Would you like to learn Portuguese? Or maybe improve on your existing knowledge of the language? You have just taken your first steps towards broadening your horizons... There is no better or easier way to learn a language than to live, eat and breathe it ... and there is no better place to study than in vibrant, beautiful Brazil!

Our Portuguese courses take place in the dazzling city of Rio de Janeiro. You can also combine a Portuguese Course with any other project in either location. We will place you in the right course for your level and make learning a language easy and fun!

“My lessons were one-to-one which was fantastic as I could move at my own pace - in my case this was pretty slow! We covered practical topics such as purchasing goods, food and drink, transport and helpful classroom phrases. I also got useful tips from my friendly teacher on where was best to shop and go out in Rio! And every lesson I was offered Coffee (which I learned to drink short and black with lots of sugar) and sometimes homemade cakes!” Lizzie Faithfull

►SUMMARY FACTFILE
Start Dates	All year round - you choose your start and finish dates!
Duration	Minimum stay 2 weeks and up to 1 year, subject to visa requirements
Requirements	No qualifications needed, just a big dose of enthusiasm!
Price	From £1,195 / US$1, 795 for 2 weeks of 10 hours of lessons per week, ranging to £3,895 / US$5,845 for 12 weeks. Full Price List and other Currencies
What's included	►Accommodation ►Breakfast (Rio only)  ►Meeting you at the Airport ►Transfer to your accommodation ►Transport to and from your project ►Course Fees & Materials ►Full pre-departure support ►Local in-country team support and backup ►24-hr emergency support
What's not included	Flights, Insurance, Cost of Visas (if a visa is required, but we'll provide necessary documents and assistance), Lunch & Dinner, Return transfer to airport.
Who can do this Project?	All our projects are open to all nationalities. Unless otherwise stated, you need to be aged between 17 and 70+

Also on this page:

• Learning Portuguese & Your Course

• About Brazilian Portuguese

• General Information

• Accommodation

• Travel & Support

LEARNING PORTUGUESE & YOUR COURSE
Complete immersion in another culture is, without doubt, the fastest and most effective way to learn a new language. You not only learn to speak a language fluently, you also have the opportunity of learning about the culture of the language and living and studying with likeminded people with the same motivations as you.

Learning a language may appear difficult at first when trying to learn by yourself or in a segregated classroom at home. However, when you are living, working, socializing and breathing a new language – you learn fast – and the whole process is exciting, memorable and a lot of fun…. especially in Brazil…!!  

You have two choices regarding the intensity of the course you'd like to do:

• 10 hours per week - a gentle way to learn that still gives you plenty of time for sightseeing and exploring Rio
• 20 hours per week for a more intensive learning experience.

There are many benefits to learning a foreign language abroad. You can interact with the local people and understand and appreciate the greater subtleties of a culture, such as the local literature, music, art, and folklore. You’ll never regret studying a language abroad. It is an experience that will build your character while helping you to achieve an impressive personal goal and acquire skills that will help you to succeed in life.

... And it's an excellent addition to your CV that might give you the edge of your competitors in a tough job market!

You will be enrolled to study Portuguese (Brazilian) within an established Language School in either Rio de Janeiro or Florianópolis. The language centres have excellent reputations and have been chosen by Travellers for their track record providing quality language lessons to 'foreigners'.The experienced and dedicated teachers at both schools are incredibly friendly and will go out of their way to ensure that you have an enjoyable experience learning Portuguese in Brazil! Portuguese classes are normally held within walking distance of your accommodation.

Most of the time your lessons will be during the day on Monday to Friday, but it is possible that occasionally your lesson times will vary slightly. Teaching revolves around an intensive language program that utilizes innovative techniques on a one-teacher to one-student basis. You will receive individual tuition and lessons prepared especially for you.

Portuguese lessons are strongly recommended if you are a complete beginner or if you are undergoing a teaching placement and want to improve your Portuguese at the same time.

ABOUT BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE
Portuguese is similar to Spanish on paper but it sounds completely different to the ear. If you have an understanding of Spanish already you will find it easy to adjust to written Portuguese and you will be able to make yourself understood to local Brazilians, although you will probably not be able to understand them! Once you start to learn Brazilian Portuguese however it will be easy to transfer this knowledge to Portuguese and on to Spanish. These languages are widely spoken around the globe. Mastering this language is time well spent!

The Portuguese spoken in Brazil differs from Portuguese in Portugal in terms of pronunciation and certain vocabulary. When the Portuguese settled in Brazil in the 16th century they encountered a diverse mix of languages of the indigenous Indians as well as various idioms and dialects brought over with the African slaves. The result was quite an extensively transformed spoken Portuguese. Although the new generation will be different, currently not many Brazilians speak English and a basic understanding of Brazilian Portuguese is extremely handy!

The more you can interact with the local people and culture the more rewarding your travelling experience will be. Brazilian Portuguese is a beautiful language with a passionate musicality to its rhythm.

Brazilians are passionate about their country - the national flag is everywhere!

Teachers try, where possible, to hold classes predominantly in Portuguese, but most teachers are fluent English speakers and will assist you in English if or when you get stuck. Having the classes in held in Portuguese helps to immerse you in the Brazilian language and encourages the you to converse and gain confidence in speaking Portuguese.

If you are doing another placement in Brazil you may want to consider taking some Portuguese Lessons as a supplement - even some basic knowledge will be beneficial to you during your teaching assignment. For combination programmes, we will ensure that your timetable is arranged to give you plenty of time in between your different placements.

CERTIFICATION: At the end of the course, you’ll receive a certificate issued by the School, stating that you have attended the course, to which level, and the duration in hours of the course you have completed.

Any student attending a course should ensure to bring with them a good quality, compact dictionary that includes a comprehensive Grammar tables. If you want to buy a phrasebook in preparation for your trip, ensure it is a Brazilian Portuguese phrasebook and not Portuguese.

Additional Activities you can do while on this Project:
Add to your travel experience in Brazil by doing some additional exciting activities - you never know, you could develop a passion for Latin American dance, or learn a new skill!

• Capoeira: A cross between a dance, a fight skill and an art form ... fascinating and fun!

• Brazilian Music courses: Choose from a variety of local percussion/styles

• Yoga Courses

• Photography courses

• Latin Dance Lessons

• Watersports, Treks and Adventure Activities

Accommodation is situated in the Flamengo region of Rio - just a hop, skip and a jump away from famous Copacabana beach! This is a great place to be as you will be only 3 minutes away from the metro station, opposite the Catete Palace and you will be able to visit Sugar Loaf Mountain and the Christ the Redeemer statue with great ease.

You will be staying in a dorm room in a brand new hostel which has been set up by an artist with a wish to create a hostel that is different to anything else in Rio. Set in a beautiful redeveloped building from the end of the 19th century, you will be surrounded by wonderful Brazilian art, dipping you straight into the culture from the first minute you arrive! With over 110 beds, some decorated with an “art” theme you will be sure to meet like-minded travellers, other volunteers and artists from all over the world! The hostel currently has internet and WiFi, a common area, TV room, library, book exchange, safes, a terrace area for socializing, and a housekeeping service. It also has a bike rental service. They often have popular music from Brazil with live music on occasion and a fantastically vibrant, friendly atmosphere.

If you'd like to upgrade to a double or single room, just let us know at time of booking and we can arrange it for you. There will be a small supplement for the upgrade. All rooms have their own bathroom and individual cupboard with a key for security.

Food: Eating out is one of the highlights of living in South America, and an essential part of Brazilian culture! Because of this, the price of your placement includes your breakfast but not lunch or dinner, thus giving you the freedom to sample some of the fabulous food which Rio is famous for. Breakfast currently includes fruits and juices (try the acai – a delicious berry to sprinkle on your granola cereal), coffee, milk, bread, cheese, ham, butter, jams and sweet cakes (popular in Brazil for breakfast) amongst other things. You'll be allowed to use the kitchen facilities whenever it is not being used by the hotel staff.

The Brazilians have a passion for food. They spend long, balmy evenings dining in restaurants and al fresco in the city’s buzzing streets on fare from the traditional Feijoada (black beans and pork stew) or Mariscada (seafood stew) to modern global cuisine rivalling that of any other international city! You might also like to indulge in a caipiranha, Brazil’s traditional carnival drink made with lime and cachaça, best enjoyed in the sunshine with a churrasco, which is a Brazilian barbeque of rice, meats and – of course – salsa! The cost of eating out in Rio can vary from a just a couple of pounds up to a couple of hundred pounds! This is one city where you certainly won’t have any trouble eating well on a tight budget - there are some very inexpensive options available and you'll dine out handsomely on about £4 ($6) (estimate correct at time of writing); although you could be lucky and get away with spending even less and still be eating well. The trick is to keep your eyes peeled for the bargain eateries offering specials such as buffet lunches. Also don’t forget the supermarkets are a good option and are comparable in standard to those found back home.

Area: The hostel is located only a 15 minute-walking distance away from the Arches of ‘Lapa’, ‘Cinelandia’ and ‘Flamengo’, from where you can visit Sugar Loaf Mountains (Pao de Acucar) and the Statue of Christ, the Redeemer; only 3 minutes away from ‘Catete’ Underground station, where you can catch the train and get to ‘Copacabana’ or ‘Ipanema’ beach in less than 15 minutes. There are several banks, ATMs, supermarkets, drugstores, cinema, hotels, shops, etc., all within a couple of minutes away, which makes the area interesting and busy even in the night time! The options for entertainment are endless too; one night you can choose to watch a film at the cinema; the other you can just chill out with friends in a local bar or pub.

TRAVEL AND SUPPORT & BACKUP:
You'll fly into the international airport. When you arrive, you'll be welcomed by our local Organiser and introduced to the people you'll be living and working with.

To read more about Travel arrangements and what happens when you arrive in your new country, please click here.

As there is so much to do in Brazil, we recommend that you do some travelling around the country once your placement has finished. If this is the case, we can arrange your flights accordingly.

Support & Backup: To read about the excellent Support & Backup we provide before you leave and during your programme, please click here.
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Art Hostel Exterior in Rio