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We believe that a language program must be complemented with a wide range of social and cultural activities not only to allow students to use and practice the Portuguese language but also to maximize student exposure to Brazilian and Portuguese culture.
Our school has an active and exciting social program. Included are visits to theaters, concerts, restaurants, beaches as well as other events such as national festivals, sporting events and dance clubs. Our school in Maceio arranges these activities at least twice a week.
Among the most popular activities are:
Marechal Deodoro
An educational/pleasure trip. Founded in 1522, Marechal has the largest collection of sacred/religious art in the state. The city is famous for its old baroque colonial homes from the 16th Century and for its musicality. After visiting the city, we continue the trip to Gunga Beach.
Praia do Gunga
On the way to one of the most famous beaches of the Northeast, we visit a look-out point from which an enormous view can be seen of the coastline, sugar cane fields, palm tree plantations and the point where Roteiro Lakemeets the ocean. After this stop, we will arrive at GungaBeach, elected by tourism magazines as one of the ten most beautiful beaches in Brazil.
Massagueira
Known as one of the largest gastronomic centers of the Northeast, the people of Massagueira have the largest quantity and diversity of restaurants in the state. To experience this, we go to this little town after the beach. In addition to their delicious cuisine, there is a beautiful setting due to its location, situated at the edge of a lake.
Futebol (I) (soccer)
The Rei Pelé stadium is the largest in the state. It has a capacity of 27,000 spectators. Every year, major soccer events are held here, such as: Champions Cup (Copa dos Campeões) and the Brazilian Championship (Campeonato Brasileiro). One time per month we organize a trip to the stadium.
Futebol (II)
With the students together in one group, they represent the world select team. Their opponents are the professors, employees and friends of the school, representing the Brazilian select team. The competition, despite its recreational objective, almost always has an aspect of the world cup final. During the game, in addition to making new friends and getting a good workout, we learn sports vocabulary and idiomatic expressions. After the match, we normally go to a bar to chat, drink some beers and most importantly relax and have a few laughs.
Museu Théo Brandão (Théo Brandão Museum)
Constructed during the first decades of the 19th century, the building which today operates as the Théo Brandão Museum is one of the most fascinating in Maceió. After almost being destroyed by the effects of time, the building was renovated and today holds a large collection of objects that having to do with the culture and folklore of the Northeast, principally of Alagoas.
Passeio pela lagoa de Mundaú (Lagoon Tour)
The name of Alagoas is due in large part to the lagoons. To see some of these lagoons, once a month we make a trip to Mundaú Lagoon, the largest of the state. During this tour, the students learn about the flora and fauna from specialized local instructors and enjoy the scenery.
Passeio das Frutas (Fruit Tasting/Tour)
Brazil is a country whose diversity in fruit is known worldwide to be spectacular. So that our students can know and experiment several of our tropical fruits, one time a month we organize a trip to the public city market.
Gastronomia (Gastronomy)
Brazilian cooking is a multiracial fusion of tastes. Because of its tropical character, large amounts of sun and good earth, Brazil has a phenomenal variety of fruits and vegetables. Each student will become familiar with several types of Brazilian cooking as we go each week to typical restaurants from the different regions of the country.
Feijoada
Two times per month we go to a traditional restaurant where they serve the most famous Brazilian dish: Feijoada. Since it is a historic and exotic dish, this activity always creates high expectations. All the students before tasting this food come to know a little of the history and in the restaurant there is a possibility to see the preparations.
Passeio de Trem (Train Tour)
One time per month, during an entire afternoon, we take a ride on the train. Leaving from the central station, we pass by 9 districts and 3 tiny cities outside of Maceió before arriving at the final stop. The entire trip is about 28 km long, with half of it running alongside the Mundaú Lake. It gives the students the possibility to see the life of people who live outside the city and its fast pace of life.
Brazilian Rhythms and Dances
The variety in Brazilian dance culture gives wonderful evidence of a large cultural diversity inherent in this country. Here in Maceió, you can find classes, dance bars and clubs with anything from samba to forró to classical ballet. This exciting mixture of music, energy and movement transmits a beautiful element of Brazilian life. Our school's dance program offers classes in Samba, Forró, and Rítmos Variados. The classes are offered one after the other each afternoon. Thus, you may choose to do one, two or all three depending on your interests. As with the morning language classes, either group or individual dance classes are available, for all of these styles.
The night life of Maceió is another factor essential to our dance program. Encountering the various Brazilians dance styles is a question of strolling the right area of town and hopping from clubs and bars.
You will have plenty of chances to practice and to learn in the heart of it all! Our school organizes excursions to several typical dance bars and large concerts. The contacts you make in dance classes themselves will also lead the way to firsthand experiences in the dancing culture of Brazil.
Maceió Fest - November
It is said that the best time to visit and learn about the culture of a place is during its local festivals. In Maceió, November is marked by an out-of-season carnival called Maceió Fest; it is an event people eagerly look forward to all year long, anxious to put on their dancing shoes and join the live music and festive scenes. For 5 incredible days, people from all over the northeastern region, and even other regions of Brazil, come to enjoy themselves, the music, friends and tradition.
Here is what it is like: In the tradition of typical street carnivals, Maceio sets up stands along a 3.5 km stretch of beachside road. Every evening, large trucks with both regionally and nationally famous bands playing on top, traverse the road.
Surrounding each vehicle are hundreds, maybe thousands of excited people who have purchased a shirt for that specific truck and band in order to dance through the evening with it. The truck/band/shirt combo is called a 'bloco'.
See below for descriptions of this year's bands. It is only possible to be in/dance with one bloco per night. Most people dance with one band for 2 days, and then another for the last 2 days. Wednesday through Saturday, the festivities start around 8 or 9 at night. Sunday festivities begin in late afternoon. During the day, some must continue work, but the vast majority of the city makes use of several days off to take advantage of the beaches and surrounding areas. That is, if their legs are still working after successive hard nights of dancing!
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