João Pessoa is home to several universities and colleges considered to be among the state’s best, including the Universidade Federal da Paraíba or the Federal University of Paraíba which is known to be the state of Paraiba’s main university.

The Paraíba State University, João Pessoa University Center, Paraíba Institute of Higher Education, Federal Center for Technological Education, Maurício de Nassau College, Paraíba Medical Sciences College, and Nova Esperança College of Medicine are among the city’s educational institutions as well.

With almost 100% of its population speaking Portuguese, it goes without saying that the language taught in most schools in João Pessoa is also Portuguese. Some institutions, however, especially in high school, offer English and Spanish as part of their curriculum.

If you are planning to study in the city, it would then be wise to learn the language first. There are several language schools in João Pessoa that offer Portuguese classes for R$60. You can also opt to hire a local language teacher to help you develop your skills with the language. The cheapest option for you to learn the language though is to do exchange lessons – you teach a Portuguese friend English and vice versa. This way, aside from being economical, you will also be able to get to know the city more in the eye of a João Pessoa local.