Portuguese Course in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

BridgeBrazil, Rio de Janeiro:
Our school is conveniently located in the business center of Rio, with easy access via public transportation to any place in the city. The brand new facilities offer comfortably furnished and well-equipped classrooms with DVD players & TVs. Students also have access to phone and fax services, as well as e-mail & free Internet. The central location allows students to leave for a walk after class to the historical center of the city. Our location is also great for "Live Portuguese" classes. In these classes, students carry out everyday tasks in Portuguese.

No Translation in Class
We use the direct method of language instruction, which means that the student and the teacher speak only in the language being learned. There is never any translation in the classroom and this makes you talk and think in Portuguese. Students are always amazed at how quickly and easily they learn with this method!

Teacher Rotation
The people you speak with every day all have different accents, voices, pronunciation, and vocabulary; therefore, it is important that you not become accustomed to just one teacher. We rotate teachers in class, exposing you to many types of speakers and ensuring that you understand the language in a variety of situations. Teacher rotation also keeps class fresh and interesting.

Emphasis on Communication
Our methodology focuses on speaking and listening. Grammar, reading, and writing are all included, but we teach it through a very practical approach without being tedious, boring, or repetitive. You will speak the language, not analyze it. We believe that the key to learning a new language is communication.

Materials & Homework
Study materials such as textbooks and workbooks for your program may be purchased upon arrival or in advance for US$ 50.00. Additionally, you may be assigned a small amount of homework. This will give you the opportunity to continue your language learning outside the classroom and to supplement your conversational instruction with some reading and writing.

Activities and excursions are a great way to practice your Portuguese outside of class while getting to know the country and culture around you. For that reason, BridgeBrazil offers a full schedule of activities and excursions for our students.

Activities
Every week, you are invited to learn more about Brazilian culture by attending a lecture given by a Portuguese teacher. Topics rotate and include the Brazilian economy, contemporary literature, politics, immigration, history, religion, and cuisine. You can also take advantage of the chance to practice your Portuguese with a native Brazilian, as the school arranges weekly interviews with local residents.

Excursions
For those who want to discover this wonderful city while practicing their Portuguese, we provide afternoon excursions to some of the most beautiful places in Rio. Excursions are offered as a courtesy (provided a minimum number of students sign up), but students are expected to pay for their own transportation and entrance fees. All excursions are led by a Portuguese instructor. Some of the excursions we offer are described below. We invite you to participate in as many as possible to truly make the most of your time in Brazil!