Archive for April, 2009
Podcast: Talking about the movies Posted by Rachel on Apr 30, 2009
Click here to listen to today’s podcast! Movie Podcast UPDATE: Here’s the temporary link to the podcast. Sorry about the problem–we’re working on fixing it. Check out the BYKI list! Today, we’re going to talk about movies. Eu gosto muito de filme. Estou acostumado a ver filmes de ação ou de drama. Mas de vez…
Brazilian Profile: Roberto Carlos Posted by Rachel on Apr 29, 2009
Though Brazil is known for its samba and bossa nova musicians worldwide, it may come as a surprise that Brazil’s most successful singer is actually a Barry Manilow-style crooner. In his fifty year career, Roberto Carlos has sold over 100 million albums, more than any Brazilian or Latin American musician. Born in 1941, Roberto grew…
Brazilian Cooking Series: Part VI Posted by Rachel on Apr 28, 2009
Today we’re going to learn how to make moqueca de camarão, or shrimp stew, a specialty from Bahia in Brazil’s northeast region. The recipe is based on an African recipe brought by the slaves from Western Africa to Brazil. It uses distinctly African ingredients, like dende oil and coconut milk. This stew is eaten with…
Video Learning Series: Commericals Posted by Rachel on Apr 27, 2009
A great way to practice your Portuguese is by watching television commercials, since they use straightforward language and important vocabulary words. I’ve included a few here which should hopefully not be too difficult, including one for juice, another for toothpaste, and another for shampoo. Take a look and practice your listening!
Listening Practice: Fill in the Blanks Posted by Rachel on Apr 24, 2009
This is a favorite language learning activity, so I thought we’d give it a shot. Copy and paste the lyrics into Word, and then play the video. Listen to the song and follow the lyrics, and fill in the blanks with the correct word. Maskavo, Folhas Secas As folhas secas vão caindo Eu posso ver…
What’s your favorite city in Brazil? Posted by Rachel on Apr 23, 2009
Today’s interactive feature has to do with travel, rather than language. The question at hand is: What’s your favorite city in Brazil? This is a tricky question, since I’ve loved every city I’ve been to in Brazil, and there are so many that I haven’t been to yet. In terms of big cities, my favorite…
Caetano Veloso Releases New CD Posted by Rachel on Apr 22, 2009
Caetano Veloso, one of Brazil’s most beloved musicians and songwriters, has released a new CD, Zii e zie. It’s now on sale in Brazil and abroad (see here and here). Caetano composed the songs in Rio de Janeiro last year, when it was very rainy, and was inspired by the weather. He also includes aging…