By Sarah de Sainte Croix, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – BridgeBrazil, a leading school teaching Portuguese language to foreigners, has been awarded government accreditation under the Study in Brazil program. Effective as of this month, the program’s seal of approval places BridgeBrazil among the best educational programs catering to the international market that Brazil has to offer.
“Accreditation means a trusted sign,” says Monica Szwarc, BridgeBrazil’s Country Director, “It’s a way [for students] to presort among options. It identifies those programs which offer not only a solid foundation of program quality, but safety and customer care as well.”
“It demonstrates we have gone to great lengths, have been evaluated, and have passed the test!” she affirms.
Study in Brazil is a program developed by the Brazilian Exchange Bureau with the aim of promoting Brazil’s education options to foreign students and foreign exchange organizations.
The Brazilian Exchange Bureau is managed by BELTA (the Brazilian Educational and Language Travel Association – Latin America’s first and foremost international education association), and supported by EMBRATUR, the Ministry of Tourism’s marketing arm.
The goal, as defined by Study in Brazil, is to, “Showcase the country as one of the best educational destinations in the world.”
According to the most recently available statistics from the OECD (The Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development), in 2009 there were around 3.7 million international students in tertiary education worldwide. Of these, over half were hosted by just six countries – Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Szwarc says, “Brazil doesn’t even show up on rankings as a preferred study abroad destination. And it’s time that gets changed.”
As well as promoting Brazil’s foremost undergraduate and extension programs, high school courses and Portuguese language courses to the international market, Study in Brazil also seeks to encourage a more holistic approach to education.
To this end it is actively supporting innovative programs which combine taught courses with tourism, sports, internships, volunteerism or cultural orientation.
BridgeBrazil excels in this area through its Special Programs, which include Portuguese studies with a choice of Brazilian music, history or business and economics.
Alternatively, BridgeBrazil offers programs which specialize in developing writing skills or in exam preparation for the Brazilian Ministry of Education and Culture’s official Brazilian Portuguese as a Second Language exam, the Celpe-Bras (a requirement for any foreign student hoping to enroll in a Brazilian university).
“We really believe we are the best school of Portuguese for foreigners in Brazil,” she continues, “We are honored to be part of [Study in Brazil] and I feel it is due recognition to the effort of each and everyone at Bridge, [and our] commitment to providing the best service.”
BridgeBrazil is a subsidiary of Bridge, an international language, education and travel company, leading the field with innovative services for nearly three decades with centers in Brazil, Denver, Chile and Argentina.
To learn more about BridgeBrazil, visit their website, or contact either location in Brazil:
Verônica Horta
BridgeBrazil
Rua da Quitanda 191 / SL – Centro
Rio de Janeiro – RJ
Tel: +55 (21) 2220-8659
Sandra Monica Szwarc
BridgeBrazil
Rua Augusta, 2445 – 3rd floor – Suite 6
Sao Paulo – CEP 01413-100 SP – Brazil
Tel: +55 (11) 3081-1837
* This is an Advertorial for BridgeBrazil.