Description

The Global Education Office and the School of World Studies are pleased to offer a unique service-learning opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the study of the Portuguese language and the culture of Brazil through stays in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte. The registration deadline is mid- to late-March.

Course and Credit Options:
* PORT 101 Elementary Portuguese
* PORT 102 Elementary Portuguese
* PORT 201 Intermediate Portuguese
* WRLD/INTL 203 Cultural & Linguistic Competence Service-Learning

Please note: PORT 101 and PORT 102 are 4-credit courses; all others are 3 credits.

Course description:
This customized academic immersion program offered to VCU students aims to develop a high level of Portuguese language fluency and to inspire a lifelong appreciation of Brazilian culture and society. The program offers a combination of service-learning and experiential learning activities that will allow students to learn Portuguese as they explore the local way of life. The students will also encounter the exuberance Brazilian Baroque art, which will be on prominent display at the sites visited during the program. The student will attend Portuguese class at Universidate de Sao Paulo (USP), one of VCUs partner institutions and the largest university in South America with more the 80.000 students and 7 campuses. USP is also located in Sao Paulo, the largest city in the southern hemisphere.

The second part of the study abroad will take place in Rio de Janeiro, which was the capital of Brazil from colonial times until the middle of the 20th century. In Rio de Janeiro the students will be exposed to the citys vibrant and internationally recognized culture, visit museums etc. The third and the final part of the study abroad program will take place in Belo Horizonte, which is generally considered the third-largest city in Brazil. In Belo Horizonte the students will perform community service activities, such as teaching English to Brazilian students in public schools. The students will also have the opportunity to visit nearby historical cities such as Ouro Preto, an important city during Brazils colonial period and considered a world heritage and culture site. The students will be exposed to the culture and history of Brazil in the context of the each visited region.

Highlights

Activities and Excursions: This course will be divided into three parts. All parts of the course will focus on humanities-based issues and, in particular, the acquaintance with each region and the historical periods important for the understanding the significance of that region. The students will get to know Brazilian history, as well the social, economic and cultural developments of the Brazilian people over the last couple of centuries. During the first part of the program, the students will have the opportunity for full language immersion in Portuguese, combined with targeted language activities focusing on gaining fluency in the language by highlighting specific grammatical structures. After daily school activities, the students will go on city excursions related to Brazilian Portuguese language and culture.

During the second part of the program, the students will immerse themselves in the rhythms of samba, gafieira, capoeira and bossa nova in Rio de Janeiro. The student will spend time at the "Sambodromo" where they will participate in a workshop and visit the museum of samba. Outside of these activities, the time in Rio de Janeiro will be spent visiting historic sites and the beautiful beaches nearby. During the third part of the program, the students will have the opportunity to participate in activities with Brazilian who study English at private language schools. In the afternoons, the students will teach English as a foreign language in the public school as a community service. At night, the student will spend time with Brazilian host families. On the weekends, the students will visit historic sites, such as Ouro Preto and Lavras Novas, and partake in activities such as hiking in the mountains of Minas Gerais. Taken as a whole, the program will offer many opportunities for the student to experience the art of the Brazilian Baroque and Colonial styles through visits to many museums, Baroque churches, and colonial-period buildings in Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto and Rio de Janeiro.

The program will be led by Ms. Marcia Fontes, a native of Brazil. This is her second time directing the VCU program in Brazil.
While in Sao Paulo, mornings will be spent in class and afternoons will be spent visiting various site of interest. We will visit many museums in Sao Paulo including the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Geosciences, the Museum of Anatomy, the Museum of Portuguese language, and the Ipiranga Museum. The group will also visit cultural sites in the city such as parks, shopping districts, churches, restaurants, disco and theatres.

Accommodations and meals: Hostel-style accommodations will be provided while in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Ouro Preto. The breakfasts are included at the hostels. Students may choose to eat meals at the modestly-priced restaurants in the community.

Degree Level

Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Subject Areas

• Portuguese

Cost in US$:

Approx. USD3,800 + applicable VCU tuition

Program Fees Include:

The program fee is approximately USD3,700 - USD3,900 and includes the following:
* Round-trip airfare from Richmond to Brazil
* Accommodations and breakfasts
* Study visits and tours
* Ground transportation in-country
* On-site Program Director support
* Application fee and deposit
* Pre-departure orientation
* VCU administrative fees
* International Student Identification Card

The following are NOT included in the program fee. Students are responsible for:
* VCU tuition and fees
* Some meals
* Public Transportations (train, subway, bus)
* Passport application fee
* Personal expenses during the program (estimated at USD1,000)
* Anything not specifically mentioned above

Experience Required

yes

This program is open to all students, regardless of major, who have a GPA of at least 2.0. Even though this program is developed for students interested in Portuguese language, there is no pre-requisite coursework students must have completed in order to be eligible for this program. Students with no previous Portuguese coursework are welcome to take part in this program but may be asked to provide a recommendation letter from a professor.

This Program is open to

American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel

in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Essay
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Letters of Reference

Typically The Application Process Time is

2-4 weeks

Post Services Include

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Year Founded

1838