Archive by Author
Brazilian Portuguese vs. European Portuguese Posted by Rachel on Jun 16, 2010
We get a lot of questions on Facebook about why we don’t feature content teaching European Portuguese. The simple answer is that none of the Portuguese bloggers know European Portuguese – only Brazilian Portuguese. The longer answer, which follows in detail, is that the two are so different that they are taught individually, almost as…
Transparent Language Words App Posted by Rachel on Jun 14, 2010
We have a brand new language tool from Transparent that everyone can use for all of our languages: our fantastic new Words App. This program works through Facebook, and all you have to do to use it is log in through Facebook connect. Here, you’ll be able to see and create words and phrases in…
How to Get a Tourist Visa for Brazil Posted by Rachel on Jun 8, 2010
Not everybody knows that Americans require a visa to travel to Brazil — tales abound of travelers showing up at the airport only to be turned away, or more recently, a famous American director, Oliver Stone, actually managed to fly to Brazil without a visa and had some trouble getting into the country. They didn’t…
Caldo Verde Recipe Posted by Rachel on Jun 7, 2010
It’s June, which means that it is winter in Brazil, and that it’s time for festas juninas! A popular dish at these celebrations is caldo verde, or green soup, which originally comes from Portugal. Don’t let the name turn you off – this soup is perfect for chillier weather and is absolutely delicious. Caldo Verde…
Listening Comprehension: Fortune Telling Posted by Rachel on Jun 3, 2010
Today we’re going to do a little listening comprehension exercise using a short report from BBC Brasil (which by the way, is a fantastic resource for Portuguese students). Questions 1. Where is the healer from? 2. What does the healer foresee about the World Cup, and how did he find out? 3. How many people…
Using Precisar Posted by Rachel on Jun 2, 2010
Precisar is a key verb to learn in Portuguese, especially since it is used in two different contexts with two different grammatical formats. The key grammatical difference is the use of the preposition de, which can sometimes be a little confusing. Precisar = to need When used as the verb to need, precisar is followed…
Figurinhas de Futebol Posted by Rachel on Jun 1, 2010
An interesting element of Brazilian soccer culture that not many gringos know about is figurinha collecting. Akin to American baseball cards, figurinhas, or stickers, feature soccer players, and are wildly popular during the World Cup. The stickers resemble cards and feature soccer players from Brazil and around the world, and stickers are issued for both…