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Best Brazilian Food Posted by Rachel on May 28, 2009
For today’s interactive feature, we’re going to talk about Brazilian food. The question at hand is: what is your favorite Brazilian dish? I have two personal favorites: moqueca de camarão and brigadeiro. Though Brazilian food includes excellent meat, the seafood is also wonderful, especially the shrimp. Brazilian food also includes a range of delicious desserts…
Off the Beaten Path: Part VI Posted by Rachel on May 27, 2009
Though the state of Rio de Janeiro is best known for its capital and beaches, the state also has several interesting cities in rural areas, including Penedo. Penedo, known as the Brazilian Finland, was founded by Finnish immigrants in 1929. The settlers built their homes and buildings in the Finnish style, which can still be…
Sao Paulo Fashion Week Institutes Quota System Posted by Rachel on May 26, 2009
Quotas are a very contentious issue in Brazil right now, as the government decides whether it will impose racial quotas in federal universities. The issue has divided Brazilians, but last week, the Sao Paulo state government made an important decision to uphold quotas. The government ruled that Sao Paulo Fashion Week, one of the most…
Word of the Day File: Gerente Posted by Rachel on May 25, 2009
If you look at the right side of the blog, you’ll notice the word of the day, where we feature a word in Portuguese, its English translation, and its proper application seven days a week. In this new series, we’ll talk a bit about the word of the day to expand upon its use. Today’s…
Best Brazilian Movie Posted by Rachel on May 22, 2009
Since we discussed the topic earlier in the week, for today’s interactive feature we’re going to talk about movies. Today’s question is: what is your favorite Brazilian film? Unfortunately, due to a low popularity in foreign films, not many Brazilian films are released in US theaters, and those who have seen Brazilian movies have usually…
Sleepyhead Posted by Rachel on May 21, 2009
Today we’re going to learn some important words and phrases associated with being tired or sleepy. Key words dormir = to sleep acordar = to wake up cansado = tired deitar = to lie down bocejar = to yawn Key Phrases 1. estar com sono This means to be sleepy, literally translated, “to be with…
Video Learning Series: Novelas Posted by Rachel on May 20, 2009
Today, on the video learning series, we’re going to look at novelas. Though it’s more gratifying to watch them in their entirety, watching novela clips online can be a very useful way to practice listening comprehension, because the language is relatively straightforward. In the clips below, you’ll see scenes from recent novelas, including Caminho das…