Reading Comprehension: Lizards Posted by Rachel on May 14, 2010
Today we’re going to look at an article about lizards and global warming. Have a read and try to answer the questions. Aquecimento global já leva populações de lagartos à extinção, Estadão Excerpt: “O aquecimento global está inviabilizando a sobrevivência de várias populações de lagartos, reduzindo o tempo em que os animais se mantêm ativos…
Brazil’s National Team Posted by Rachel on May 12, 2010
Tuesday was a big day in soccer, when several countries announced their national teams for the World Cup in South Africa. Dunga, the coach of the Brazilian national soccer team, announced his picks for the 23 players who will represent Brazil this June, invoking praise from some and strong criticism from others for leaving out…
Brazilian Film Watch Posted by Rachel on May 11, 2010
Last week, we took a look at a new Brazilian documentary, keeping in mind that one of the best things you can do to improve your Portuguese listening comprehension, as well as your knowledge of Brazilian culture, is to watch as many Brazilian movies that you can get your hands on. Let’s take a look…
Pernambuquês – Preparing to Visit Pernambuco Posted by polyana on May 10, 2010
After getting pretty good feedback on my How to Speak Baianês post, and seeing we also have a Mineirês post, I thought I’d write slang/dialect posts here and there so we can all learn to be ready no matter what region we visit! This week I started at a new job and two of my…
Side by Side Translation: Roberto Carlos Posted by Rachel on May 5, 2010
Roberto Carlos is a musical icon in Latin America, something of a Brazilian Barry Manilow. But he’s not just popular in Brazil; he sings in Spanish and Portuguese, so he’s popular the world over. He recently celebrated the fifty year anniversary of his career in New York, where he played two shows at Radio City…
How is Cachaça Made? Posted by polyana on May 4, 2010
This past week I was visiting my family in Minas Gerais, a state in Brazil famous for its friendly residents with funny accents & sayings, pão de queijo (or cheese, overall) and cachaça! Cachaça is a traditional Brazilian liquor made of sugarcane juice (as opposed to molasses which is the difference between cachaça and rum) and…
Children of the Amazon Posted by Rachel on May 3, 2010
One thing you can do to help learn Portuguese is to keep your eyes peeled for films and documentaries about Brazil in your area. So here’s a tip: Children of the Amazon recently premiered on American TV stations and in film festivals around the world. Be sure to look for reruns on your local station…