depart the Saturday after classes end.
Accommodation in an apartment or hotel is also available. Please contact us for information.
Prices & Dates
Dates 2012
Private and group instruction start any Monday. Complete beginners start the group lessons on the following dates: 04/01, 01/02, 01/03, 29/03, 19/04, 03/05, 31/05, 07/06, 05/07, 02/08, 30/08, 13/09, 04/10, 08/11, 06/12..
Please note that the school will close on the following holidays:
- Maceió: 01/01, 15-17/02, 02 & 21/04, 01/05, 24 & 29/06, 27/08, 07 & 16/09, 12 & 15/10, 02 & 15/11, 08 & 25/12
- São Paulo: 001 & 25/01, 15-17/02, 02 & 21/04, 01/05, 09/07, 07/09, 12 & 15/10, 02, 15 & 20/11, 08 & 25/12.
Including courses, board and room as described and all taxes & enrolment fees
Click here to enrol directly| Group Courses (Maceió) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | Intensive | Super-intensive | |||
| 1 week | $ 560 | $ 710 | |||
| 2 weeks | $ 990 | $ 1,270 | |||
| 3 weeks | $ 1,390 | $ 1,790 | |||
| 4 weeks | $ 1,790 | $ 2,340 | |||
| Additional week | $ 400 | $ 540 | |||
| Private Classes (Maceió) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | Intensive | Executive | Super-intensive | ||
| 1 week | $ 1,090 | $ 1,410 | $ 1,990 | ||
| 2 weeks | $ 2,030 | $ 2,660 | $ 3,890 | ||
| 3 weeks | $ 2,970 | $ 3,910 | $ 5,790 | ||
| 4 weeks | $ 3,900 | $ 5,160 | $ 7,690 | ||
| Additional Week | $ 930 | $ 1,200 | $ 1,870 | ||
| Group Courses (São Paulo) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | Intensive | Super-intensive | |||
| 1 week | $ 660 | $ 790 | |||
| 2 weeks | $ 1,160 | $ 1,390 | |||
| 3 weeks | $ 1,660 | $ 1,990 | |||
| 4 weeks | $ 2,160 | $ 2,590 | |||
| Additional Week | $ 500 | $ 600 | |||
| Private Classes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | Intensive | Super-intensive | Executive | ||
| 1 week | $ 1,120 | $ 1,450 | $ 2,070 | ||
| 2 weeks | $ 2,090 | $ 2,740 | $ 4,010 | ||
| 3 weeks | $ 3,060 | $ 4,030 | $ 5,950 | ||
| 4 weeks | $ 3,990 | $ 5,320 | $ 7,890 | ||
| Additional Week | $ 930 | $ 1,240 | $ 1,870 | ||
| Transfer (one way) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport pickup (one way) | $ 80 | ||||
| Extra night | $ 45 | ||||
Prices include:
- Programme chosen by the student,
- Accommodation with a host family with breakfast and dinner
- Course book & didactic materials
- Social and cultural activities
- All administration fees
- In the Super-Intensive Private course, lunch with the teacher is included.
Prices do not include:
- Travel to Brazil
- Optional transfer from airport to accommodation
Practical Info
Transport
- Arrival airport for Maceio : Zumbi-dos-Palmares
- Arrival airport for Sao Paulo : Sao Paulo Guarulhos
- An (optional) transfer is available between airport and accommodation - see price table.
If you prefer, we can book your flights for you. This must be made clear at the moment of enrolment.
If you intend to book your own flight, try to arrive the Sunday before the start of your course and leave the Saturday following its end.
Visa Information
EU residents do not normally need a Visa to enter Brazil for stays of less than 3 months..
We encourage participants in any case to acquaint themselves with the visa application procedures involved at their local Brazilian Embassy or Consulate.
