Help! I don’t speak any Portuguese yet!
ICI´s service team will be happy to help you until you feel more comfortable speaking Portuguese. We speak and understand English, German, and Spanish too.
How can I register?
You can register either online on the “contact” page of our website, or phone us, or send us a fax, or register personally here at the school. You will be asked to fill out an enrollment form, which will give us all the information necessary to plan your stay at ICI.
Is there a registration fee?
No, ICI does not charge any registration fees.
How and when do I have to pay?
We accept cash payments in BRL (Brazilian Reais), bank transfers, national bank cheques, as well as payment by Visa or Master Credit Card. In case of international bank transfers, the student is responsible for any fee charged by the bank.
*All payments must be paid no later than the first day of class*
Are there fees to be paid besides the class tuition and lodging (if you opted for it)?
Besides the class and lodging fees, there will be also the teaching materials costing. Please have on the prices section.
If you wish to participate in field trips or activities that involve travel or entrance fees, you will have to pay for this yourself.
If you want to be picked up at the airport, somebody from the school will wait there for you upon your arrival, holding a sign with the school’s name and your name on it. Please, have a look on the prices section.
Do I need to pay a deposit for lodging in case I have reserved an accommodation through ICI?
If ICI books a host family, a shared flat, a pousada, or a hotel stay for you, you won’t need to pay a lodging deposit. A deposit is necessary only if you have booked a short-term apartment. Usually the flat’s owners ask for at least half of a month’s rent in advance via bank transfer (depending on the length of the stay).
If I have booked accommodation, how do I get to the place I’ll be staying at?
After the confirmation of the host family, shard flat, pousada or hotel, we will provide you with the address and, if you don’t need to be picked up at the airport, we’ll give you directions on how to get there. However, if you want to be picked up at the airport, somebody from the school will be waiting for you on your arrival, holding a sign with the school´s name and your name on it. He will take you directly to your lodging. Please, have a look for at price list in the Prices section.
When does my lodging officially start and end?
The host family or the shared flat stay can start 5 days before your class starts and can be extended 5 days after completion of the class. The host family/ shared fats price is based on 7 nights per week. Extra nights are available. For example: If you want to stay with a family for 11 nights, you will pay 1 week and 4 extra nights. If you opt for a pousada, a hotel or a short term flat the arrival and departure date will be included in the number of days you will be staying.
When do I have to show up at school?
Usually you should come on Monday morning at 08:15h to the school. Our student service team and teaching staff will welcome you there. If you are an absolute beginner then there is no need for a short test, but we still would like to interview you in order to understand what you are looking for in your language class. If you already know some Portuguese, one of our teachers will also interview you to asses your level. In the case of one-on-one classes, you can start any day of the week. Sessions will usually be scheduled in the afternoon, from 13:30h to 17:00h, but also in the morning due to availability. On the first day of your classes, you should come at 13:00h to complete paperwork and summarize your expectations for the classes.
What are the general class times and how long is one session?
The regular group class (4 sessions per day) is from 08:50-12:30h (each session lasts 50 min and there’s a 20-min. break after the first two sessions). The intensive group course includes 2 additional sessions in the afternoon, from 13:30-15:10h. Private (one-on-one) classes are generally held in the afternoon, from 13:30h to 17:00h, in case there’s no availability in the morning.
How qualified are ICI´s teachers?
All teachers at our Institute are native speakers, with a university degree. They offer a great deal of solid teaching experience and an understanding of various teaching methods which they can apply based on each student’s needs. Of course, they love teaching our students too! Continuing training is the personal responsibility of all our instructors. They have been trained to teach Portuguese as a foreign language and are regularly coached and updated in monthly teachers’ meetings.
Is the school opened on weekends?
ICI is opened from Monday to Friday, from 08:00h to 18:00h. It is closed on weekends. If requested, we can provide one-on-one classes on Saturdays.
Is the school open on weekends?
Idioma is open Monday through Friday from 08:00h to 18:00h. It is closed on weekends. If requested we can provide one-on-one classes on Saturday.
Is ICI closed on holidays?
Yes, due to national and local holidays, the school will be closed on the following dates:
January 1; 16, 17 and 18 February; 3 and April 21; May 1; 4 and June 24; July 2; September 7; October 12; November 2; 8 and 25 December.
* Classes missed because of a holiday will be made up on other days during the student’s stay.
What is the shortest class I can take?
You can enroll for a group class of one week up to any number of weeks.
How many students are there in a class?
We assign a maximum of 9 students per group, but the avarage is 4 to 5 students per group.
How do I know what level I am if I opt for the group classes?
You are expected to arrive at ICI on the first morning of your course at 08:15h. You will be welcomed by our staff who will give you a short evaluation test (only if you are not a complete beginner) and talk about what you expect from a language course. With this information we’ll be able to identify which level and group would be best for you.
How many levels does ICI offer?
Our group courses are generally divided into 6 levels and include grammar, conversation, Brazilian culture and literature, Brazilian music, pedagogical field trips, etc.
Is it possible extend my course and accommodation in case i would like to stay longer?
Yes, it’s possible. We kindly ask you to inform our staff as soon as you have decided, in order to guarantee your reservation. No extra fee will be charged.
Can I switch classes if i feel the group is too easy or too difficult for me to follow?
Yes, you can. Of course, we try to place you at the appropriate level right from the start, but sometimes it happens that you outgrow the level more quickly than expected, or that you would prefer a slower pace. In either cases, we will do our best to find a suitable solution for you.
Does ICI offer preparation courses for the Celpre-Bras profficiency exam?
Yes, ICI offers a special preparation course for CELPE -Bras (Certificate of Proficiency in Portuguese as a foreign language), the only recognized diploma of Brazilian Portuguese as a foreign language test. This has been created by the Brazilian Ministry of Culture and Education (MEC) in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE).
Accordion
Yes, ICI courses are recognized by “Bildungsurlaub” for the following states:
* Hessen
* Scheswig- Holstein
* Hamburg
* Niedersachen
* Rheinlandpfalz
For more information, contact us: info@icicultural.com
Does ICI provide the necessary documents for those who were benefited from the FLAS?
Yes, once enrolled, the student may request to ICI all the necessary documentation for the FLAS. FLAS fellowships are funded by the USA federal government, intended to provide support and funding for undergraduates and graduate students studying the languages and cultures of specific foreign countries, particularly the US strategic interest.
Does ICI provide the documents required for the student visa application?
Foreigners wishing to travel to Brazil and have Portuguese classes in a private language school, can apply for a tourist visa, since it is not a matter of an academic activity involving undergraduate or graduate or a job. The tourist visa only applies to stays of no more than 90 or 180 days (depending on country) within 12 months.
For students who wish to study for more than 90 days, ICI is able to provide the necessary documents for the student visa application, however, in this case, full payment must be made before the documentation is issued. If the visa is denied by the embassy, full payment will be reinbursed, minus an administrative fee of 15% of the total amount.
Some countries are also allowed to extend their tourist visa for another 90 days.
(Please visit the following website to see if you qualify for free entry to Brazil on arrival).
http://www.portalconsular.mre.gov.br/estrangeiros/qgrv-simples-ing-25.03.2015.pdf
I would like to enroll my son, who is under 18 years old. How can I proceed?
ICI offers Portuguese courses for children. They will need a parent or guardian of the child, to authorize the student’s enrollment. For more information, contact us by phone or e-mail: +55.71.2132.6033 info@icicultural.com
What about medical and travel insurance?
ICI strongly recommends that all students purchcase adequate travel and medical insurance for the duration of their stay in Brazil. It is best to arrange for that insurance in your own country.
Do I need take any vaccination before traveling to Brazil?
The following are the recommended vaccinations for Brazil.
Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for all travelers over one year of age. It should be given at least two weeks (preferably four weeks or more) before departure. A booster should be given 6-12 months later to confer long-term immunity.
Typhoid vaccine is recommended for all travelers, with the exception of short-term visitors who restrict their meals to major restaurants and hotels, such as business travelers and cruise ship passengers.
Yellow fever vaccine is recommended for people nine months and older traveling to areas in Brazil where there is yellow fever, which includes all areas in the states of Acre, Amapa, Amazonas, Goias, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, and Tocantins, and parts of the states of Bahia, Paraná, Piaui, Rio Grande do Sul, and São Paulo. Yellow fever vaccine is recommended for Iguaçu Falls, but is not necessary for the coastal cities, including Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Salvador, Recife, and Fortaleza.
All travelers should be up-to-date on routine immunizations, including Tetanus-diphtheria, Measles and Varicella (chickenpox).
See more detailed information on: http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/samerica/brazil.html#3
Where is ICI located?
Our institute is located in one of the most traditional neighborhoods of Salvador – Bahia – BRAZIL, close to the calmest, most beautiful beaches of the city: the Porto da Barra and Farol da Barra. The inhabitants of Barra enjoy a walkable neighborhood with all the daily necessities. Shopping centers, supermarkets, drug stores, restaurants, laundromats and other services are within easy reach. The school is easily accessible from any point in the city. It is located in a colonial-style house, occupying two floors, and has a patio and a large garden.