Rio EnCantos Offers Cultural and Language Immersion: Sponsored

By Shalina Chatlani, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Rio EnCantos is a grassroots cultural tour agency in the Cidade Maravilhosa offering a cultural and language immersion program, where participants with the help of a guide can have a constructive dialogue in English and Portuguese on Brazilian art history. The tours cost US$20 each and involve 2 to 3 hour interactive sessions at several of the art museums throughout Rio.

During the program, attendees will experience an exhibition, and then a guide will facilitate a review of the main themes and ideas in both Portuguese and English, providing an opportunity for everyone within the group to actively learn their respective language with questions and interaction.

Rio EnCantos was started by Kelly Tavares, a Carioca (native to Rio) who graduated from the University of Oregon in the U.S. with a Master’s of Arts Management in 2011. She returned to Rio and began Rio EnCantos with a group of five friends to direct tours that would give visitors the opportunity to experience culture in person, rather than just see the more touristy parts of the city.

The group also thought the organization would be a good business opportunity considering the number of events Rio would have in preparation for the 2016 Games. In addition to the Banho de Cultura program, Rio EnCantos is offering international students an internship opportunity. Students will be able to provide tours throughout the city and work on a number of projects in preparation for the 2016 Olympics.

Another option for students is that interns can earn academic credits for three to six months of working. Activities may include marketing, public relations, business, graphic and web design. While the staff of Rio EnCantos speaks english, it is strongly recommended that students at least have a basic familiarity with Portuguese.

“Interning with a grassroots organization like Rio EnCantos is a way to get a sense of how independent entrepreneurs deal with the global market,” says Tavares. “Thinking about ways to connect and build a trustworthy reputation without material resources, focusing on human resources, and on the mission.”

More information on the types of tours Rio EnCantos offers can be found on the company’s website. There is also a tab on the site specifically for internships.

*This is a sponsored article for Rio EnCantos.