Learn Portuguese - Brazil Language Immersion

Step1 Idiomas, Florianópolis:
At Step1 Idiomas Florianópolis we believe that language is a result of human interaction. More than any other area, language acquisition depends on natural learning situations.

The goal of our methodology is to make you comfortable using your new language in the practical situations that you encounter in everyday life, for example: travel, conducting business, meeting people, using the telephone, meetings, participating in a conversation effectively, etc. With our communicative and dynamic approach, you will rapidly find yourself speaking in Portuguese.

Our methodology focuses on speaking and listening. Grammar is very important—we teach it in a very practical and interactive way, instead of the usual tedious, boring, and repetitive approaches. You will speak the language, not analyze it. The key to learning a new language is communication. Because communication includes reading and writing, they are included throughout our programs.

Although the teacher is an authority on grammar and compared linguistics, he/she acts primarily as a facilitator in communicative activities, always focusing on the learner's interests. Our teachers are all Brazilian native speakers of Portuguese with college degrees in the teaching of languages.

Group Portuguese Courses; One-to-One Portuguese Courses; Executive Portuguese Courses.

Step1 is a very special school for learning Portuguese. I was lucky enough to stumble on to it through the Internet. It was actually the second school I have attended in Brazil, each for a period of 6 weeks, so I have some grounds for comparison. The success of a learning experience depends on several factors. Your own motivation, the quality of your instructors and the day-to-day living environment. Since all of us who embark on learning Portuguese in Brazil are of course motivated, it is the other factors that contribute to the degree of our success. Being a former college professor teaching has been my life. I found the teacher at Step1 enthusiastic, and intelligent. The mode of instruction is similar to having a talented friend with amazing patience working closely with you. The school itself is located in Florianópolis, a beautiful tourist and college city that is safe, clean, and modern. There really isn't any comparison between the two schools I attended – Step1 is superior in every aspect.
Charles McDonald
USA

It is highly important to us that the students are satisfied in their accommodation, whether in host families, private studio apartments or hotels.

The school has an accommodation coordinator that is here to ensure that the students are happy at all times. Host families, apartments and hotels are carefully selected by our staff. It is our aim that our students are placed only in families in which previous students have been happy.

You like to play sports or dance? If you want to keep busy and have additional hours of Portuguese learning immersion, there are many activities that can be done on the island. This is a great way to spend more time practicing your Portuguese with native Brazilians. Our school will assist you in giving information about interesting activities and put you in touch with people who offer the services you are looking for.

Dancing:
Every Brazilian rhythm is represented in the dance schools of Florianópolis. Learn samba, forró, axé, ballroom dance, tango and many others.

Diving:
Diving is a sport that has grown in popularity over the years. Nowadays there are quite a few good schools operating in the north of the island. You don’t need to have any prior experience to start diving. Your instructors will show you the way. Don’t miss snorkeling in Campeche island.

Hiking:
With dozens of hiking trails, Florianópolis is literally a hiker’s paradise. From time to time, the school organizes excursions to the most important trails of the island. A great way to exercise and practice Portuguese at the same time.

Martial Arts:
Every major martial art is represented in the gyms of Florianópolis; from Kung Fu to Karate and Jiu Jitsu, everything is at your disposal. Come train with some of the greatest athletes in the country.

Windsurfing:
On any windy day you’ll see dozens of windsurfers practicing at their playground: Lagoa da Conceição. Florianópolis is home to some of the most important Brazilian windsurfing contests and is the perfect place for you to begin this fabulous sport.

Capoeira:
Capoeira is a type of dance (it resembles martial arts, but in reality it’s an African dance). It was brought to Brazil more than 400 years ago by African slaves. Since then it has evolved and become so popular that it’s found in the most remote corners of the country. Capoeira represents Brazil and its history. In Florianópolis there are groups that meet regularly to practice on weekends.

Biking:
In Florianópolis we have simply the best biking path of the south of Brazil. It spreads alongside Beira-Mar Avenue, going from the Federal University to Hercílio Luz Bridge. What a great way to move around town and enjoy some fresh air. Renting bycicles is easy here.

Paragliding:
When the wind is proper, there are paragliders flying over Lagoa hill and at Praia Mole. Whether you want to learn or just go for a double flight, you should definitely try this adventure while you’re here. The sights you see from up in the sky are unbeatable!

Swimming:
Like swimming? Don’t worry. There are many swimming pools all over town. Locals love to swim; it’s no wonder this sport is known for being the healthiest of all sports.

Many years before man existed, paradise was here already. It is now called Florianópolis and still maintains the same fascination that fullfiled its first inhabitants and visitors.

According to the UN, the almost 300,000 people that live in Florianópolis have the best quality of life in the country. In Florianópolis, all the facilities of a cosmopolitan city and the peculiarities of a provincial town live in harmony. Many trails leading to isolated communities can only be reached by foot or by boat, as contrasted with highway SC401. Indifferent to the rigors of modern life and to the contrasts of the city, many just want to enjoy the natural beauties of this island with more than 40 beaches.

Tourists:
In the summer, Florianópolis is transformed by the arrival of hundreds of thousands of tourists. The population almost triples during this season. During the 1998 season almost half a million tourists arrived on the island—63.5% from other parts of Brazil, and 36.5% from abroad. Among the Brazilian tourists, 43& were from Rio Grande do Sul state (“gaúchos”), 20% from São Paulo state (“paulistas”), 15% from Paraná state (“paranaenses”), and 7.5% were from Rio de Janeiro state (“cariocas”). Regarding visitors from abroad, the tourists from Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Chile comprise 84.5% of the foreigners visiting the island.

The city of Florianópolis occupies part of the island and an area of the continent. In the city there is one car for every three inhabitants, as well as a variety of other facilities and services that provide for all needs. It is possible to arrive or leave the island by car, airplane, or boat. By car, bus, or truck one can reach the island only by crossing the Pedro Ivo Campos Bridge, and leave by crossing the Colombo Salles Bridge. The Hercílio Luz Bridge, often called the “postcard of the city,” has been closed to traffic since 1991. The sea is explored by fishermen and navigators and by private tourism companies. Planes cross the sky, landing and taking off from the International Hercílio Luz Airport, 12 kilometers from downtown.