Harvard’s Portuguese Language Program in Brazil Wins 2024 AAUSC Innovation Award
The Harvard Summer School program Portuguese Language Immersion in Brazil: Justice, Equity, and Rights, held in São Paulo and Minas Gerais, has received the 2024 Innovation in Language Program Direction Award from the American Association of University Supervisors and Coordinators (AAUSC). This prestigious recognition honors excellence in curricular and pedagogical innovation in language education, highlighting the program’s unique approach to language learning through deep cultural immersion and critical engagement with Brazilian society.
Developed by Harvard’s Portuguese Language Program and DRCLAS’s Brazil Studies Program, the initiative was significantly strengthened by the crucial support of the DRCLAS Brazil Office, whose engagement from the earliest stages ensured the program’s depth, local relevance, and successful implementation.
On the Brazilian side, FESPSP (Fundação Escola de Sociologia e Política de São Paulo) was a vital partner in the collaboration. As Professor Caroline de Melo Freitas, who led the Brazilian efforts, reflects: “The partnership expanded the range of topics addressed in the course and enriched the dialogue around Brazil’s social, cultural, and political realities, offering students a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of contemporary Brazilian society.”
The intensive program allowed students to complete two semesters of Portuguese in just six weeks. The diverse cohort, representing various nationalities and proficiency levels, worked to develop their linguistic skills and cultivate critical thinking. Through interactions with locals, visits to historic sites, and social discussions, they engaged in an educational journey that extended far beyond the traditional classroom.
One of the program’s most impactful component was a transformative trip to Minas Gerais, where students engaged with Brazil’s rich cultural and social landscapes. Traveling through different cities, they witnessed firsthand the effects of predatory extractivism and the resilience of communities affected by environmental disasters such as those in Brumadinho and Mariana. These encounters offered powerful, lived insights into the challenges faced by Brazilian communities—insights no textbook could provide.
Reflecting on the experience, Marcia McLean, Program Assistant and Portuguese Instructor at the University, shared: “The impact of this program will take a while to be fully processed and will reverberate within us for a long time. We met wonderful people and visited many amazing places, interesting projects, and inspiring initiatives that filled us with hope and optimism.” This immersive approach to language learning, rooted in real-world experiences and cultural engagement, is what set the program apart and ultimately earned it the AAUSC recognition.
For Cristiane Soares, head of the Portuguese Language Department and Director of the Program, this award is both an honor and a validation of the hard work put into crafting such a meaningful experience for students: “Receiving this award attests to the quality of the program and the professionals who participated in this project and helped us to realize that the program is, in fact, as special as we envisioned it could be. When we received the news about the award, the committee shared with us that they were particularly moved by our students’ testimonials and by the impact they described the program had on their lives. That, for me, is the most precious award I can ever receive. The Summer program in Brazil complements and strengthens the Portuguese program at Harvard and creates learning opportunities that our students would never have inside a classroom”.
The next Portuguese Language Immersion in Brazil program is scheduled for summer 2026. Stay tuned for updates—and get ready to embark on a transformative journey.