Learn Portuguese in Brazil

MACEIO, Brazil

Maceió, the capital of the state of Alagoas in the northeast of Brazil, is a safe, relaxed and modern city with the most beautiful beaches in South America. Besides Praia da Pajuçara, its main attraction, with jangadas (small sailboats) that take visitors to the "piscinas naturais" (natural swimming pools) formed by the coral reefs and sandbanks which emerge at low tide, Maceió's ocean and lagoons dominate the landscape, welcoming tourists from all over the world. The climate is a typical tropical climate with an average temperature of 25° Celsius and 2 seasons: summer and rainy summer.

Despite its condition as a beach city, Maceió also has a wide range of cultural and environmental places of interest to visit. Culturally speaking, places like Penedo and Marechal Deodoro (historic colonial cities), with their unique architecture and museums, are the favorite destinations. For outdoor fun, Pontal do Peba (shrimp fishing area), Murici (Atlantic forest) and Barra de S. Antonio (Sea Cow reserve) are the favorites. Maceió also offers a wide range of annual events. The most famous are the street parties such as Maceió Fest (an out-of-season carnival in November) and, of course, the traditional Carnival in February.

The school is located in the Ponta Verde district, a modern residential area, just 4 blocks away from the beach, close to restaurants, gyms, etc. Business center facilities with FREE use of Internet, computer, printer and fax are at the student's disposal.

Fast Forward is a Portuguese language training school devoted to providing high quality and personalized instruction in Portuguese as well as in other languages. They are located in Maceió, the capital of the state of Alagoas in the northeast of Brazil. Maceió is a relaxed, modern city with the most beautiful and alluring beaches in South America. The sea and lagoons that dominate the landscape welcome tourists from all over the world. The tropical climate, endless sea and sun, and proximity to cities such as Recife and Salvador, as well as to the Amazons, make it an ideal setting for Portuguese instruction.

Portuguese Language Instruction

Fast Forward offers both group and private Portuguese language courses, from absolute beginners to advanced levels. Courses are focused on conversation, though there may be some writing requirements to be completed at home. Approximately 95% of class time is conducted in Portuguese. The textbook is excellent, developed at the University of Sao Paulo, and may be purchased at the end of the course.

Instructors

All the teachers are professional and experienced native Portuguese language instructors, trained in Fast Forward's direct approach to language teaching. They are genuinely interested in the student's progress and make every attempt to ensure the satisfaction of the student. Our instructors are from various parts of Brazil, allowing for exposure to different accents, expressions, and styles of teaching.

Certificates

Fast Forward will issue certificates of course completion for those students who have maintained regular attendance and who have complied with the requirements of our curriculum.

Portuguese Language Courses 2008:

All programs: Please add USD 100.00 Lingua Service Worldwide Application fee. See Application Procedures.

Important notes: All course prices include Portuguese language lessons as listed below PLUS accommodations with a host family and 2 meals per day! Alternate accommodations (hotels/pousadas) are available on request. Airport pick-up is available at USD 40 one way. Materials are included in prices.

Group Intensive Portuguese Program: 4 Portuguese lessons (50 minutes each) daily of group instruction, Monday through Friday. Groups will have a minimum of 2 and maximum of 6 students. In case of only one student enrolling, the student will have 3 classes of 40 minutes. Classes are held Monday to Friday morning or afternoon . The school closes on official holidays. All prices include accommodation with a host family, single room and half board (2 meals): 1 week: USD 470, 2wks: USD 830, 3 wks: USD 1175, 4 wks: USD 1460, Extra weeks: USD 350 each.

Group Super-Intensive Portuguese Program: 6 Portuguese lessons (50 minutes each) daily of group instruction , Monday through Friday. Groups will have a minimum of 2 and maximum of 6 students. Classes are held in the morning and afternoon. In case of only one student enrolling, the student will have 6 classes of 40 minutes. All prices include accommodation with a host family, single room and half board (2 meals): 1 week: USD 590, 2wks: USD 1050, 3 wks: USD 1495, 4 wks: USD 1950, Extra weeks: USD 450 each.

Starting Dates 2008:

Group courses start on the following dates (students at intermediate levels may start any Monday):

Jan.	Feb.	Mar.	Apr.	May	Jun.	July	Aug.	Sep.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
7	11	3, 31	7	5	2	7	4	1, 29	6	3	7

National Holidays 2008: 1 Jan., 4, 5 and 6 Feb., 21 Mar., 21 April, 1 May, 22 May, 24 and 29 June, 27 August, 7 and 16 Sept., 12 Oct, 15 Oct., 2 Nov., 15 Nov., 8 Dec., 25 Dec.

Private Instruction 2008 (starts any Monday)

Fast Forward VIP Intensive: 20 Private Lessons per week (4 classes of 40 minutes daily of private instruction, Monday through Friday). Classes may be held in the morning or afternoon. These courses are offered for both beginner and advanced levels and refresher course. The course can be adapted to the students or companies needs. It includes lunch with the teacher. All prices include accommodation with a host family, single room and half board (2 meals): 1 week: USD 900, 2wks: USD 1670, 3 wks: USD 2450, 4 wks: USD 3220, Extra wks: USD 770 each.

Fast Forward VIP Executive: 30 Private Lessons per week (6 classes of 40 minutes of private instruction per day, Monday through Friday). This course is ideal for professionals who don't have very much time available and needs to learn as much as possible in one or two weeks. Classes are held in the morning and in the afternoon. The course can be adapted to the students or companies needs. In this course students take at least 2 classes outside the school. For instance, it includes lunch Monday through Friday and visits to Shopping Malls or other places the students might wish to visit with the teacher. All prices include accommodation with a host family, single room and half board (2 meals): 1 week: USD 1170, 2wks: USD 2200, 3 wks: USD 3240, 4 wks: USD 4280.

Minimum registration for all students is one week. Any group or private instruction may be combined with courses on Brazilian history, literature, cooking, and dance.

Fast Forward VIP Super Intensive: 50 Lessons per week. 10 classes of 40 minutes of Portuguese language private instruction per day combined with business terminology for the working professional. Classes are held in the morning and the afternoon. The course can be adapted to the students or companies needs. It includes lunch with the teacher. All prices include accommodation with a host family, single room and half board (2 meals): 1 week: USD 1660, 2wks: USD 3220, 3 wks: USD 4760, 4 wks: USD 6320.

Airport Transfers: From Maceio Airport: USD 40 one way.

Activities:

Social Program: As well as working hard, we believe that you should enjoy yourself as much as possible. The school has an active and exciting social program. Included are visits to shopping malls, theaters, restaurants, beaches as well as other events such as national festivals, sports events and disco nights. They provide good fun, and give you a chance to use your language in real situations. Students are responsible for their own transportation expenses, entrance fees as well as their own consumption when going out to restaurants.

Here is a sample of the activities offered:

Marechal Deodoro: An educational/pleasure trip. Founded in 1522, Marechal has the largest collection of sacred/religious art in the state. The city is famous for its old baroque colonial homes from the 16th Century and for its musicality. After visiting the city, we continue the trip to Gunga Beach.

Praia do Gunga: On the way to one of the most famous beaches of the Northeast, we visit a look-out point from which an enormous view can be seen of the coastline, sugar cane fields, palm tree plantations and the point where Roteiro Lakemeets the ocean. After this stop, we will arrive at GungaBeach, elected by tourism magazines as one of the ten most beautiful beaches in Brazil.

Massagueira: Known as one of the largest gastronomic centers of the Northeast, the people of Massagueira have the largest quantity and diversity of restaurants in the state. To experience this, we go to this little town after the beach. In addition to their delicious cuisine, there is a beautiful setting due to its location, situated at the edge of a lake.

Praia de Sonho Verde (Green Dream Beach): One time per month we go to Green Dream Beach, on the northern coast of the state.

Futebol (I) (soccer): The Rei Pelé stadium is the largest in the state. It has a capacity of 27,000 spectators. Every year, major soccer events are held here, such as: Champions Cup (Copa dos Campeões) and the Brazilian Championship (Campeonato Brasileiro). One time per month we organize a trip to the stadium.

Futebol (II): With the students together in one group, they represent the world select team. Their opponents are the professors, employees and friends of the school, representing the Brazilian select team. The competition, despite its recreational objective, almost always has an aspect of the world cup final. During the game, in addition to making new friends and getting a good workout, we learn sports vocabulary and idiomatic expressions. After the match, we normally go to a bar to chat, drink some beers and most importantly relax and have a few laughs.

Museu Théo Brandão (Théo Brandão Museum): Constructed during the first decades of the 19th century, the building which today operates as the Théo Brandão Museum is one of the most fascinating in Maceió. After almost being destroyed by the effects of time, the building was renovated and today holds a large collection of objects that having to do with the culture and folklore of the Northeast, principally of Alagoas.

Passeio pela lagoa de Mundaú (Lagoon Tour): The name of Alagoas is due in large part to the lagoons. To see some of these lagoons, once a month we make a trip to Mundaú Lagoon, the largest of the state. During this tour, the students learn about the flora and fauna from specialized local instructors and enjoy the scenery.

Passeio das Frutas (Fruit Tasting/Tour): Brazil is a country whose diversity in fruit is known worldwide to be spectacular. So that our students can know and experiment several of our tropical fruits, one time a month we organize a trip to the public city market.

Gastronomia (Gastronomy): Brazilian cooking is a multiracial fusion of tastes. Because of its tropical character, large amounts of sun and good earth, Brazil has a phenomenal variety of fruits and vegetables. Each student will become familiar with several types of Brazilian cooking as we go each week to typical restaurants from the different regions of the country.

Feijoada: Two times per month we go to a traditional restaurant where they serve the most famous Brazilian dish: Feijoada. Since it is a historic and exotic dish, this activity always creates high expectations. All the students before tasting this food come to know a little of the history and in the restaurant there is a possibility to see the preparations.

Passeio de Trem (Train Tour): Once a month, during an entire afternoon, we take a ride on the train. Leaving from the central station, we pass by 9 districts and 3 tiny cities outside of Maceió before arriving at the final stop. The entire trip is about 28 km long, with half of it running alongside the Mundaú Lake. It gives the students the possibility to see the life of people who live outside the city and its fast pace of life.

Brazilian Rhythms and Dances: The variety in Brazilian dance culture gives wonderful evidence of a large cultural diversity inherent in this country. Here in Maceió, you can find classes, dance bars and clubs with anything from samba to forró to classical ballet. This exciting mixture of music, energy and movement transmits a beautiful element of Brazilian life. LCI’s dance program offers classes in Samba, Forró, and Rítmos Variados. The classes are offered one after the other each afternoon. Thus, you may choose to do one, two or all three depending on your interests. As with the morning language classes, either group or individual dance classes are available, for all of these styles.

The night life of Maceió is another factor essential to our dance program. Encountering the various Brazilians dance styles is a question of strolling the right area of town and hopping from clubs and bars.

Maceió Fest - November: It is said that the best time to visit and learn about the culture of a place is during its local festivals. In Maceió, November is marked by an out-of-season carnival called Maceió Fest; it is an event people eagerly look forward to all year long, anxious to put on their dancing shoes and join the live music and festive scenes. For 5 incredible days, people from all over the northeastern region, and even other regions of Brazil, come to enjoy themselves, the music, friends and tradition. Here is what it is like: In the tradition of typical street carnivals, Maceio sets up stands along a 3.5 km stretch of beachside road. Every evening, large trucks with both regionally and nationally famous bands playing on top, traverse the road. Surrounding each vehicle are hundreds, maybe thousands of excited people who have purchased a shirt for that specific truck and band in order to dance through the evening with it. The truck/band/shirt combo is called a 'bloco'. It is only possible to be in/dance with one bloco per night. Most people dance with one band for 2 days, and then another for the last 2 days. Wednesday through Saturday, the festivities start around 8 or 9 at night. Sunday festivities begin in late afternoon.