The official World Cup match schedule has been released and regardless of what team you are cheering for, BRIC Language Systems wants to enhance your World Cup experience through our 2014 World Cup Portuguese Course. The course is designed for all fans, from the soccer (or futbol, as it is called in most of the world) fanatic who will be sitting in the stadium, face painted and everything to the casual fan watching thousands of miles away on television. Through eight 1½ hour individualized Brazilian Portuguese lessons, students are introduced to Brazil’s culture in addition to relevant Portuguese vocabulary and sentences. The class makes for the perfect introduction to the Brazilian Portuguese language, all with a sports-focused slant to the lessons. Take a look at the course syllabus, located below, along with a more detailed description of the specific locations in Brazil that are hosting the games. Through our partner, See You In Brazil a premier Brazilian travel agency, we are able to take you there. See You In Brazil offers several World Cup Packages, providing you the perfect opportunity to practice your Brazilian Portuguese while enjoying the games in Brazil! We look forward to getting you started!
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Lesson 1 |
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Lesson 3 |
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Lesson 5 |
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Lesson 8 |
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BOM/BOA/BEM and basic greetings You will be introduced by your teacher and start studying basic greetings and learning local tips. |
Arriving at the airport During a major event such as World Cup, airports will be crowded. We’ll show you where to go and what to say. |
Meeting people and SER and ESTAR (to be) verbs You’ll learn two basic Portuguese verbs that will be useful when talking to people and introducing yourself. |
Asking for information There are great places to visit in Brazil, but you don’t want to get lost. We’ll show you the way! |
Shopping and eating out Do you want to try the local cuisine and do some shopping? You’ll learn about currency, local tips and favorite dishes. |
Unforeseen events and emergencies We’ll teach you what to say and what to do if you need help. |
Places to go GOSTAR (to like) and QUERER (to want) verbs We’ll introduce you to the host cities and their main attractions. |
Talking about soccer We’ll introduce you to all things soccer. You’ll learn about the game and understand Brazil’s passion for soccer. |
BRIC has lowered the price on its highly popular World Cup Portuguese Course for last minute travelers and fans alike!
World Cup Cities and Destinations
The 2014 FIFA World Cup will take place this summer from June 12-July 13, with games being played in 12 cities throughout Brazil. The following locations will host games: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Salvador, Curitiba, Porto Alegre, Cuiaba, Belo Horizonte, Recife, Natal, Fortaleza and Manaus. If you are a fan of the United States and are hoping for the country’s first title, it will not be an easy task, especially given the fact that the U.S. has been placed in the proverbial “group of death,” which also includes Germany, Portugal and Ghana (who knocked the U.S. out of each of the last two World Cups).
In order to provide you with a better sense of where the World Cup games will take place, we have put together a bit of background on each location:
Belo Horizonte – Located in the southeastern region of Brazil and commonly referred to as Beagá, Belo Horizonte is the sixth most populated city in Brazil. When calculating Belo Horizonte’s metropolitan area however, the 34 total cities that lie within it make it the third largest metropolis in Brazil, behind São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. With its plentiful green space as well as a long history of urban planning, Belo Horizonte is well known for offering residents (and visitors!) a superior quality of life.
Brasília – Located in the center of Brazil, Brasilia has served as the country’s capital since 1960. Architecturally speaking, the city is considered avant-garde and is the only city built in the twentieth century, designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
Cuiabá – Located in the central western part of Brazil, this city sits in the geographical center of South America, 2,000 kilometers from both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Considered the hottest state capital in Brazil, in terms of temperature, Cuiabá contains three of Brazil’s most important ecosystems: the savannahs, the wetlands and the Amazon.
Curitiba – The most populous city in the southern region of Brazil, Curitiba’s economy ranks fourth in terms of its contribution to Brazil’s overall GDP. Thanks to numerous urban planning initiatives designed to curb overpopulation, Curitiba has become an international symbol for cities dealing with the negative effects of extreme population growth on things like transportation and the environment. During the nineteenth century, Curitiba welcomed large numbers of German, Italian, Ukrainian and Polish nationals.
Fortaleza – Located in Brazil’s northeast, this city of 2.4 million people is developing into an important economic center. Fortaleza, meaning “Fortress” in Portuguese, takes its name from an old Dutch fort, Schoonenborch, which was built in the 17th century when the area was under Dutch control (1637 – 1654). Currently, Fortaleza is best known for its gorgeous beaches and tourist attractions.
Manaus –The only FIFA World Cup host city located in Amazonian Brazil, Manaus is situated on the confluence of the Negro and Solimões rivers. Given its northwest geographic location, access is limited to boat and airplane. As isolated as it sounds, Manaus is actually the seventh most populous in the country, with 1.5 million people.
Natal – Located as close to Europe as any other city in the Americas, this northeastern city’s tropical climate boasts 300 sunny days a year. As one of the most popular destinations for tourists, Natal prides itself on its beautiful natural beaches, historic monuments and buildings as well as its off-season carnival, the Carnatal.
Porto Alegre – Located in the far south of Brazil, Porto Alegre is known for its subtropical climate, which produces four very distinct seasons. In the 1700’s, Porto Alegre was home to Portuguese and Italian immigrants, like many other Brazilian cities, but also to European immigrants, most notably from Germany and Poland. Given its proximity to Argentina and Uruguay, this city shares many cultural traits with these countries, including folklore music and the drinking of chimarrão, a caffeine-rich infused drink made from the yerba mate plant.
Recife – Commonly referred to as the “capital of the northeast,” Recife is Brazil’s fourth largest metropolitan area. Recife is referred to as “the Brazilian Venice” thanks to its many bridges, canals and levees that were built when the area was controlled by the Dutch West India Company in the 1600’s. While the city has plenty to offer tourists all year round, one of the best times to visit is during Carnival, a weeklong festival that takes place in February or March every year, when two million people take to the streets of Recife (as well as other cities in Brazil) in celebration.
Rio de Janeiro – Located on Brazil’s southeast coast, Rio de Janeiro is considered the most popular tourist destination in the country. Brazil’s capital until 1960, Rio, as it is affectionately known, is the country’s second most populous city, with over six million residents. A city with architecture that pays homage to its rich history, Rio is also filled with modern skyscrapers, symbolizing its bright future. Rio is also home to the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, which sits atop the Corcovado Mountain.
Salvador – Located in Brazil’s northeast, Salvador is the country’s third most populous city. Known as the first urban area in Brazil to be colonized by the Portuguese, Salvador served as one of the main centers for the slave trade in South America. As a result, Salvador today is a cultural melting pot, characterized by the cultural richness of all of the city’s inhabitants, including Portuguese and African descendants as well as the indigenous people living who called the area home hundreds of year ago.
São Paulo – Located in the southeastern region of the country, São Paulo is the economic capital of Brazil. Not only is São Paulo the biggest city in Brazil, with 11 million residents, it is also one of the biggest cities in the world. At the turn of the nineteenth century, São Paulo saw a large number of immigrants enter the country, as the city was a land of opportunity for many seeking a better quality of life. Today, São Paulo is by far the most diverse in all of Brazil, with over 100 different ethnicities represented. The city is also responsible for over 12% of the country’s GDP.