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June 2009
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In this newsletter, you can lean more about our Summer Intensive Courses, Campina Grande (a Brazilian town that transforms into a city each June), and many local events sponsored by Brazil Station and other organizations. Of course, we also offer language tips and information about new classes for beginner through advanced speakers, including Brazilian Music, Law, and History, as well as a Travel Class for those heading to Brazil soon. I hope you enjoy the newsletter!
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Special Summer Courses
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Make this your summer to learn Portuguese!
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Brazil Station is launching great Summer Courses this month. We have Beginner courses in Portuguese during the day, and our brand new Portuguese through Brazilian Movies for Intermediate and Advanced students. You will find more courses in the article “New Classes Starting in June” below.
Portuguese through Brazilian Movies
Portuguese through Brazilian Movies uses Brazilian cinema to support the study of the country's culture and language, and to strengthen students' oral and written skills. Each class covers one movie, its vocabulary and language, and a discussion of its cultural implications.
The Portuguese through Brazilian Movies course will be conducted in Portuguese on Mondays and Fridays for a total of 8 different films. Students can take one or both sections. The course meets twice a week for four weeks in two sections.
Mondays at 3pm - 4 films starting on June 15
Fridays at 6pm - 4 films starting on June 19
Intensive Beginner Courses
We received some inquiries about intensive Portuguese group classes during the day this summer. There will be classes twice a week, with each class lasting 2.5 hours. We will also hold group classes in the evening once a week (see the “New Classes...” article below). The schedule for Beginner intensive classes will be as follows:
N1B - Beginner Level 1 group class is for people with little or no knowledge of Portuguese. We have two courses starting in June:
A - Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9am, starting on Tuesday, June 9.
B - Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12pm, starting on Tuesday, June 9.
N1BS - Beginner Level 1 group class for Spanish speakers is for people fluent in Spanish and/or Italian with little or no knowledge of Portuguese. We have two courses starting in June:
C - Wednesdays and Fridays at 9am, starting on Wednesday, June 10.
D - Wednesdays and Fridays at 12pm, starting on Wednesday, June 10.
Travel Class - An evening class to cover the essentials
Are you planning to travel to Brazil and need a crash course before taking off? Brazil Station created a Travel Class to maximize your trip to Brazil. This two-hour group class will help you understand what to expect and make Brazil more accessible. The class will be limited to 10 students to ensure plenty of interaction and attention. You will learn the essentials about the culture and language including:
• What to expect when you arrive in Brazil
• How to travel inside Brazil
• Where to shop and find good entertainment
• When, where and how much to tip
• How to say important words and phrases
Travel Class will be held on Friday, June 19 at 6pm. |
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Visit Brazil: Campina Grande
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São-João festivities in Campina Grande.
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If you are looking for excitement, the “Best São-João in the World” can be found in Campina Grande during the month of June. This month-long forró festival, with local traditional music and dancing, is open for anyone to join.
Festa Junina is an annual Brazilian celebration which take place in the middle of the southern hemisphere winter. It is most associated with Brazil's Northeastern area, but celebrated in the whole of Brazil, mainly on the days following the Catholic feast of Saint Anthony, John the Baptist and Saint Peter. In Campina Grande, the celebration lasts for the entire month of June.
As the northeast is largely arid or semi-arid, these popular festivals coincide with the end of the rainy seasons in most of the region and provide an opportunity to give thanks to Saint John for the rain. They also celebrate rural life and feature traditional clothing, food, and dance, particularly quadrilha, which is similar to square dancing. The quadrilha features couple formations around a mock wedding whose bride and groom are the central attraction of the dancing. Usually taking place in an arraial, a large, open space outdoors, men dress up as farm boys with suspenders and large straw hats and women wear pigtails, freckles, painted gap teeth, and red-checkered dresses. The dance celebrates Brazilian county music. This colorful festival brings delicious traditional food, correio elegante (cheeky mail), games like Prison (watch out!) and Jump the Bonfire, and folk dances like forró and baião.
The June festival circuit in the Northeast of Brazil is one of the most famous and traditional around the world. Campina Grande, in Paraíba, and Caruaru, in the State of Pernambuco, dispute the title of best feast in the country. The first is known as the “Biggest Saint John in the world” (o maior São João do mundo) while the other is called the “Capital of Forró,” a popular form of dance and music.
To learn more about June events in Campina Grande, visithttp://www2.uol.com.br/guiacampina/. |
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Did You Know...?
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Valentine's Day in Brazil is known as Dia dos Namorados (literally “Boyfriends'/ Girlfriends' Day”) and is celebrated on June 12. Couples exchange gifts, chocolates, cards, and flower bouquets. Most likely this day was chosen because it is right before Festa Junina's Saint Anthony Day, known in Brazil as the “marriage saint.” Traditionally many single women perform popular rituals, called simpatias, to honor the Saint on his day in order to find a good husband or boyfriend.
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June Social Events
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Learn forró and samba—the perfect post-Dia dos Namorados date!
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Forró & Samba de Gafieira class - Wednesday, June 17 at 6:30-8:30pm
Forró is a type of dance popular in Northeastern Brazil, as well as the type of music which accompanies the dance. Samba de Gafieira is originally from Rio de Janeiro and can be danced with all the other Samba styles and rhythms. Samba de Gafieira establishes its own identity, allowing the dancer to express both grace and playfulness with intimacy and strength.
On Wednesday, June 17 at Chelsea Studios, Diego Kelman Ajuz is going to teach forró at 6:30pm and Samba de Gafieira at 7:30pm. He is originally from Rio de Janeiro and has been teaching dance professionally for over 7 years.
For more information, check http://www.meetup.com/BrazilianPortuguese/calendar/10035495/. Learn more about forró here and about Samba de Gafieira here.
Chelsea Studios
151 W 26th St
New York, NY 10001
212-924-5877
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Bate-Papo - Tuesday, June 23 from 7-9pm.
You are invited for a bate-papo (relaxed conversation) in Portuguese at Guy & Gallard. The event is free (you pay what you consume) and is an opportunity to practice Portuguese and meet new people. All levels of Portuguese speakers are welcome, from beginners to native speakers.
Contact us at Events@BrazilStation.com to RSVP.
Guy & Gallard
475 Park Ave South (southeast corner of 31st Street)
New York , NY 10016
212-447-5282
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Brazilian Events in NYC
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This month enjoy: (r-l) Brazilian Hicks Party, Forró on the Hudson, and Luiz Simas
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Festa Junina Do Village - Saturday, June 13 from 7pm-1am
Arraiá da Abonança - Brazilian Hicks Party. Dress up in “hick chic” and come dance, play, drink, and eat Brazilian goodies. Maybe you'll even be struck by cupid's arrow! Celebrate Brazilian country music, customs, and food, and join in a hick's wedding dance party—fun all night for all ages!
Free - Suggested Donation $10
For more information, call 646-373-3317.
Our Lady of Pompeii Church at Father Demo Hall
25 Carmine Street
New York, NY
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Centro Cultural Brasileiro's Festa Junina - Friday, June 19 from 7-11pm
If you are curious about this colorful, musical and tasteful festival, join BEA ( Brazilian Endowment for the Arts - www.beabrazilnewyork.org) on June 19 and become a fan of this traditional celebration.
Tickets $15; children under 12 years of age are free.
For more information, call 212-371-1556.
The New York Film Academy
100 E. 17th Street
New York, NY 10003
212-674-4300
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São João in NYC at Casa do Brasil-USA - Saturday, June 20 at 8pm
Casa do Brasil-USA is a non-profit organization that will host Festa Junina São João in New York City with live forró music featuring Ray & Rangel, Acyr Penna, Zé Wilson, Roberto Trevisan & Joyce, quadrilha (square dance), traditional food, and correio elegante (cheeky mail).
Tickets are $20. For more information, call Jean Louis Scott at 212-262-8080.
Casa do Brasil-USA
4 West 43rd St., Suite 312 - between 5th and 6th Ave
New York , NY 10036
212-730-0888
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Forró on the Hudson - Tuesday, June 9, 16 & 30 from 7:30-10:30pm
Forró on the Hudson is a weekly afterwork Brazilian-themed cruise, on board boats from Marco Polo Cruises. Tickets cost $45 and include a private chartered boat, live Brazilian band, DJ, dancers, and buffet dinner. Boarding time is 6:45pm.
Contact Joanna Sallen at 917-373-1090 or e-mail jsallen@bww.com for additional information.
“Lucille”
Marco Polo Cruises
E. 23 St and FDR Drive
New York, NY
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Luiz Simas - Tuesday, June 30 at 8:30pm and 11pm
Composer/pianist/singer Luiz Simas returns to Birdland with a new show and a great band of superb Brazilian jazz musicians. Growing up in the Rio de Janeiro neighborhood of Ipanema in the ‘60's, Luiz Simas was smack in the center of the bossa nova universe, where Jobim and João Gilberto ruled. He played in countless jam sessions with some of the greats, and signed his first major record deal he was only 18. He went on to become one of Brazil 's most respected musicians.
Luiz moved to New York in 1989 where he became very prominent in the Brazilian jazz scene. He's performed all over the US, in Europe, and in Brazil. According to Keyboard Magazine, his playing is “sassy, clear, vibrant, yet understated” and “his music...is fresh, smart, and witty.” Pianist Judy Carmichael raves that, “Luiz Simas is not only a wonderful musician, singer and composer, he is an engaging performer who draws his audience into his witty, joyful, sensuous musical world. Simas epitomizes the fantasies we non-Brazilians have about that wonderful country, and with him, we all get to be Brazilian, at least for the a couple hours!”
For more information, contact 212-581-3080.
Birdland
315 West 44th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues
New York, NY
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New Classes Starting in June
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Individual classes offered at Brazil Station.
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Besides our Summer courses listed above, we will also have seven new Group classes starting in the coming weeks. Other groups may also be formed based on demand.
Música Brasil - Samba, Bossa Nova & MPB
The Música Brasil course will touch upon a variety of Brazilian popular music from the 1960s, '70s and '80s within the context of political and cultural movements. Taught by a Brazilian musician, this course will reveal that in Brazil, “traditional” is not the opposite of “modern.” Students will gain insight into a culture that has succeeded in incorporating diverse ethnicities.
1. Música Brasil class in English will start on Thursday, June 11 at 8pm.
História Brasileira Moderna (Modern History of Brazil)
História Brasileira Moderna will examine significant historical events ranging from the colonization of Brazil to the transition of a democratic system. The course will emphasize the Military Period in Brazil , exploring the social, political and economic impacts on the Brazilian society.
2. História Brasileira Moderna group class in Portuguese will start on Wednesday, June 17 at 6:15pm.
Brazilian Law
Leis Brasileiras (Brazilian Law) introduces students to the most common concepts of the Brazilian legal system. Students will learn some legal history and the fundamentals of civil and commercial systems and the basis for forming and enforcing contracts in Brazil according to Brazilian federal and state law. The course will explain both the philosophy behind Brazilian law and the actual practice of law in typical situations.
3. The Brazilian Law group class will start on Wednesday, June 17 at 8:15pm.
4. N1B - Beginner Level 1 group class will start on Monday, June 15 at 8pm. It is for people with little or no knowledge of Portuguese.
5. N1BS - Beginner Level 1 group class for Spanish speakers will start Monday, June 15 at 6:15pm. It is for people fluent in Spanish and/or Italian with little or no knowledge of Portuguese.
6. N2B - Beginner Level 2 group class will start on Tuesday, June 30 at 8pm. It is for people who have some knowledge of Portuguese.
7. N2BS - Beginner Level 2 group class for Spanish speakers will start on Thursday, June 25 at 6:15pm. It is for people fluent in Spanish and/or Italian with little or no knowledge of Portuguese.
If you want to register or have questions about this course, or any of our other Portuguese, Brazilian business or culture classes, please contact us at Info@BrazilStation.com or by calling 646-287-6645.
We offer Private and Semi-private classes from Monday to Saturday. You can start taking classes with us at any day, any time. In addition to our traditional Portuguese classes, Brazil Stationalso offers Portuguese for Spanish and Italian Speakers, Business Portuguese, and Travel Classes. We teach off-site classes and Corporate Language Education as well. Contact us at 646-287-6645 or Newsletter@BrazilStation.com to find the right programs for you! |
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June Language Tip
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São João coincides with the corn harvest. Special dishes served during São João are made with corn, such as canjica and pamonha. Dishes may also include peanuts, sweet potatoes and rice. Here are some of the most traditional dishes:
Pé-de-moleque - (“boy's foot”) a candy made with peanut and caramel
Milho cozido - boiled ear of corn
Pipoca - popcorn
Canjica - a sweet dish made with canjica corn
Pamonha - a paste made from corn and milk, boiled wrapped in corn husks
Bolo de milho - corn cake
Arroz doce - sweet rice
Quentão - (“very hot” or “big hot one”) a hot drink made of cachaça and spices
Vinho quente - a drink like sangria, but warm
Batata doce - sweet potato |
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WE ARE ALWAYS INTERESTED in your feedback. Learning is a dynamic process. Please contact us at Newsletter@BrazilStation.com with your suggestions about submissions, new events, or services.
FEEL FREE TO FORWARD this newsletter to any of your friends who may be interested in joining us to learn about Brazil, or in starting down the road to speaking Portuguese. This newsletter only comes out monthly and is not sent to anyone who doesn't want it.
BRAZIL STATION IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for changes or cancellations of events outside the school. |
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