Program Portuguese for International Students brought together 23 students from 8 countries before beginning of academic semester
Photos: Mariana Haupenthal
For two weeks, the program Portuguese for International Students, congregated 23 students from 8 countries to have a real immersion into the language, cultures – of Brazil and Rio Grande do Sul – and the Main Campus of PUCRS. The program began two weeks before the beginning of the scholastic semester and came to an end on Jul 26. It was offered at no charge by the Office for International Cooperation to international students signed up for the academic mobility program at PUCRS in the second semester of 2019.
They represented universities from Germany, Austria, Colombia, South Korea, Spain, France, Italy, and Mexico. For many of them, it was the very first opportunity they had to come into contact with the language and culture. They also met other academic mobility students. In addition to classes, they participated in various activities offered on the University campus.
Learning and integration
Verbs, pronouns, traditions and cultural aspects were some of the topics covered in the program. They had the chance to learn a little more about Brazil and Rio Grande do Sul and shared a little about the culture of their home country.
The integration activities made it possible for students to check out different areas on campus and learn a little more about their peers and about PUCRS. In this edition, an activity at Tecnopuc’s Creativity Laboratory (CriaLab) got international students to think about solutions to assist their peers who are far from home.
At the Sports Park, the students joined a sports afternoon session and a Brazilian dance workshop. They took their initial steps into forró and samba with the support of the faculty from the School of Health Sciences. At the School of Technology, students attended a workshop on flight simulators in the Aeronautical Sciences program to find out more about the equipment that is used and instructor’s practices. At the Science and Technology Museum (MCT), they enjoyed the experience of bringing learning and interaction together.
On Jul 29 – 30, students will be required to attend an Orientation Seminar. 25 other students are expected to join the group to learn about the university’s systems, do a tour of the Campus and of Porto Alegre.
The Academic Mobility team is available for further information about academic mobility programs at PUCRS in the first semester of 2020: [email protected].
