High School Program in Brazil The program is offered on two basic formats: •
One academic semester
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One academic year
Who may apply? Students between 15 and 18 from all over the world who are willing to learn Portuguese Language and experience the Brazilian culture.
Basic requirements: •
Be aged between 15 and 18 years old.
• Be a good student. This means a school average of B in the most recent examinations. • Have an acceptable school history. • Be positive about participating in the program and open minded about experiencing a different culture. • Students must be in good general physical and mental health. Any and all preexisting medical conditions (physical or mental) must be informed at the time of application.
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Students who are vegetarian or have a specific dietary requirement can only be accepted and placed by prior agreement. Please ensure that any dietary requirements are mentioned - host families need to be aware of these requirements before they agree to accept a student.
• Basic knowledge of Portuguese will help adjustment but is not mandatory.
Program Duration • Academic semester: from end of January/February to June/July or end July/August to November/December; • Academic year: from end of January/February to November/December;
Location and School CI chooses the locations and schools based on availability, student background and preferences as stated at time of booking. We always do our best to match the student’s needs and expectations to the schools availabilities.
School Year The school year is chosen by the following criteria: validation/co-validation requirements; age; prior school history; availability of vacancies in schools; program duration and student objectives. If there is a specific requirement for a particular Academic year, it is the responsibility of the agency to advise CI in advance. Usually the student chooses upon arrival the range of subjects to be studied. If a student has specific requirements or has to meet specific standards in some subjects, please consult CI before confirming acceptance of the booking.
The Brazilian School System The Brazilian secondary private school system caters for students aged 15 to 18 years old and it is divided into three years. The curriculum is a general secondary curriculum and is academically non-specialized : students generally take between 9 and 11 subjects from the official recognized list of subjects. When completing the last year of the secondary curriculum, the student is able to take the tests to enter College / University.
The School All schools selected by CI are inspected and registered with the Brazilian Department of Education (MEC). A private day school in Brazil is operated and managed by a nonstate/non-government organization or an individual. Brazilian private schools that we work with may differ from each other in some aspects, but all of them offer a number of common features – primarily a high academic standard, a good and safe infrastructure and also good atmosphere. Most schools offer a range of individual and team sports, either inside the campus or in the local community. They also may offer a range of leisure and vocational activities outside the school as theatre/drama, music, dance etc. Standard non-classroom facilities are science laboratories, language laboratories, libraries and study rooms.
Locations Most schools are located outside big cities such as Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. There are several advantages in living out of the big centers: students perform better in
school, make friends more quickly, adapt to family life better, learn Portuguese faster and helps them feeling being part of a community. It is important for our students that they are not dependent on the host family for their social life. In smaller city environment, students are more likely to live within a walk distance to the school, to have neighbors who attend the same school and to have a social life that is based within the locality.
Uniforms and Dress With very few exceptions a uniform is mandatory in all schools and full uniform must be worn to school each day as well as to all official school functions. For being a tropical country, most of the uniforms are t-shirts and pants or skirts/shorts, according to the weather. Uniform must be afforded by the student upon arrival. Please remind your students to bring cash money or a valid international credit card to this purpose.
Program Validation The Brazilian Private schools will issue the certificate of attendance with the respective grades achieved and can also give some evaluation on the student behavior in general, especially regarding the time of adaptation concerning the language ability. The agency overseas is responsible for advising CI of specific credit requirements.
School Reports and Examinations CI local coordinator issues a report every 03 months for each student and visits each school at least once per month to monitor progress and talk to teachers and other
staff. These reports incorporate the reports issued by the schools.
Guardianship and Counseling CI is responsible for selecting the school and host family. When (or if) problems arise, CI is asked to deal with the situation. CI local coordinator helps the students adapt to their new culture, take maximum benefit from the experience and contribute positively to their environment (school and host family). Most counseling takes place during meetings with CI coordinator and by telephone at other times. Counselors are not responsible for the details of a student’s day-to-day life. They can advise their students, but can not do things for them.
Visits CI coordinators will do a visit once a month to the students in order to guarantee the well-being of the students, their performance at school and good relation with host family. If problems arise the CI local coordinator must be contacted immediately to be able to solve any situation as soon as possible. All of our counselors are based in CI offices around Brazil, they are all qualified and experienced professionals with good English skills.
Reports The counselor prepares a report in English on each student at the end of each 3 months. Requests for school reports will be passed on but we cannot guarantee that they will be produced. Final reports are issued in mid to late July/August or November/December and form
the basis for any validation or co validation required. These can not be produced earlier the end of the academic calendar.
Accommodation Host Family All host families are carefully visited and inspected by CI local coordinator before any placement is considered. We do not advertise for host families for this program – we are introduced to potential host families by the schools initially and thereafter to new families by existing successful host families. Accommodation is preferentially in single rooms. Bathrooms are normally shared . Host family accommodation is on a full-board basis - breakfast, evening meal and packed lunch Monday to Friday, breakfast, lunch and evening meal on Saturday and Sunday. (If the school offers a cooked lunch and the student avails of this, the extra cost must be met by the student). Host family accommodation includes regular facilities – showers/baths, laundry facilities and internet, access to common living areas, etc. All host families receive a thorough briefing from CI on their obligations to the student, the student’s obligations to the family and the relationships between CI staff, the student and the family.
Change of Host Family We will consider the wishes and situation of both the student and the family when a change is requested. This usually involves some investigation by the CI local coordinator and a cooling-off period for the student and/or family. Whenever possible,
we will try to mediate if the problem is a clash of personalities over apparently trivial items. CI has two priorities in making a change, ascertaining that the change is necessary and for good reasons stated and ensuring that the change is for the best.
Application Documents Our main interest is better understanding the personal motivations of the student. Questions should cover the following areas: •
Interests, activities, skills and achievements
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Type of school attended (private, public, co-ed, religious, etc)
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Career plans (steps taken to achieve these)
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Family history (parents occupations, family activities, relationships with siblings/parents)
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Living/travelling abroad (when / where / why / with whom, etc)
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Specific requirements (allergies, diet, exercise, religious observation etc.)
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Personal habits & social life – smoking, drinking, weekend activities, etc.
As smoking is prohibited by law in and around all schools, and is unacceptable in many host families, particular attention should be paid to this to determine if students who smoke can live with a restrictive smoking regime or can stop smoking if necessary).
Besides our fulfilled application form we should receive a copy of the student’s birth certificate, passport copy, photographs of the student and his/her family and friends, presentation letter from the student and his/her family, copies of the last four years school reports or transcripts, copy of the most recent school report in English, recommendation letter from professor/school, presentation letter from the student
and his/her parents, health certificate.
Application dates and deadlines Applications should be sent at least 4 months in advance of the starting date of the program.
Application and placements process • The agency interviews the student to confirm his/her interest in the program and suitable profile • CI / ABIPE receives the application form initially by email (hard copy is necessary as well when CI asks so) •
CI / ABIPE indicates school placement and location
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CI / ABIPE sends family placement proposal
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CI / ABIPE sends invoice
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CI / ABIPE coordinates with the agency arrival dates and organize pick up services;
General Policies School Attendance Students are expected to attend the classes during the whole official school calendar. Students may be absent from school only with the permission of the host family and/or school authorities and/or CI in cases of illness or national or local holidays.
Discipline •
Each student is obliged to have exemplar behavior on social, school, family and study life.
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Students are expected to obey all rules and regulations of the school and are at all times subject to the authority of the school (director, teachers and other staff).
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Students are expected to live as members of the family and to adapt to family life. They are at all times subject to the normal discipline of family life, especially in regard to their social life.
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All participants should live in Brazil under the rules of behavior and discipline accepted as standard by authorities in the country. In addition all participants are subject to Brazilian law during the entire duration of the program. Many schools also have their own rules, written and unwritten, for behavior and discipline.
Prohibited actions in all circumstances • Taking alcoholic drinks / Being in bars or disco where alcohol is served / Taking any type of illegal drugs or non-prescription medicine, associating or having contact with any person involved or associated with drugs or drug users / Smoking / Hitch-hiking / Doing tatoos / Undertaking any type of paid employment / Driving - car or motorbike • Travelling outside your residential area without the permission of host family and CI coordinator (a properly completed ‘Authorization for independent travel form’ from your parents/guardian will be asked). • Leaving the school without permission of the proper school authorities / Being absent from class/school without reasonable justification and permission.
• Staying away from the host family overnight without permission • Mobile phones are prohibited in all schools in Brazil during classroom time.
Notes • Brazilian law states that the minimum age for buying or consuming alcohol and cigarettes in Brazil is 18 years. Smoking is prohibited by law in and around school buildings, in all public buildings and is unacceptable in the majority of homes. Penalties imposed by schools for breaches of this law and rule range from fines and suspensions for first offences to expulsion for repeated offences. • CI does not accept the permission of parents, guardians or agents overseas allowing participants to either break these rules or to change the general rules of behavior and discipline.
Social Activities Students aged 15 to 18 years may be permitted to remain out of the host family home late on Friday and Saturday nights (unless prohibited by host family and/or parents). In all cases the host family decision is final and they must be informed of where the student is going, the time for return, and who you the student will be with. If the host family objects to any or all of these, student must accept by their decisions.
Study and Homework Students are expected to do all homework set by each teacher. In addition to homework you are expected to devote some time each evening to private study.
Sanctions Breaches of the rules of CI, the host family, and/or the school, depending on the gravity of the situation, can result in: •
Written warning which may also include a demand for a plan of action concerning a change of behavior/attitude.
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Expulsion from the program and immediate return home.
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Breaking the law in Brazil will result in immediate expulsion from the program and return home. There will be no refund of fees if the candidate is expelled from the program.
Visas and arriving in Brazil The Brazilian Government requires the participant to apply for a VITEM IV - student visa before arriving in Brazil. Please check with your local Embassy of Brazil or Consulate of Brazil. CI will prepare all needed documents and send through fedex to the agency overseas.
What is needed to apply for a visa? • A visa application form, available from the Embassy/Consulate of Brazil • Visa application fee paid to the Brazilian Embassy / Consulate • Photographs • Commitment Term of Foreign Student Reception • School declaration • Host Family and Local Rep Orientation Sign-In Sheet • Potential Host Family Interview Report
• Term of Student Acceptance High School • Host family letter • CI / ABIPE institutional documents • Any other requirements/documents as requested by the Brazilian Government
To send acceptance documents we need to receive: • Completed application form • Confirmation of school and accommodation placement • Full fees receipt
Insurance The student must provide his/her own insurance policy. The agency overseas must send CI the copy of the insurance policy BEFORE student´s arrival. Students without insurance policy will not be accepted.
Expectations of partners • Ethical behavior – CI / ABIPE expects the highest standard of operation from its agents. • Disseminating accurate information about courses and services offered by CI / ABIPE. • Verifying and checking all applications including medical history and academic results. • Assisting students with visa processing. • Conducting pre-departure briefing.
• Ensuring parents and student are aware of CI / ABIPE Terms & Conditions and rules & regulations. • Ensuring timely and accurate payments of all fees, deposits and student expenses due. • Assuming responsibility for all outstanding fees and unpaid bills at the end of the program.
Arrival / orientation visits Parents are strongly advised not to travel with their children for the program start. This inevitably causes major difficulties – from the impossibility of meeting CI / ABIPE and school staff to the additional emotional problems created for both parents and students who have to say goodbye a second time!
Guidelines for pre-departure orientation The student and his/her family must be orientated by agency about the overall rules and terms of our program. It is also important that the agency make sure all of them are psychological prepared for this experience. Subjects that should be covered in the orientation sessions are:
Pre-departure Students should contact the host family: • Write e-mails, Skype calls, etc. • Send photographs & information about native country and personal interests
Psychological Preparation • Say good-bye to family and friends in advance, not wait until the last minute. • Be thinking about the forthcoming experience by getting themselves ready to live without the familiar environment of their culture. They should think about being open to adjusting themselves to new and different foods, habits, ways of thinking, etc. • Ask them if they are ready for this experience. If there are doubts, the agent should be contacted for counseling.
Physical Preparation • Get a complete dental and doctor check-up. • Students who are taking medications for any kind of problem should see their doctor for an examination and review, and make sure they have enough medication for the duration of their stay in Brazil. • Students who use corrective lenses should visit their optometrist and make sure their glasses or contact lenses are okay. They should also acquire an extra pair of glasses or lenses. • Students should prepare their clothes and personal items in advance, making sure they have adequate clothing for all kind of weather and social occasions, and that they have proper luggage for its transport.
Money matters Parents must arrange for their son/daughter to have immediate cash for initial expenses. Agreement between parents and children is essential for the budget on the purchase of personal items. International credit cards are good options for foreigners
in the country.
Necessary documents • Students must have a valid passport that does not expire until at least 3 months after the end of their program. In addition, it will be required to have a student visa to study in Brazil. • Each student must receive a copy of the name, address and telephone of the host family/school, CI Head Office and CI emergency number.
Arrival Welcome 2 days Meeting Day 1: Students will be picked up by a CI staff representative in Sao Paulo International Airport / check in at hostel or hotel near CI headquarters / Initial orientation meeting with CI representative at CI headquarters regarding Brazilian culture and general aspects about the program/ Welcome dinner Day 2: City tour visiting main spots in Sao Paulo / lunch at a typical Brazilian restaurant / Greeting session to meet the local coordinator with orientation session about “dos and don´ts” during the program / transportation to final destination to meet host family at their place.
Payment Schedule Program Fees One academic semester
US$ 3.360
One academic year
US$ 5.670
Note: Payments should be made following the information provided on the invoices issued due 15 days after receiving it. All private schools charge an extra fee for covering MATERIAL and UNIFORM expenses. The amounts vary from school to school.
Refund Policy for Cancellation
Programs beginning in January/ February : After acceptance and before December 1st
$500
After January 1st and no show
$1500
After student has arrived
no refund
Programs beginning in July/August: After acceptance and before June 1st
$500
After June 1st and no show
$1500
After student has arrived
no refund
Visa Denial Before receipt of host family placement After receipt of host family placement
Our Program Includes • Selection of a suitable private school • Registration in the school
$300 $500
• Private school fees • Round pick up transfers at beginning and end of program • Arrival 2 days welcome meeting in Sao Paulo (airport pick up/ welcome cross cultural session / lunch / accommodation/ welcome dinner/ city tour/lunch/ orientation session / transportation to host family place) • Services of a CI Local Counselor during the program • Selection of a suitable host family • Full board (packed lunch Monday – Friday) • Access to all house facilities • 20 hours of Portuguese classes with a Brazilian teacher
NOT Included • Travel to/from Brazil • Insurance • Local travel and transportation • Other transfers except first and last transfers • School lunches when taken as an extra option •
School extras –
books & materials, sports tuition, trips, locker rental, school
examinations, excursions, photocopying, stationery, etc
• Personal expenses, including private tuition, extra books, uniform items, shopping, entertainment.
Further Information For further information contact our team, we will be glad to help you:
Paula Prado - Executive Manager - pprado@ci.com.br Nayara Lopes - International Mobility Supervisor– nlopes@ci.com.br
CI Experience Brazil Av. Paulista, 726, 6th floor, room 601 – 01310-940 São Paulo, SP – BRAZIL Tel. + 55 11 3262-4012
Av. Paulista, 726 | CJ 601 S達o Paulo/SP | Brasil Tel.: 55 11 3262 4012 | 3141 1277 contact@ci.com.br www.cibrazil.travel
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