Top 3 English courses in Brazil

• Accessibility

One of the reasons why language schools in Brazil are more attractive to Russians than those in Argentina or other countries in the region is accessibility. The courses offered here usually do not require entrance exams or prior preparation: upon enrolling in a school, students go through an assessment procedure, after which they are placed in a group with the appropriate level of proficiency.

• American English

British English as the language of international communication is becoming a thing of the past — its American version now dominates everywhere. Due to the proximity to the USA, teachers at Brazilian language schools focus on universal and practical American English, using the corresponding teaching materials and engaging native speakers for practice.

• Flexible pricing policy

Language schools in Brazil offer students a flexible pricing policy and a wide range of options to suit any taste and budget.

• Excellent climatic conditions

This subtropical and tropical country has a magnificent climate: fruit is harvested here around the clock, and the beaches are suitable for swimming, sunbathing, and all kinds of water recreation for 10 months of the year.

• Limited opportunities for practice

Despite significant positive progress, there are still not enough people in the country who use English in everyday communication and speak it at a level sufficient to hold a conversation — hence the low likelihood of encountering a conversation partner outside of school or university.

• Few preparatory courses

In recent years, an increasing number of university programs at the graduação and mestrado levels (roughly equivalent to bachelor's and master's degrees in the Bologna system) are being offered in English; whereas 10 years ago the figure was a couple of dozen programs for the entire country, now at least a quarter of programs are offered in English.

At the same time, preparatory programs for prospective students are quite scarce, and those that do exist provide no advantages when applying to universities in the country and cannot be converted into academic credits.

The range of available English language learning programs in Brazil is roughly comparable to similar ones in European countries and the USA (although the number of additional options is somewhat limited). Depending on the student's goals for learning the language, language schools and courses in Brazil can offer:

• children's and teenage programs, supplemented by entertainment, educational, or sports activities,
• adult courses — both general and adapted for professional, tourism, or other purposes,
• preparatory programs for admission to local universities,
• preparation for standard international exams TOEFL/IELTS.

The level of English teaching at language schools and university-based courses is quite high, so secondary factors take on considerable importance.

• Location

Schools may be located in capitals or major cities, which offers the widest range of leisure options in any form, excellent infrastructure, and a significant choice of programs, or in small resort towns on the coast; in favor of the second scenario are greater affordability, outdoor recreation, and safety (especially compared to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo).

• Teaching materials

It is important to pay attention to which textbooks the school uses: large organizations and networks can acquire the most up-to-date and current materials, while smaller schools prefer conservative methods and often use unlicensed copies.

• Entertainment, recreational, and sports programs

Foreign language classes usually take up 4 to 6 hours a day — the rest of the time students can do as they please. Some schools offer a fairly packed program that includes excursions and a variety of entertainment — both in individual and group formats.

Some courses — most often these are programs adapted for children and teenagers — can be combined with a favorite sport (football, of course, takes first place in popularity in Brazil!).