Story of Maceió

Hello everyone ! ;D Now I'm going to talk a little about the main city of Alagoas ;)

Nowadays Maceió is the main economic center of Alagoas. But to get to this point the city of Maceió had to pass through lots of problems.

To begin, Maceió firstly started from a mill called 'Masayo-k' which means 'what covers the wetland', in the XVII century. Jaraguá Bay offered a huge facility to the fishers because the location was very close to the main centers of economy (Alagoas do Sul in the southern part and Porto Calvo in the northern part). The small group of fishers became bigger and bigger by the time. In 1815 Maceió was elevated to Village for its great advancement and in 1817 the state of Alagoas was dismembered from Pernambuco. For that reason Alagoas needed to choose a place in order to create its first Treasure house. The city of Alagoas do Sul (today Marechal Deodoro) was choosen to house the Treasure House. Despite of that, Maceió was still growing and became a very important Village because Jaraguá Bay provided great facility to the Portugueses and to the incomming people from far away towns.

The people from Alagoas do Sul was very worried about that because they didn't want to lose the Treasure House, which happened in 1839 after Alagoas do Sul get bankrupt. On the 9th of December 1839 a document was signed containing the transfer of the Treasure House to Maceió, though only 7 days later the real event happened.

Since then, Maceió is the most important economic center of Alagoas.

View of Maceió from the "Mirante de São Gonçalo"

Penedo (Under Construction)

Penedo is situated in the southern part of Alagoas. Within its 680,8km² of extension this city houses the most preserved historical center of Alagoas.

Marechal Deodoro

 Marechal Deodoro is one of the richest cities in Alagoas. It’s located to the south of Maceió, just 28 kilometres away. Long time ago Marechal Deodoro housed the economy center of Alagoas. Back then the city had the name of ‘Santa Maria Madalena da Lagoa do Sul’ referring to Saint Mary Magdalene. It was clearly obvious that Maceió had grown much more than Santa Maria Madalena for the fact that Maceió was located in the middle of the main economy centers and had an important harbor called Jaraguá Harbor, which were very useful for merchants and traders from Portugal.

It was about time that the economy center would be passed to Maceió, and at that time the governor was Agostinho Neves, who received a strict order from the Empire to change the Treasure House to Maceió.

After many complaints about this order, the people from Santa Maria Madalena were starting to get angry with Agostinho Neves because his political enemies said that he was trying to bankrupt Santa Maria Madalena. Fortunately Agostinho Neves managed to calm them down and make the transfer to Maceió, which still the main economy of Alagoas.

Marechal Deodoro is known as the Land of the Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca, the first president of Brazil. Deodoro da Fonseca was born in 1827. In the age of 16 he left home and went to Rio de Janeiro where he joined in the Military Academy, beginning an extraordinary journey to a successful military career. For his victories around Brazil he became a very famous and important person. On the 15th of November 1889, he pronounced the Republic of Brazil, ruling until the 23rd of November 1891. Died on the 23rd of August 1892, asthmatic.

'Francês Beach'

Nowadays Marechal Deodoro is a city of huge importance for Alagoas because of its Historical events. There is a beach called ‘Francês’ referring to the French Harbor that it once had. This beach is one of the most famous beach in Brazil. The beach is divided in two parts, the first one is a calm warm water spot protected by a line of barrier reefs, perfect for those who want to relax and feel comfortable among the outstanding beauty of the sea and when the tide goes down we can clearly see the natural pool forming between the coast and the reefs. The second part is a very ferocious sea which fits perfectly for those who want to surf.

'Massagueira'

In Marechal Deodoro we can find the most important gastronomic center of Alagoas, ‘Massagueira’, which means 'what was the marsh'. Blessed by the River Manguaba, the Gastronomic Complex of Massagueira offers a huge variety of food, including diversified options of drinks and snacks.

'Santa Rita Island'

The island of Santa Rita is the largest island of surrounding vegetation of Brazil, and 2nd in the world. Its importance is immesurable because it shelters inumerous quantities of diversified marine species. This island is protected by the government since 1984 and is surrounded by a vegetation of 12 km².

'Barra Nova'

Barra Nova is located just 10 km away from Maceió. It's right in the middle where the ocean and the lagoons Mundaú and Manguába get together. The climate is very pleasant and there's lots of nice views. The infrasctructure is very well organized within its restaurants, hotels and boats to enjoy every second of its calm waters. Scuba Diving is avaliable too.

Alagoas - Land of Marshals

Hello everyone, it's me again, huh !:D

I'm here to show you guys how beautiful my town is xPPp

The state of Alagoas is situated in the northeastern part of Brazil and its capital is the city of Maceió. We have been blessed by God for the inumerous beaches of crystalline bluesky water. A Barrier reef surrounds more then half of our extraordinary coast, which are very close to the beach, housing a large variety of living creatures such as shrimps, uncountable species of fish, crabs and so on...

Sunny whole year round. Seems summertime never leaves this place, creating a perfect envirement for those who love spending time relaxing and enjoying the natural beauty of  marine nature!

When the tide goes down, your eyes will be mesmerized by the true heaven in earth Alagoas is. Extended areas of natural pools inside of the seas reveal an incredible and different world never ever seen before meanwhile you relax among the infinity of crystalline warm waters.

Besides that, Alagoas has a rich culture full of story to be told by the native people. Churches of the colonial era, ancient buildings full of old artefacts, a huge variety of handcrafts and traditions that show the roots of our very African and Aborigine origin.

If you are somebody who likes adventure, Alagoas is perfect for you as well! Climbing mounts and hills on horses, crossing rivers on boats, abseiling near the canyons of São Francisco are simple examples of the exciting lifestyle you're looking for. Furthermore, among all of this, the peaceful envirement of rural place takes over your experience. Exploring new unexplored areas, discovering a new world full of excitement combined to the unique experience that Alagoas can provide you.

Delightful diches awaits you! As Alagoas is blessed by inumerous rivers, lakes, pools and beaches, our gastronomy is very connected to the marine culture. Fish, shirmps, crabs, lobsters, oysters and so on!

In the begining of Brazil colonization, the Portugueses introduced coconuts in all the Brazilian coast, for that reason the cuisine of Alagoas is strongly focused on the usage of coconut sauce, which gives a very soficticated flavour to the food.

 We also have roots, which are very common dishes for the fact that our African and Aborigene origin have conquered a place on our lives through the years.

Besides all of this, Alagoas's got many different kinds of fruit trees, enabling everyone to feel the sweet flavour of mousses, cakes and juices.

 As you can see, our cuisine is extremely diversified, providing the foreigners an unique experience of delightful dishes.

How Honesty Are You ? xPPpp

Hello People ! Here is an essay I had to make for my English course! It's all about lies :D Hope ya all enjoy it ;)


Firstly it's worthy considering that we're told not to lie about anything. People are being very careful and worried not to tell other people lies because if you're found out your credibility might be damaged, and our image is almost everything to us.

Sometimes a small lie is required to avoid an awkward situation. It's mostly known as 'white lies'. These 'light' lies are meant not to hurt someone else's feelings by telling them  what he/she wants to hear. 'Hello my friend, do I look nice on this shiny orange suit?' and the friend answers 'Of course! You look just lovely' even if the suit does look hideously unfashionable. It's a lie with no meaning of lying.

Furthermore, humans must balance the lies because it may be addicting. After lying, you'll possibly feel freed from a issue you've caused though ahead the sensation of guilty may come into your mind. Telling the truth is much better in order to avoid a problem taht could become a lot worse in the future.

In conclusion, the truth reigns for the fact that it's the only way to end an issue for good. However, white lies are a necessary part of our social life.

The Story of English Language in Alagoas

Firstly, I'd very like to introduce the CCB.


While visiting the state of Ceará for the 3rd Regional ESP seminar, teacher at the Modern Languages Department of UFAL (Universidade Federal de Alagoas) Hilda Laffitte got to know about the Casas de Cultura Britânica.




Therefore, she intended to discuss her ideas about setting up a similar school in Maceió with the regional British Council representative, Mr Denis Claire, during an English seminar in Santa Catarina. However, although she could only talk to his substitute, later on an official visit to UFAL was arranged.


Between 1977 and 1981 Ms Hilda Lafitte, the idealizer of Casa de Cultura Britânica, contacted institutes, coordinators and authorities in order to accomplish her plans. With the help of Mr João Azevedo, who was the current dean of UFAL, she established there a national project of an ESP course for Brazilian universities and their national coordinators. Dr Maria Alba Celani and Mr John Holmes came to Maceió to lead a course sponsored by the British Council.


Some time later Ms Lafitte managed to found Casa de Cultura Britânica in the premises of the Commercial Association of Alagoas. The first students were from the UFAL language course. Afterwards, the school moved to the former Rua do Apolo (current Rua Melo Morais), where a small room had to be split into two in order to house its office and a classroom. There were ten teachers and ten groups by then and most of its students were children. At that time, students had to take a Portuguese entry test to start the course.


Finally, Casa de Cultura Britânica (CCB) was granted a small room with 20 desks at Espaço Cultural Universitário, the former Rectory of UFAL, and it started growing little by little so that more and more room was provided. Nowadays CCB holds over 150 groups working in a three-period timetable for nearly 4,000 students. It also sponsors six external groups in the suburbs of Maceió, which is part of the Teaching English in Needy Communities project.


In 1989 CCB had already initiated its English teaching activity when Casas de Cultura Britânica, Francesa, Alemã, Latino-Americana and Luso-Brasileira were officially created by Professor Salomão de Almeida Barros Lima, who was the Extension Dean of UFAL at the time. Mr Lima formulated an extension programme called Extension: knowledge and social commitment.


All Casas de Cultura aim at promoting culture and rendering services to the community through regular language courses.
 
The heads behind the success - Coordinators through the years
It is not by sheer chance that CCB has become the largest English school in Alagoas.


A project of the Language Department of UFAL (Faculdade de Letras – FALE), Casa de Cultura Britânica has, through all these years, been supported by highly competent coordinators (all FALE professors) as well as pedagogical assistants. It is due to their hard work and creativity, allied with their big respect for teachers, staff members and also students that the school has gained enormous respect from the community and achieved success.


“ A dream come true.”
Teacher Hilda Laffite, founder and first coordinator of Casa de Cultura Britânica


Under her management the English course was started as well as moved to its present location, at Espaço Cultural Universitário.


She was the great idealizer of the project which has become reference in English language teaching in Maceió.


“The possibility of finding talents and train English language teachers, as well as democratizing access to English language knowledge to people in needy areas, which had not been done before.”


Teacher Magda Zanotto, coordinator of Casa de Cultura Britânica between 1990 and February, 1996


Some of the highlights of her management, among other aspects, were the opening of the English course to the community in 1990, the backup gained from the British Council and the language and methodology workshops provided for the teachers.


“To me, Casa de Cultura Britânica was, on one side, a triple challenge: to renovate infrastructure, value teachers by incentivizing qualification and fighting for dignified wages, and offer good quality courses. On the other hand, it was a joy to work together with such a special group, a great happiness to make friends among the staff and the satisfaction of mission accomplishment.”


Dr Márcia Rossetti, coordinator of Casa de Cultura Britânica from January, 1996 to December, 2000


The modernization of infrastructure and the introduction of information technology, as well as the permanent quest to provide good quality courses were some of the highlights of her management. Besides, staff qualification was always a priority.


“A great exchange of knowledge and harmonious living between the faculty, pedagogical assistance, office staff, and of course, our students.”


Dr Ildney de Fátima Souza Cavalcanti, coordinator of Casa de Cultura Britânica from 2000 to 2001


Continuing the excellent prior work being developed in the school, one of the highlights of her management was when course book author Professor Paul Seligson came on Ms Cavalcanti’s invitation to visit the school and give a talk to the teachers.


“Growth, learning and interaction.”


Dr Roseanne Tavares, coordinator of Casa de Cultura Britânica from September, 2001 to August, 2003


Some of the highlights of her management were the growth of number of students, reaching over 2,500 at the time, the continuous incentive to teacher and staff qualification and the consolidation of the projects in needy communities, besides significant improvement in infrastructure and equipment.


“A new personal and professional challenge at UFAL, rewarding in both ways.”


Dr Ana Cecília Acioli Lima, present coordinator of Casa de Cultura Britânica, since August, 2003


Since then, classrooms have been remodeled so as to have acoustic isolation. New course books and equipment have been purchased, and the qualification of teachers and other staff members have been widely promoted. Her greatest goal is to start a multimedia centre, whose project has already been formulated, but due to the lack of room in the building, most unfortunately it has not been possible to put it into practice yet.


Pedagogical assistant and staff


“This work together with all the coordinators has contributed to the growth and improvement of structure and pedagogy of Casa de Cultura Britânica, and it’s delightful to be in touch with the public and work mates.”


Manoel Vieira de Souza, present pedagogical assistant and also English teacher, in charge since October 1996, during the management of Professors Márcia Rossetti, Ildney Cavalcanti, Roseanne Tavares and Ana Cecília Acioli so far.


The staff members and teachers are Casa de Cultura Britânica’s trademark. Their competence and care when dealing with the public are a priority, together with constant training to keep up with the school’s growth.


The best is yet to come – future perspectives

With the upcoming of the newly-created Faculdade de Letras and its directors, Doctors Ildney Cavalcanti and Stela Lameiras, Casa de Cultura Britânica foresees a new era in its existence. The new partnership aims at narrowing the links between the two institutions both in the academic and in the administrative fields.


The setting up of the multimedia centre is one of the next plans to be put into practice. It will bring the latest technologies in language teaching and allow learners to have their acquisition and productive skills developed.


P.S This text was not made by me. I'm just publishing the ideas which constructed the most respected house of English Language of Alagoas - Brazil