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Brazilian culture delights the senses. From the sounds of the Samba and Bossa Nova to the scent of delicious street foods to the gorgeous beaches and rainforests, Brazil is a beautifully diverse and wondrous place. Brazilian society predominately includes people of indigenous, Portuguese, European and African ancestries. It’s also known for Carnaval – a world-famous celebration full of street parades, neighborhood festivals and an unrivaled music scene.
By understanding more about our Brazilian exchange students’ lives back home, it will help you gain insight into their culture and background and prepare you for a successful hosting experience. Let’s start by learning about what’s typical in Brazilian communication, home life, education and food.
Educational system
Both primary and secondary schooling are free and compulsory for Brazilian students, however just over three-fifths of students ages 15-17 attend school. High school takes three years to complete in Brazil and the core curriculum consists of Portuguese, foreign language (usually English and an optional language), history, geography, mathematics, physics, chemistry, arts, physical education, and biology. Philosophy and sociology, which were banned during the military dictatorship (1964–1985), have become compulsory again. Brazilian students do have to take certain courses while on an exchange year, so it's best to confirm those with an EF office before the school year starts.
Tip From EF: Brazilian students may not be aware of options that are available to them in American schools, such as electives, classes of varying difficulty and extracurricular activities. Encourage your student to sit down with a counselor or registrar prior to the start of school to help them understand options and expectations in class. Talk with your student about the importance of tests and homework and how they can impact their grades.
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Communication style
Brazil is considered a high-context culture, which means that much of the meaning is implied rather than directly stated. The communication style of Brazil is typically warm, welcoming, expressive and full of nonverbal cues, gestures or body language. Although they are expressive, Brazilians tend to avoid confrontation. Instead of directly saying “no”, they might use phrases like "talvez" (perhaps) or "vamos ver" (let's see). Brazilians speak quickly and conversations are often fast paced. They may stand close to each other while speaking. They are passionate speakers and often speak loudly to express their interest in a topic.
Tip From EF: Give your student space to speak directly, and make sure you have open and honest conversations about communication expectations in the home. It would be helpful to explain American norms for expressing concerns or disagreements, so your student feels comfortable doing so. Share expectations clearly and directly with your student to ensure they are understood.
Olá
Hello
Como vai você?
How are you?
Food habits
In Brazil, meal times are very important and are often shared with many friends and family. Students and parents typically return home at meal times to eat together. Because the country is so expansive, the food culture varies greatly by region, reflecting the country's diversity and the mix of native and immigrant populations. Generally, etiquette around food and eating is quite casual. Brazilians are used to eating larger meals in the middle of the day followed by a later, smaller dinner. Lunch is typically the largest meal of the day, served around 11:30am-1:30pm. Dinner is usually smaller and can start anywhere from 7pm to 10pm at night. Families also eat out often but rarely eat fast food.
Tip From EF: Your student may need some time to adjust to the new foods and meal times in your home. Be clear with your student about what time you will be eating and if they are expected to join. Provide appropriate snacks as they get comfortable with the new schedule. You can also encourage your student to join you while grocery shopping and meal prepping to help them adjust.
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Home life
Family plays a large role in everyday life for most Brazilians. Brazilian families tend to be tight-knit, warm and loving. Great expectation is put on being loyal and committed to the family unit, with help to be given to family members when asked. The parent-child relationship is also typically characterized by affection and warmth, rather than authority. Among teenagers, the most popular activities are soccer, beach tennis and volleyball. Brazilians are quite active, but many teenagers also enjoy watching television, spending time on Instagram/TikTok and relaxing with their friends.
Tip From EF: Sit down with your student at the beginning of the exchange and go over all rules, schedules and expectations. Be sure to cover simple things like asking for permission, setting a curfew and checking in with you about any schedule changes. You may need to teach them how you prefer to do things around the house so they feel more comfortable.
Estou muito animado para conhecer meu intercambista brasileiro!
I am so excited to meet my Spanish exchange student!
Por favor, passe a feijoada.
Please pass the feijoada.
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