Via Mundo - Intercâmbio e Turismo

In order to offer young students from all over the world and families and schools in Brazil the opportunity of living the special experience of a cultural exchange program, Via Mundo, based on its large experience with cultural and educational programs, conceived the High School Program in Brazil (Programa de Intercâmbio Cultural no Brasil), which was launched in 2001.

Since then, students from different countries have chosen to spend one semester or one year in Brazil, studying in a friendly and informal atmosphere, living with a local host family, learning the beautiful Portuguese language, making friends and improving their respect and appreciation for the differences by becoming Brazilians too.

At the same time, the host family members and the school students and teachers benefit a lot from their time and exchanges with a student from another culture.

Via Mundo believes that the interaction between people from different cultures, open to cultural exchanges, can have a very deep and positive impact in their lives.

Taking part in the program offers young students the opportunity of living in Brazil, getting to know a wide country and a diverse culture, learning Portuguese, growing more mature and learning new perspectives about  the world.

According to estimates by UNESCO, Portuguese is one of the fastest-growing European languages, and the language with the highest potential for growth as an international language in southern Africa and South America. Some of our exchange students have found job and career opportunities because of the Portuguese language, once Brazil is the major commercial partner for many countries in Latin America.

Our exchange students also find fascinating to live a “year-long Summer”, since weather in the Northeastern region is warm throughout the year. They also love the easy-going Brazilian way of life and how simple it is to make good friends.

Students apply for the program through an official partner organization abroad or directly to Via Mundo. They are supposed to meet the program requirements. Once in Brazil, they live with a volunteer and carefully selected host family and study in a private high school, besides taking part in social, cultural and sport activities. As a special feature of the program, the students are offered an intensive Portuguese course at the beginning of their program as well as weekly regular lessons during the first semester of the program.

Programs are flexible. Students can chose to study in Brazil for one semester (5 months) or one full academic year (10 months).

Students can start their programs either in Late January or Late July for both one semester or one year. The Brazilian academic year starts in Late January/early February and ends in the middle of December with a one-month holiday period in July and a nearly two-month holiday period in December and January.

So far, students have lived in São Luís, capital of Maranhão. But program will be extended and will include placement in other small capital and cities of Northeastern Brazil.

Students from 14 to 18 years-old from all countries can take part in the program. They are supposed to be attending High School in home countries or have finished last year of High School no more than one semester before they travel to Brazil.

* Good academic performance with no failures;  * Good health, maturity, flexibility, open-mindedness, discipline, responsibility, disposition and good attitude to adapt to a different culture;* The student him/herself should decide to take part in the program with the support and understanding of natural family and teachers.

Tell me more

If you are interested in becoming a high school or an undergraduate student in Brazil, please, contact us and receive more information. It will be a pleasure to assist you!

Images

Testimonials

A sample of testimonials by some of the participants are posted on "Eu no Mundo" (Me around the World).