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Going to the supermarket Posted by carol on Apr 9, 2016
Olá! (Hello!) You open your fridge and there’s nothing but half a tomato and an expired carton of milk. You go to your cabinet and all you can find are those last-resort noodles and some salt. Your kitchen is giving you all the signs: it’s time to go shopping. Last week we went over our…
Daily Routine in Portuguese Posted by carol on Apr 1, 2016
Olá! Como foi o dia de vocês? (Hello! How was your day?) Our everyday lives consist of activities that we perform regularly and, as such, they are a part not only of our routine, but also of our language. Verbs and expressions connected with our routine are used on a constant basis and are considered…
Music to listen to (Part III) – Elza Soares Posted by carol on Mar 25, 2016
Ouvir música (listening to music) can be a relaxing and stimulating activity. When it comes to developing language skills, music is also educational! Today’s pick is Brazilian great diva Elza Soares. Known as the Brazilian Tina Turner, the grammy-nominated samba singer nasceu (was born) in the ‘30s in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. Elza…
Expressions with “dar” – Part II Posted by carol on Mar 20, 2016
Olá pessoal! (Hey, everyone!) As you know, to use expressions shows that you have a good command of a foreign language. Last week we learned a few idiomatic expressions and collocations with the verb “dar” (to give). Now we’ll move on to the second part of the list. Se dar mal – to fail, to get…
Expressions with “dar” -Part I Posted by carol on Mar 11, 2016
Olá a todos! Hello, everybody! The verb “dar” (to give) in Portuguese is very versatile. The word can be found in a number of popular expressions and collocations that we Brazilians use everyday, so it’s a good idea to make a list. But don’t worry, that’s what I’m here for, para dar uma mãozinha (to give you…
Brazilian Candy Posted by carol on Mar 4, 2016
A country’s cuisine is an essential part of its culture. And this goes beyond main dishes: sobremesas (desserts) are also relevant for understanding a nation’s history and habits and, for some, a melhor parte (the best part). So esqueça (forget) about your diet for a while prepare-se (get ready) to indulge in the delicious world…
Porta dos Fundos Posted by carol on Feb 26, 2016
Learning a nova (new) language is a serious thing. But having some fun enquanto (while) you do it can sempre (always) ajudar (help). As it has been mentioned in previous posts, a country’s sense of humor, culture and language are closely linked. And a good way to become familiar with Brazilian comedy is to assistir (watch)…