Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Learn Portuguese on a Tropical Island! Past Review

By (Linguistics, The College of William and Mary) - abroad from 08/27/2014 to 12/16/2014 with

USAC Brazil: Florianópolis - International Business, Environmental/Conservation Management, and Latin American Studies

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I developed even more self-confidence than I thought possible. Living on my own for the first time and acquiring a beautiful new language in a spectacularly breathtaking place made for the perfect study abroad adventure.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 6 months+

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Classes were pretty easy, as there was not much homework and the professors were laid-back. The only classes that really required work and dedication were Portuguese, which makes sense as using the language is vital to getting by in Brazil!

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Administrators were always available in the central USAC office and helped us out with everything from visa issues to going to the doctor.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived with two Brazilian students in an apartment and loved getting to know them!

* Food:

The food in the south of Brazil is pretty bland as they do not use many spices.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I made several Brazilian friends and we often explored the island's many beaches and went out clubbing together.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I only had one issue towards the end of my semester and it was quickly resolved at a local first response center!

* Safety:

Although several of my classmates had their phones stolen on buses, I never had any problems with safety.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

The only major expenses were groceries (super cheap in Brazil) and transportation (the bus system). If you want to go out every weekend, that'll be a chunk of change, but given how weak the Brazilian real is right now, it's actually not that bad.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

We were encouraged to speak Portuguese with the program staff and with locals as much as possible.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Beginner
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? none
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Don't be afraid to just speak Portuguese with anyone and everyone you meet. Getting out of that comfort zone with make you feel so much more comfortable being in that new and international setting and will open up so many doors.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • location
  • flexibility
  • Portuguese classes
* What could be improved?
  • rigor of coursework
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known how big Brazil is! (Larger than the continental U.S.) Traveling around is more difficult than I anticipated because the distances are so immense.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!