Anísio visited the United States for the first time in 1927. His observations about the North-American culture are recorded in his travel diary. Back in Brazil, he publishes "Aspectos americanos da educação" (American Views on Education), which, along with his travel impressions, contains the first systematic appraisal of John Dewey's concepts on education by a Brazilian scholar.

In mid-1928, he returns to the United States for a post-graduate course at the Teachers College at Columbia University, where he is awarded the "Master of Arts" degree. In 1929, he returns to Brazil and writes an analysis of the Educational Reform in Bahia (1924-1929).