The metropolis of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Portuguese course in São Paulo

Experience a Portuguese course in São Paulo - a city of incredible activity and diversity, with people and cuisine from all over the world.

6 classrooms
On-site kitchen
Private terrace/walled garden
Bicycle storage
Course materials purchased separately
Member of ABIPE
Wi-Fi throughout the building

Our school in São Paulo

Our language school in São Paulo is located in the affluent South Central district. More specifically, you will find it in Vila Mariana, a largely residential area which is highly desirable thanks to its laid-back bars, interesting attractions, and excellent public transport links. It is known for its many and varied restaurants and its cultural venues like Ipiranga Museum and Galeria Quarta Parede. The Sesc performing arts centre is a great place to find out more about the city, enjoy a show, or even get involved in local communities. The vast Ibirapuera Park - South America’s most-visited urban garden - is just 15 minutes away from the school and offers a calming oasis right in the middle of this amazing megacity.

Lessons take place is a relatively small facility with a total of 6 classrooms. Its size allows you to get to know the team and your fellow students really well during your stay and makes for a personalised study experience. It also has a walled garden and two private terraces which may be used for language classes if weather permits. There is also a public kitchen with a microwave and a fridge, and a secure area where bikes can be stored. There are lots of amenities in the local area and, with public transport links just around the corner, you can easily experience São Paulo’s diverse neighbourhoods after class.

Founded in 2010, this school has over a decade’s experience teaching Portuguese to international learners. It is a member of the Brazilian Association of Professional and Student Exchange (ABIPE), a quality-control organisation which aims to promote the country’s culture and language around the world. It also offers French and English tuition to paulistanos, meaning you’ll be able to practice your Portuguese skills with the locals and have meaningful language exchanges in between lessons! These accreditations and the school’s prime location in South America’s largest city make this facility an excellent choice for your language immersion experience.

São Paulo

If you’re an urbanite looking to learn Portuguese, then look no further. São Paulo is a city of superlatives in every sense of the word - it holds the titles of Brazil’s largest city, the largest Portuguese-speaking city on the planet, and the wealthiest Latin American city, and also boasts the tallest skyscrapers in Brazil as well as the largest Arab, Italian, Japanese, and Portuguese diasporas. Its motto, Non ducor, duco - ‘I am not led, I lead’ - sums up this bustling supercity, which is in fact so vast that the correct term is ‘megalopolis’! São Paulo is a world leader in business and is renowned for its interesting architecture, diverse gastronomy, excellent nightlife, and vibrant annual calendar of events. There really is always something to see and do and always something going on here. If you’re looking for an amazing big city experience while you improve your Portuguese, then you simply must book a language course in São Paulo!

The area around modern São Paulo was inhabited by the nomadic Tupi people before Portuguese colonisation. As they had no writing system, little is known about their past and, unfortunately, few pre-colonial artefacts remain. When first contact was made in the 15th century, the Tupi mixed with the Portuguese settlers immediately - many even became part of their families - and the indigenous population became key to building the city of today. Dual-heritage mamelucos, as they were called, were the original paulistanos; they even constituted the largest proportion of the bandeirantes, the famous, fortune-seeking explorers who helped to cement São Paulo’s success.

The bandeirantes - or ‘flag-bearers’ - were fundamental drivers of the city’s development. Starting with expeditions to explore the interior of Brazil, they were the first to find gold in Minas Gerais and thus set the Brazilian Gold Rush in motion. Their efforts to find resources took São Paulo from an impoverished agricultural settlement to the richest city on the continent. These adventurers are immortalised in the impressive Monumento às Bandeiras in Ibirapuera Park. Those interested in this era and the subsequent period of Independence should be sure to visit the Ipiranga Museum, which is just 30 minutes from our language school.

The city truly ballooned in the industrial age, and today São Paulo is a place of incredibly rich cultural diversity. It has 12,000 restaurants covering 62 worldwide cuisines; there is a Japantown and an Italian quarter; it is packed with museums, theatres, and playhouses granting access to the arts; it hosts countless national and international sports competitions each year; and the architecture of its skyscraper-strewn skyline is truly astounding. Despite its many diverse peoples, Brazilian Portuguese is still the most widely spoken language in the city; visitors can thus enjoy the delights of a modern melting pot whilst practicing and developing their language skills in an authentic way. This dynamic and colourful city is the perfect place for an immersive course and is guaranteed to grant an experience like no other!

Courses in São Paulo

Available courses

    The group lesson package offered in São Paulo is the Semi-intensive course, which consists of 16 group lessons per week. These classes are scheduled between 09:30 -13:30 Monday to Thursday. There is a maximum of 10 students per class, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities for language practice and interaction with the native teachers. You will study with other people with the same starting level as you, allowing you to progress naturally. Since the classes are completely immersive, you will find that you improve very quickly!

    Please note: if you have no previous experience with Portuguese, you will need to start your course on a specific date. You will find suitable dates for beginners marked (b) on the Prices tab. If you are unsure about which start date will be right for you, please feel free to contact us

    The fastest way to improve your language skills is to book a package of private lessons. Since private tuition can be tailored to your individual needs, it offers a high level of flexibility and focus. Private lessons are particularly ideal if you have any areas of weakness or interest you’d like to cover. The standard packages consist of 10 or 20 one-to-one classes per week, but we can arrange a bespoke package for you if you prefer. Private lessons can be booked to start on any Monday.

    This school can also offer online lessons to those who would like to study but are unable to travel. Please get in touch for more information about this.

    Don’t see what you’re looking for? Contact us today to see if we can arrange a bespoke package for you!

    Accommodation

    Available accommodation

      Our school in São Paulo does not currently arrange accommodation. Vila Mariana and the neighbouring area of Jardim Paulista have lots of hotels and guest houses which can be booked independently.

      Activities

      As well as language classes, the school organises some activities for students. All of these are conducted in Portuguese, allowing you to maintain your immersion and to continue to learn through experience in real-life scenarios.

      The activities are generally available free of charge, though some may incur an additional fee to cover entrance and/or transportation costs. The exact schedule changes throughout the year but may include:
      - Guided tours
      - Visits to local attractions such as museums and art galleries
      - Meals and/or drinks with the class

      You will be advised about any upcoming activities on the first day of your course.

      How to get there

      São Paulo is served by 3 airports; 2 are international and 1 caters only to domestic flights. The main airport for international visitors is São Paulo/Guarulhos-Governor André Franco Montoro International, which is around 30 km away from Vila Mariana, where our language school is located.

      We recommend that you arrive in São Paulo on the Sunday before your course begins and depart on the Saturday after it finishes.

      Location: Vila Mariana, South Central São Paulo
      Nearest convenience store: 53 m
      Nearest café: 83 m
      Nearest bus stop: 170 m (Rua Loefgren, 1057)
      Distance from train station: 1.5 km (Chácara Klabin)
      Nearest metro stop: 1.5 km (Chácara Klabin)
      Distance from airport: 31.4 km (São Paulo/Guarulhos-Governor André Franco Montoro International)


      Location of our school in São Paulo

      Student stories on our blog

      Prices for São Paulo

      Choose your course below to view our prices in pounds sterling (GBP), US dollars (USD) or euros (EUR).

      (b) = start dates suitable for complete beginners and all other levels
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