Air France Flight Tragedy Posted by Rachel on Jun 2, 2009
Yesterday, an Air France flight departing from Rio de Janeiro disappeared over the Atlantic, en route to Paris. Of the 228 people on board, 58 were Brazilian and 61 were French, as well as passengers from all over the world, including North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. There were 126 men, 82…
Video Learning Series: Festa Junina Posted by Rachel on Jun 1, 2009
Today we’re going to practice listening comprehension with a new set of videos. Since it’s June 1st, we’re going to look at some videos about the festa junina, a traditional party that takes place in June, when children dress up in costumes and neighbors come together to eat, drink, and dance. The first video discusses…
Podcast: Extreme Sports Posted by Rachel on May 29, 2009
This week, we’re going to talk about extreme sports. Check out the podcast here [extremesportsfull]. Eu adoro fazer esportes radicais. Já voei de asa-delta no Rio de Janeiro. Também fiz parapente, e gostei muito. Sei surfar, mas não sou muito bom. Gosto de fazer trekking. Eu costumo escalar e já subi o Pão de Acucar…
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…