Maceio is located on the northeast coast of Brazil (about two hours flying time from Rio), on a narrow strip of land between a lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital city of the state of Alagoas, and prides itself in natural beauty and historical architecture.

The city grew around a sugar mill following the Dutch occupation during the early 17th century. The Portuguese gained control of Maceió in 1654 and by the early 19th century it had developed into an important sugar export center, in 1839 it became the provincial capital. Maceió is an important cultural center, with a university and historical institute.

The city has kept its colonial atmosphere of whitewashed walls and red tile roofs. The most outstanding landmark is a lighthouse in the center of the city and the Church of Bom Jesús dos Mártires is a notable example of Maceió's colonial architecture.

The city is a popular destination for Brazilians but just being discovered by foreign visitors Maceio has some of the most alluring beaches in South America and the sea and lagoons dominate the landscape. Maceio has five urban beaches that follow one another each one its own peculiarities. Ponta Verde is usually the liveliest during the day, whose huts among the coconut trees usually offer delicious shrimp and lots of caipiriña. Sete Coqueiros, farther south, is notable for its crowded natural pools and its outdoor artisan fairs..

Further south,Pajucara has an intense nightlife earning the record throughout Brazil for the city with the most singers performing in one night. Finally, Jetiuca beach whose white sands mix in with other alternative diversions such as snorkeling, surfing, and windsurfing.

The tropical climate and the proximity to cities such as Recife and Salvador, make it an ideal location for Portuguese instruction. There are also several colonial towns worth visiting located just outside of Maceio, which still retain their colonial flavor. Distances to other cities: Recife - Maceió 25 minutes by plane, Salvador - Maceió 50 minutes by plane, Rio de Janeiro - Maceió 3:00 hours by plane, São Paulo - Maceio 2:50 minutes by plane nonstop.

It is the participant's responsibility to have a valid passport and any necessary visas and permits to study abroad. Visit G3Visas for comprehensive information on visa, passport, permit and general country entry requirements.

Maceio has a small domestic airport and the nearest international airports are Salvador and Recife. Most students first fly to one of these, then take an internal flight to Maceio. Students can also fly to Rio de Janeiro then directly to Maceio. Flight times to Maceio from: Recife (25 min), Salvador (50 min) and Rio 2 hours.
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Ilha Grande (island off the southern coast)
Itatiaia National Park
Beautiful beaches
Excellent water sports
Local cooking classes
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Our school is located in a safe and beautiful residential area called "Ponta Verde", about a 10 minute walk from the beach. Housed in two adjoining house like buildings, it creates a relaxing environment, which we believe enhances the atmosphere.

Tropical plants and a garden surround the buildings, where students and teachers can relax between classes. The area is modern and close to all amenities including shops, cafes, a supermarket, Internet cafés and bars. Because of its central location, most of the host families are within walking distance of the school.

The school has 8 classrooms, snack bar, social area, language lab, TV, VCR, audio and computers. The students have access to a phone to make calls and have FREE access to the Internet and FREE coffee is served between class breaks. Students have weekly scheduled access to the computer and Internet. For additional access, there are various Internet cafes in Maceio that charge roughly ($1-2) dollars per 15 minutes.

The school also has a fully equipped kitchen for Brazilian cooking classes. The school can assist you with currency exchange, travel, bicycle rental, and offers a good social program. The mixes of students are international, many come from North America and Europe, the average age is between 18 - 26.
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Standard: 4 Lessons daily (20 lessons per week) Max. 5 students per class.

Our programs cater for all language levels from absolute beginners to the more advanced, include the use of course materials and provide a variety of options to enhance your program. For more information please see Prices and Start Dates.

Each student will be expected to take a short placement test on the first Monday morning of the course (unless a complete beginner), to determine the students language level and ensure placement in the correct class. Lessons are usually held in the mornings, starting at 9 am, which leave the afternoons free for social or cultural activities, trips, workshops, short excursions or free time to relax or explore on your own.

Teachers are native speakers and many are University educated with years of teaching experience. They will help enhance your speaking, listening, grammar and general comprehension skills. They will also use interactive techniques such as role-play, games and perhaps videos to support lesson content. Current political, social and cultural materials are integrated to add interest and increase knowledge of the host country and culture. Homework assignments are given and students will be tested. For more information please see Course Outline.

After classes are over for the day, our program allows you plenty of time to discover your new country, culture, traditions, customs and everyday life. Our optional cultural and social activities allow you to make new friends among your new international classmates, experience cultural and social activities together, and also practice your new language skills in real life situations. In some cases, a small additional fee will be charged to cover local transport and entrance costs.

The school has a very active social program and every two weeks the school organizes a FREE cultural day excursion to historical, ecological or tourist places of interest such as: Marechal Deader, S. Francisco river, Penned, Maurice forest. Other activities available include cooking classes, Brazilian dance classes, soccer and diving courses.

At the weekend many students can arrange to take optional excursions to local cities or local places of interest. These excursions are slightly more expensive than the daily activities ($10-$40), as they are normally full day or full weekend excursions and could include (transport, meals entrance fees and even accommodation). If you are interested in sight-seeing by yourself or with other class mates, our school staff are more than willing to assist you with any questions you may have and help you book local travel or excursions.

NOTES: Private lessons and additional options can be added to any program, lessons normally last 50 minutes in length and you will be studying with international students from around the world. Lessons run from Monday - Friday, you will be expected to arrive early on the first Monday morning to take a placement test and orientation meeting. During class only the local language will be spoken, the emphasis is to speak and think in the new language, a language proficiency certificate is available at the end of the program. The school is closed on all public holidays. Please see the program info and resource links, for additional information or please contact us.
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Host Family: (private room) 2 meals daily.
Living with a host family is probably the best and most effective way to become fully immersed into the language and culture of your chosen country. All families are chosen after a careful selection procedure and are visited regularly by the school to ensure that high living standards are maintained. As many of our host families live in the surrounding neighborhoods, the trip to school, is usually not more than 5 to 15 minutes away.

Students have access to all living areas in the house and in most cases, will be expected to share the bathroom. All bed linens and pillows will be provided, however we suggest you bring your own towels. If your family does not provide a laundry service, they may allow you to use the laundry facilities for a small additional charge.

Students can book double rooms in host families if traveling together, prices upon request. Rice and beans are a staple, as is fruit and meat. For lunch, there are many "self-service" restaurants with excellent food charged by the kilo (approximately US$3). Seafood is popular, a bit more expensive, but worth it. There are also supermarkets to buy snacks and such. There are juice stands along the beach where they make any juice you prefer, including exotic fruits indigenous to Brazil, right in front of you. A modest meal is around US$5, and an extravagant meal is under US$10.

Staying in a family is a truly wonderful experience and many students make lifetime friends with their host family. However, you should also have realistic expectations and recognize that an element of flexibility is required to adjust to the local customs and way of life. Your host family may not have the same comforts as your own home but you will always be treated as a guest and free to come and go as you wish.

Hotel: (private room).
Hotel accommodation is also available upon special request. We can arrange deluxe hotels or small in expensive 2 star hotels (Pousada) located within 10 minutes walking distance from the school. Rooms are basic but clean, with private rooms, TV, AC and breakfast daily.

NOTES: Airport transfers may be included or available, also extra nights can be booked before / after course (at an additional cost), please check price page for details. The Sunday night accommodation before your course begins on Monday, is included in the program price. All meals will be local custom and meal times may be different to what you are used to, however you are not obligated to eat all your meals with the family, just notify them when you will not be returning to eat.. Our families are diverse with young couples without children, couples with children (of all age groups) and older couples with grown children who are no longer at home. Please see the Accommodation link for additional information.
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"Maceio is a fantastic place to study Portuguese. It has an excellent, laid-back, friendly atmosphere, and lacks the major foreign tourist presence typical of other cities, which makes the immersion program all the more effective. Make sure to leave some time for traveling in the country after your program."
Peter Isaacson (20) March 2002 , USA student
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