Archive for 'Culture'
Two Years to the World Cup Posted by Rachel on Jun 14, 2012
The final countdown to Brazil’s World Cup has begun! June 12 marked exactly two years before the games will kick off in Brazil. The favorite question of the international media–and quite a few foreigners–is whether Brazil will be ready in time. So what is the country doing to prepare? First, there are the stadiums. Next…
Raul Seixas Posted by Rachel on Jun 8, 2012
Raul Seixas (1945-1989) was one of Brazil’s biggest rock stars and is considered one of the pioneers of Brazilian rock. Born and raised in Salvador, Bahia, he first entered the music scene with the band Os Panteras in the 1960s. His recording career started to take off in 1970, in Rio de Janeiro. But he…
SNL Brasil Posted by Rachel on Jun 7, 2012
Brazil recently premiered its own version of Saturday Night Live on the RedeTV! channel. Though the format of the show is similar to the format in the U.S., it sticks to Brazilian humor. Watch some clips from the show to practice your listening comprehension. One segment parodied an interview show by interviewing “dengue,” the disease…
Copa Libertadores Posted by Rachel on May 24, 2012
There are seemingly countless football tournaments in Brazil, but one of the biggest and most important ones is the Libertadores Cup, known as Copa Santander Libertadores da América, or Copa Libertadores for short. Named after the South American liberators who fought for independence, the tournament is made up of 38 city teams in Latin America that…
The Strange Story of Rambo from Manaus Posted by Rachel on May 17, 2012
Did you know that Rambo lives in Manaus, the capital of Amazonas? Well, not really, but there is a metalworker in Manaus who idolizes Sylvester Stallone and likes to make amateur movies. This short documentary tells his story: Try to answer the questions now that you’ve watched the video. 1. When did Aldenir first get…
Fita do Bomfim Posted by Rachel on May 17, 2012
If you’ve ever been to Brazil, it’s likely you’ve seen or bought a fita do Bomfim, or a Bomfim ribbon. They’re also sometimes called fitinhas do Bomfim (little Bomfim ribbons). But do you really know where they come from? The fita do Bomfim comes from the Senhor do Bomfim Church in Salvador, Bahia. These…
Housekeepers in Brazil Posted by Rachel on May 15, 2012
In Brazil, it’s very common for middle and upper-class families to have an emprega doméstica (housekeeper, or maid) working at their homes. Those who can afford it hire a woman to clean and cook; wealthier families have live-in maids. As this Folha article explains, having an empregada is a sign of status. It also says…