Bem-vindos to the latest Portuguese installment of our ongoing ‘Polyglot Austin” blog series, where we celebrate the city’s cultural diversity while taking an interactive approach to language learning.
Through our beginner and intermediate Portuguese videos below (subtitled, with full transcription provided!), we introduce you to Bruno Vinezof, a Brazilian native and founder of the incredibly soulful rhythm & percussion group Maracatu Texas.
Practice your Portuguese while you learn more about this afro-brazilian percussion genre infusing Brazilian culture into Atx. Did you know you can join Maracatu in Austin?? Check out their lively performances and classes .
Also! Read on to see how you can win an 8-week Portuguese class at Brazil Day Austin 2014.
Austin boasts an especially strong and colorful Brazilian music scene. Que lindo maravilhoso!
What an enriching experience learning about the history and culture of “Maracatu” which conveys, specifically, the rhythm of Northern Brazil. In the past, in the era of slavery in Brazil, the Maracatu groups crowned a black king and queen who would be the communicators between the Portuguese slave owners and the black community to which they belonged. These traditions are still honored in Marcatu groups today.
An array of alfaias, a type of Brazilian drum, artwork in themselves!
Watch, listen, read transcripts – have all kinds of fun! Then, answer our questions (em português) in the comment area; one of our teachers will get back to you.
Beginner Level
Beginners, to get the most out of this exercise, watch it first without sound, while reading the subtitles. Then, watch the video again with sound. See how multiple viewings of segments of the video improve your reading & listening comprehension.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL TRANSCRIPT
Beginner Questions
- Pernambuco fica em qual região do Brasil?
- Bruno conhece países nas Américas, e mais um continente. Qual é o outro continente?
- Que tipo de instrumentos músicas Bruno toca?
Intermediate Level
J: Pode descrever o lugar onde você cresceu? / B: Eu cresci numa cidade chamada Olinda. É uma cidade muito antiga, com mais de quatrocentos e setenta anos. Olinda tem muito casarões antigos, e é uma cidade com muita música, e o carnaval é muito famoso. CLICK HERE FOR FULL TRANSCRIPT
Intermediate Questions
- A cidade de Olinda tem quantos anos?
- Para Bruno, qual é a diferença mais importante entre a música brasileira e a música dos Estados Unidos?
- Think about the following two phrases: O Maracatu “veio para o Brasil com os escravos,” and “servia como um intermédio.” Why does Bruno use the preterit in the first phrase, and the imperfect in the second?
We thank our friends of Morena Soul, the lively, fun, locally grown Brazilian-music band for introducing us to the Brazilian scene in Austin. Meet them here, in our first Portuguese blog entry and be sure to follow their performances as well (schedule). What dynamic people, groups and strong bonds that unite Portuguese-speaking musicians in Austin!
Like the sounds and cultural richness of Brazil and the fast-paced rhythms of samba? Don’t miss Austin Samba (the largest Brazilian cultural organization of its kind in the US) present the largest celebration of Brazilian music and culture of the year at their event ‘Brazil Day Austin 2014‘! Dance, drink, eat, practice your Portuguese AND!!!…. enter to win an 8-week Portuguese language class with Freestyle! Come meet us at our table there and enter a drawing (free!) to win!
Last, but certainly not least, if you love practicing your Portuguese, make sure BRAZILPOD is in your repertoire!
The Freestyle Lifestyle
We do language learning a little differently at Freestyle!
Our one-of-a-kind approach to second language acquisition uses technology and interactive media in a way that brings the most recent, relevant, high-usage vocabulary and everyday expressions to our students in an entertaining and effective way. Join us as we continue to revolutionize language learning!
Fall I Session starts 9/2, join us for a free trial class or Saturday ‘cafe’ – info@freestylelanguagecenter.com
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