Linguatec Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

  Brazil

• Rio de Janeiro: 
Rio de Janeiro

Dates: every Monday throughout the year

Description: Linguatec is centrally located in Rio de Janeiro, just minutes away from shops, restaurants, bars, and of course the world famous beaches. Over the years, Linguatec has earned a reputation as one of the premier language institutes in all of South America. From top to bottom, this is a quality organization. Its facilities are among the best found anywhere, and to match this, the school has excellent instructors and uses well organized materials for language instruction. Besides offering excellent programs, the school also offers (and/or assists in arranging) a variety of cultural activities and weekend excursions allowing student the chance to really get to know this part of Brazil. As with many of our other schools, Linguatec not only provides general Spanish language study, but can also provide specialized language instruction. With the Linguatec Methodology, you will learn to speak Portuguese. The school makes use of an exclusive series of video laserdiscs combined with dynamic classroom instruction and interaction. The goal of the methodology is to make you comfortable using Portuguese in the most practical situations that you encounter in everyday life, for example: traveling, conducting business, meetings, using the telephone, participating in a conversation effectively, etc. With this approach, you will succeed using Portuguese either professionally or in your studies.

No Translation in class: Linguatec uses a direct approach which means that the student and the teacher speak only Portuguese. There is never any translation in the classroom and this forces you to think in Portuguese. You will be surprised at how easily you will learn. Teacher Rotation: The people you speak with on a day-to-day basis all have different voices, pronunciations, vocabulary and speeds with which they speak; therefore, it is important that you do not become accustomed to just one person. Rotating teachers allows the student to be exposed to many types of speakers and ensures that students will understand all people who speak Portuguese. Teacher rotation also keeps class fresh and interesting. Emphasis on Communication: The methodology focuses on speaking and listening. Grammar is very important and Linguatec will teach you how to use it through our very practical approach without being tedious, boring and repetitive. You will speak Portuguese, not analyze it. The key to learning a new language is communication. Because communication includes reading and writing, they are included throughout our programs. Quick School Facts:

-The facilities are ideal for small group and/or private instruction.
-Linguatec uses a very comprehensive series of books and materials.
-Linguatec incorporates the use of audio-visual teaching aids.
-Students have access to the internet at the school.
-Students have access to telephone and fax services at the school.
-Students have as a standard accommodation package, the choice of staying with local host families.
-The school can help to arrange for students to stay in a hotel or aparthotel if desired.

Highlights: Few will argue that Rio de Janeiro is among the worlds most beautiful cities. Known as the 'Cidade Maravilhosa', Rio lies between Guanabara Bay, the beautiful beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, and a tropically forested mountain range. The outstretched arms of Rio's Christ Redeemer Statue, set atop Corcovado Mountain's 2,307 ft. peak can be seen from virtually any place in the city. Pao de Acucar, (Sugar Loaf ) mountain and its cable car mark the location where the city was founded in 1565.These two famous landmarks make Rio among the world's most recognizable cities. The inhabitants of Rio de Janeiro are known as cariocas. The term carioca comes from the country's earliest European history, when it meant 'white man's house' and was used to describe a Portuguese trading station. Today the word defines more than birthplace, race, or residence: It represents an ethos of pride, sensuality, and a passionate dedication to life. Much of the carioca verve comes from the sheer physical splendor of the city: seemingly endless beaches, sculpted promontories, and the ocean stretching to infinity. Nearly all of Rio's attractions are found in the affluent Zona Sul, the neighborhoods on or near the beach. It is here that hotels, restaurants, shops, and nightlife are concentrated. While in Rio, prepare to have your senses engaged and your inhibitions lowered. You'll be seduced by a host of images: the joyous bustle of vendors at Sunday's Hippie Fair; the tipsy babble of a sidewalk cafý as latecomers sip their last glass of wine under the stars; the blanket of lights beneath Sugarloaf. Borrow the carioca spirit for your stay; you may find yourself reluctant to give it back. During the day, Rio life focuses on the beaches, the most active of which remains Copacabana. To sense the Carioca spirit, spend a day on Copacabana Beach and walk from Copa's Avenida Atlýntica, with its sidewalk cafýs, high-rise hotels, and deluxe apartment buildings, to Ipanema, whose beach life is both more restrained and more seductive. The western extension, Leblon, is an affluent, intimate community flush with good, small restaurants and bars. The more distant southern beaches, beginning with Sýo Conrado and extending past the Barra to Grumari, become richer in natural beauty and increasingly isolated. Although Rio is more than 400 years old, it is in every respect a modern city. Most of the city's historic structures have fallen victim to the wrecking ball, leaving only a handful that can be visited by tourists. What's left is found in and around the downtown area in churches and other buildings scattered about the city center. Organized tours, both walking and in sightseeing buses, are highly recommended. If you are not on an organized tour, the best approach to visiting the historic sights is the subway, which seems to be mostly finished. The bus is another viable means of transportation ' and better, perhaps, as above ground you can familiarize yourself with Rio's different neighborhoods.

- Rio de Janeiro is considered one of the most exotic and exciting cities in the world.
- The city has an abundance of world famous beaches including Copacabana and Ipanema to name just a few.
- The city has more things to offer than virtually any other city in the world.
- From Rio de Janeiro it is easy to get to many other interesting destinations in Brazil.
- The weather is fantastic throughout the entire year.
- The city is world famous for it Carnival celebrations.
- Within short travel times from the city are some fantastic natural reserves.
- Rio de Janeiro has a wealth of excellent bars, discos, museums, and theaters.
- The nightlife in Rio de Janeiro is world renowned.
- Getting in and out of Rio de Janeiro by plane is very easy.

Cost in US$: $2500 - $3000

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no