High School in Brazil (Ages 15-17)

Enrich your high school years by doing something truly unique - spend an exciting semester or year as an exchange student in Brazil! You will live with a carefully selected, volunteer host family, and you will attend a private Brazilian high school. 

School
The Academic year in Brazil starts in February and goes until early December, with one month Winter break in July. Exchange students will be enrolled in a private Brazilian high school. The program includes Portuguese language classes for 40 hours during the first semester of your time in Brazil. These classes are included in the program. By virtue of the fact that you will be completely immersed in Portuguese, you can expect to pick up the language quite quickly.

Locations
Students are placed in safe communities all around Brazil. It is important to be flexible about which town you’re placed in since we are unable to take your location preferences into account. Our priority is to identify a host family and community that is the best match for you.

Accommodations and Meals
Students accepted to Greenheart Travel's High School Abroad Program in Brazil have profound opportunities for cultural immersion by living with a well-screened host family while attending a local high school abroad. For decades, the cross-cultural homestay has been considered the best educational vehicle for the development of real international understanding.

Each volunteer host family agrees to provide its international "son or daughter" with meals and his or her own bed. Just as in the U.S., every family is different. You may share a room with a host sibling or have your own room.

Your host family will expect you to help with household responsibilities, and family members may be more traditional in what they think are appropriate gender roles. As you can see, host families represent all walks of life. Host families do not want or expect a "boarder," but rather a new friend and family member.

Extracurricular Activities
Brazilian high schools do offer extra-curricular activities, but exchange students can also enroll in a local club.

Independent Travel and Visits from Family
Family members or friends are welcome to visit the exchange student in their host country once their high school program in Brazil is complete. Visiting home or receiving visits from home during the course of a program like this is extremely disruptive to the program of the exchange student. Such visits very often cause the student to feel homesickness afterward, which means going through the challenging adjustment period experienced at the beginning of the program again after the visit. These reactions to visits are hard on both exchange students and host families. Because we truly wish for all of our exchange students and host families to have positive experiences, we seek to minimize activities that threaten to detract from the positive experience meant to take place between students and host families such as visits to or from home.

As such, receiving visits from friends or family during your program is not permitted.

Traveling independently outside the host community is not allowed unless it is with an adult chaperone and is approved by the host family, natural parents of the student, partner organization and Greenheart Travel. Exploring your local host community after class or on the weekends with friends or your host family is encouraged, as it is a great way to soak in the local culture or practice your Portuguese skills. Your host family will be a great resource to find out about exciting events going on in the town. We only ask that students find a balance between spending time with new friends and their host family.

Academic Credit Transfer
Greenheart Travel will enroll you in a private high school in Brazil, and documentation of school work done overseas will be provided. You are responsible for coordinating any transfer of credits from your high school abroad to your high school in the U.S. If you have questions or difficulties, Greenheart Travel’s staff may be able to assist you in this process. Please note that we can not guarantee that your American school will accept your studies abroad as credit. You should see your guidance counselor to determine what credits you might need to take outside of your studies abroad to ensure that you graduate high school on time.

Local Support
Your host family will be a wonderful source of support and advice during your time abroad. Additionally, you will have what is sometimes called a local representative or a counselor. This person will be an adult outside of your host family who will support you throughout your exchange program in Brazil. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact your local representative. He or she is there for you!

Orientation
Before you depart the U.S., you will need to learn as much as possible about the customs and culture of Brazil. This will enable you to settle in more easily within your host family and community. Upon acceptance to the program, Greenheart Travel will send you orientation, culture shock, and host country information, so that you can familiarize yourself with your destination. Greenheart Travel’s National Office or local staff will also provide you with a thorough orientation before you leave for Brazil. You should also read as much as possible about your host country and practice your Portuguese skills as much as you can!

Transportation
Along with your host family information, Greenheart Travel will notify you of your arrival city, travel dates, and any travel arrangements that need to be made. Airfare to Brazil is your responsibility, and you will need to send Greenheart Travel a copy of your itinerary to arrange your arrival transfer.

Depending upon the location of your host community, a representative or your host family may be able to meet you at the airport and take you directly to your new home. In other cases, you may be met at the airport and taken to the nearest train or bus station in order to arrive to your host community, where you will be picked up by your family.

Visas
A student visa is required and participants should be prepared to go to the embassy or consulate for their jurisdiction in person in order to apply for a student visa. Up-to-date information can be found at www.brasilemb.org/. Upon acceptance to the program, Greenheart Travel will inform you of the general requirements and instructions in order to get a passport and visa. However, all passport and visa arrangements are the responsibility of the exchange student and need to be made according to the Embassy/Consulate’s instructions, as they are the final authority on all visa matters.

Semester Program Options:
Fall Semester: July to December
Spring Semester: February to July

Academic Year:
February to December
July to June

Application Deadlines
Fall Semester or Academic Year: March 15
Early Bird Discount - $300: January 2

Spring Semester: September 15
Early Bird Discount - $300: June 1

Requirements
Applicants must have an interest in other cultures and be willing to participate as fully as possible in the host country's culture and language, in school, and in host family activities. Other desirable characteristics include: flexibility, curiosity, motivation, and a good sense of humor. When applying for Greenheart Travel’s High School Abroad Program, you should be in good academic standing and be in good mental and physical health. In addition:

• Some Portuguese study is preferred, but not required
• Applicants must be between 15 and 17 years
• Applicants should possess a high school cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 / 4.0
• Recommendations will also assist in determining acceptance

Program Costs 

 

Included	Not Included
Lodging	Airfare/Visa fees
Full Board (3 meals/day)	Transportation to/from school
Medical/Accident Insurance	Phone cards/cell phone
Local Coordinator	Uniforms, books, materials
24 Emergency Staff	Souvenirs
Pre-departure and arrival Orientation	Incidentals (bottled water, visa extension, internet)

Fees may be paid by personal check, money order or credit card.