Belo Horizonte – Santos – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Brazilian Culture and Portuguese Language
The Brazilian Study Abroad program is a 5-week language and cultural immersion program sponsored by Latin American Studies in a partnership with UNA University, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Belo Horizonte is the third largest city in Brazil, with a pleasant environment strategically located, within only 300 miles from Rio and São Paulo. Belo also offers a variety of cultural visits, shopping, and food attractions. The program includes classes five times a week and cultural projects and excursions every weekend. The first three weeks will be in Belo Horizonte, the fourth one will be in Santos, and the last one will be in Rio de Janeiro.
Program Length
Summer Quarter (June 29 – Aug. 02, 2008)
Application Deadline
Rolling beginning April 21, 2008
Living Arrangements
Students will stay in an Apart-Hotel very close to the university in which they will have their Portuguese Classes. Each student will share a room with another two students. The apartments are equipped with a kitchen, and the hotel also has a recreation area with a swimming pool.
Courses and Credits
The Portuguese classes will be taught to students who have completed PORT 303/503 (first year at OU) or with at least an intermediate level of Portuguese equivalent.
This program does not satisfy the undergraduate Latin American Studies major requirement for study abroad in Latin America.
Excursions:
This course is designed to offer a great amount of cultural activities and field trips. Each weekend includes a visit to area sites. The fourth and fifth weeks take students to larger cities where they will learn about their diverse cultural and historical backgrounds as well as continue their regular language course work.
Week one: Belo Horizonte city tour and day trip include: Architecture of Lagoa da Pampulha; Mineirao; UFMG; Museum of Arts and Work; Central Market; Arts Palace; Liberty Square; Cachaca Vale Verde Farm; Museum of Contemporary Art Inhotim
Week two: Day trip: Ouro Preto and Mariana; Estrada Real; Lavras Novas
Week three: Day trip: Serra do Cipó, eco-tourism and adventure tourism
Week four in Sao Paolo: City and day trip: Sao Paolo - Museum of the Portuguese Language and Pinacotec; MASP; Fnac; Santos
Week five in Rio de Janeiro: City tour
All field trips will be required and will be incorporated into class assignments.
Immunizations:
The following are recommended:
a) Students should update their standard vaccinations for measles/mumps/rubella, (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT);
b) get Yellow fever vaccinations (Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais is an endemic area);
c) get Hepatitis A vaccinations (high incidence in region)
d) and get Typhoid vaccinations.
