Learn Portuguese in Brazil

Live

Living here means being a guest at Malú’s house, in your own private apartment with private bathroom. Ocean view, hot shower and meals included.

Learn more about our home in Brazil >

Create

Do you want to get involved in one of our social projects? Or you are interested in an internship in a Brazilian company?

Learn more about Internships and Volunteering opportunities in Brazil >

Speak

Screw your textbooks and leave your memo pads at home. We teach you how to communicate in Portuguese, and not to be the Gringo.

Learn more about our Intensive Portuguese Courses in Brazil >

Idea

We are not a school, though we teach Portuguese.
We are not a hostel, though you’ll meet international people here.
We are not an NGO, though you will make a social impact.

Learn more… >

Instituto Naturagro

Instituto Biota de Conservação

NGO which aims to promote the research, conservation and protection of marine fauna and flora through different projects and actions.

NEAFA

abandoned animals shelter. NGO promotes well-being of domestic animals through environmental education, actions on encouraging the animal adoption, veterinary help to sick animals. The scope of activities is very interesting, however there is not enough staff for the amount of work and volunteers are always very welcomed.

Casa da Arte

NGO which combines art gallerie of the young painters and art center for kids offering workshop and courses of music, painting, etc. Located in Garça Torta – 5 minutes from our house.
Working Areas: art, applied art, pedagogy.

Pro Amor

All-day kindergarten which takes care of 80 needy children from 0 till 6 years old.
Working Areas: pedagogy, education.
Volunteering Tasks: Take care of the children, entertain, devote attention, plan different activities with them, help by preparing lunch.

Public School

Though Garça Torta is a city district it has a village vibe which influences the only school here. The children are often the work force helping their parents with countryside housekeeping and therefore often miss the school classes. Moreover the lack of good teachers and structure makes the learning process very slow and ineffective. The work of volunteers and interns though quite hard and challenging in this environment makes significant impact – the children as well as the teachers at school become more open minded and motivated.

Maple Bear

Network of bilingual schools which provides an innovative early childhood and elementary education based on a methodology developed by Canadian experts on education. It posses more than 60 schools throughout Brazil, and over 20 worldwide. Maple Bear Maceió is the first bilingual school in Maceió and currently is in the mode of start-up.

Public School

Maple Bear

Capoeira Therapy

is a therapy project where Capoeira (traditional sport in Brazil) is used as a therapy for a patients with mental and physical disabilities. Capoeira is a mixture of marital art, game and dance and involves a lot of interaction with a partner – more mental than physical. Music also plays significant part in the practice. Playing musical instruments and singing complete this multidimensional therapy approach.

Hyppotherapy

This association deals with Hyppotherapy, a therapeuthic and educational method which works with the relationship between the patient and the horse. It is a multidisciplinar approach which involves education-, health- and horsemanship- specialists.

Testimonials

Volunteer/Student Voices

I stayed about 6 months at the beautiful place of Garça Torta at Malús lodge. I had no idea, what would expect me there and what I found, was what I thought, that I would leave behind...a place, that felt like home, friends and somehow a piece of family. Malú did not only give me a place to sleep, but also made me part of her world. And she will always stay one of mine!

Anke, Germany

Malú knows how to make a guest feel at home at the student lodge in Garca Torta. She is so openminded and loves to get to know you. My "Brazil Experience" in 2007 changed myself completely.I lost my heart in Brazil and hope I will be back soon, maybe even for longer!

Petra

Community Participatory Workshop in Lagoa Azeda/Alagoinha - I was working for abuot 5 month (2010) as an intern with the NGO Instituto Naturagro (Maceió) in a project called" RESEX" (Reserva Extrativista) da Jequiá da Praia. I would discribe this as an integrated environmental protection as well as socioeconomic development project around a lake/river/sea area including 17 smaller villages and when implemented helping around 3000 people (through micro-credits, creation of cooperatives, however also resettlement to avoid destruction from looding, erosion etc). We worked together with the INCRA (Ministry of Agricultural Reform) as well as ICMbio (Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade) which is part of the Brasilian Environmental Ministry (IBAMA). If you are interested to know more, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Evelyn

I was having a problem to find anything in Maceio that was not very expensive so when I saw this on Malu's house here decided to give it a try. Location is in Garca Torta about 20 mins from Maceio . There are buses if you do not have a car and I was able to use them without problem. Better for me after renting a car. Malu was very helpful as were the people working here as well. There are beaches nearby that you can walk to. There is a private social club you can use with a big pool nearby for 10 dollars a day.The grounds here are well kept and lovely and the rooms are clean as well. No A/C but didn't miss it . No tv in the rooms but in a common area there is a great large screen tv with dvd and a collection of movies to watch. The two dogs are great as well/ A very pleasant surprise for me and I was very lucky to find this peaceful oasis near bustling Maceio.

Alex, USA

I stayed two month at Malús home and all the time I felt welcome. She is so open minded, friendly, helpfull and she took me to so many places, partys and let me be a part of her life for the time. All the time she ask me to join her, when ...she´s going out to a concert or her friends and if you have a problem or you need something, she will take care. And she is a very good portuguese teacher! You can´t find another person you will feel as comfortable as at Malús lodge.

Inga, Germany

Today is my last day in Brazil and I am about to return to Germany where I am an intern in a small town called Herrnhut. I have been a Marketing Intern at gobrazil for the last 7 weeks and it has been a most fulfilling time for me. I re-discovered my enjoyment of marketing (which I haven't done for many years) and oftentimes worked overtime because I was having such a good time, and also re-kindled my love for football, for music, for the sea and for travelling as I love to study cultures. Malu's house has been an oasis for me. It's truly a house of peace and the people I have met in this house have been such a blessing to my life. In my many travels around the world I have found the Brazilian people to be so helpful and hospitable even though the majority do not speak English. I have felt at home in Brazil, especially in Garca Torta and in the company of all the friends I made through gobrazil. Whether you come to learn the language, experience the culture or fulfill your dream to be in Rio, I recommend a visit to the Alagoas region of Brazil. You may re-discover life here!

Tristan, Zimbabwe

Thank you GoBrazil for the greatest opportunity of my life!

Kate, France

I really learned a lot in my time in Brazil, made amazing friends with which I shared a lot of unforgettable moments, had some bad days but definitely more of the good ones and in the end I think I can really say that I found a place where I feel at home and which I will always love to come back! Um abraço forte pra todos vocês e coragem pra as próximos voluntários! A vida e de boa na Alagoa, não se esqueçam disso,haha!:)

Clara, Germany

Die 3 Monate in Maceió waren eine tolle Erfahrung! Der Unterricht bei Malú war sehr lebendig und lehrreich und ich habe viel über die Brasilianische Kultur erfahren und tolle Leute kennengelernt!
Ich werde wiederkommen!

Wilma, Germany

Malú was a great host and I really enjoyed my stay in Garca Torta! She even prepared vegetarian food for me!! The beach is super close and you find everything you need (bars, restaurants, shopping, etc.) in Maceio. I will definitely come back!!

Dorothee, Germany