Brazil

Get your infusion of Brazilian culture and explore the pleasures of Brazil - from the samba filled streets of Rio de Janeiro to the sun-drenched beaches of Copacabana to the intricate web of rivers and jungles of the Amazon. 

You’ll enjoy a wide range of food and have a chance to see and hear art influenced by many cultures. As in many Latin American families, meals are a social occasion for the immediate family and often the center of large family gatherings. Whether it’s just you and your Brazilian family or a whole host of extended family and friends, you are likely to treasure these meals as some of the highlights of your YFU experience in Brazil.

In addition to family events, you will enjoy going out with friends to watch or play futebol (soccer) or volleyball; enjoy the beach, swimming pool, or a waterfall; or simply hang out in a café and chat.

Academic Programs

You’ll find that your school time in Brazil will be academically challenging, and at the same time a good place to make friends. Though Brazilian schools don’t offer many extracurricular activities, you will be able to play sports and join various clubs and youth groups.

Students must be born between May 1, 1991 and July 31, 1994. Year and semester students participate in a one-week orientation and language program upon arrival. The orientation is held at a beautiful location in the countryside where you will learn the Portuguese language and be introduced to Brazilian culture. In addition, YFU Brazil offers an optional free language course conducted by mail. Program tuition includes all orientations.

Year and semester students will also have the option of participating in a number of educational trips and excursions during their stay in Brazil.

Summer Program

Discover Brazil
If discovering new cultures and people appeals to you, you may opt for a six-week homestay. You’ll live with a Brazilian family and have an opportunity to immerse yourself in Portuguese, absorb colorful culture, and make new friends you just may keep for a lifetime. Since school is in session while you are there, you may have an opportunity to visit a Brazilian high school.

You may choose to join other exchange students from around the world for an optional ten-day excursion to the Amazon and rainforest for an additional fee of $1500, which includes airfare to Amazonia and the cost of the jungle safari trip. Visit Manaus, a town in the middle of the jungle and take a boat to see the meeting of the Negro and Solimões Rivers, which form the Amazon River. Travel up the Negro River to see the Igapós, Igarapés, and its natural beauty. Fill your days with activities like piranha fishing, alligator night spotting, trekking in the rain forest, and canoe rides. Travel on to Figueiredo, a small town hidden inside the Amazon Forest, perfect for trekking to some of the 300 nearby waterfalls and caves. Meet with authorities and a local biologist to learn about the environment and native Indian tribes. It all adds up to an exciting experience that will enrich your understanding of Brazil and the rainforest. 

Programs, Departures, and Costs

Online Resources

To learn more about Brazil, we recommend:

• E-mail YFU Alumni from the Alumni Referral List with your questions
• Visit your local library to find reference books, travel guides and essays, Portuguese language dictionaries, and many more country resources 
• Use an internet search engine to find informative web sites 
• Embassy of Brazil in Washington, DC web site

"I learned so much about life - people, family, Portuguese, Brazilian culture. It was an invaluable experience." - Ambika Gunnia

All YFU Programs are subject to change or cancellation without prior notice.
Last Updated:  August, 2007