Archive for August, 2009
Podcast: Introductions Posted by Rachel on Aug 31, 2009
Today, we’re going to learn different ways to introduce yourself based on various skill levels in Portuguese. Each set of phrases is in order of difficulty, from least to most difficult. These are approximations in terms of level, but the idea is to show that you can say the same thing in a number of…
The Many Usages of Parabéns Posted by Rachel on Aug 28, 2009
Parabéns, as you may know, means congratulations in Portuguese. But unlike in English, it is used much more frequently in Portuguese on an every day basis. Let’s take a look at the many usages for this noun. Special events Like in English, we use parabéns for special occasions like weddings, anniversaries and births. Parabéns no…
Listening Practice: São Paulo Graffiti Documentary Posted by Rachel on Aug 27, 2009
Today, we’re going to do a listening comprehension activity with a great thirteen minute documentary on graffiti art in São Paulo. Watch the video clicking the link above (which has subtitles) and then take a look at the questions to see how well you picked up on vocabulary in the video. Photo: Alexandre Orion (artist…
Name that jaguar Posted by Rachel on Aug 26, 2009
For today’s interactive feature, I’ve combined another interactive game online. A baby jaguar between three and four months old was rescued in Amazonas state recently, and was turned over to authorities in Manaus. The baby lost his mother, most likely to hunters. Globo Amazonia is now holding a naming contest for the little jaguar (onça-pintada)…
New Brazilian Public Health Campaign Posted by Rachel on Aug 25, 2009
The Brazilian government is known for being one of the best in Latin America in terms of public health informational campaigns, as well as a providing important health care goods free of charge, including contraceptives and HIV medication. Last week, the Ministry of Public Health unveiled a new campaign called “Muito prazer: sexo sem DST.”…
New Music: Móveis Coloniais de Acaju Posted by Rachel on Aug 24, 2009
Móveis Coloniais de Acaju is a perfect example of why Brazilian music has become such a success on the international music scene. Blending rock, ska, Eastern European influences, and Brazilian music, it has created a unique and upbeat sound. The band was formed in Brasilia, consisting of ten artists, including a flautist and trombonist. Its…
Verbs to Know: Prefix “des” Posted by Rachel on Aug 21, 2009
Today, we’re going to discuss verbs that start with des. As to be expected, this prefix is a negative one, which negates the second part of the word. But this isn’t true of every single verb that starts with des; we’ll look at a few of the exceptions. 1. desconversar: to change the subject. Here…