Global Forest Fund to Aid Amazon Posted by Rachel on Apr 6, 2009
Last Wednesday, world leaders met to discuss the formation of a fund to protect the world’s rainforests. The meeting included US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, French President Nicholas Sarkozy, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, as well as other leaders and…
Brazilian Profile: Fernando Meirelles Posted by Rachel on Apr 3, 2009
Fernando Meirelles was born on November 5, 1955 in the city of São Paulo. The child of a doctor, he had the opportunity to travel and to be exposed to different cultures. He attended the University of São Paulo and majored in architecture, but began experimenting with film. When he graduated, he joined with friends…
Video Learning Series: President Lula Posted by Rachel on Apr 2, 2009
This week, we’re going to practice learning comprehension by watching three videos featuring Brazilian President Lula Inácio da Silva. The president has a Northeastern accent, so it may be a bit challenging for beginners to understand. In the first video, President Lula talks about soccer and his favorite team. In the second, he addresses Brazilians…
Amazon Cosmetics Study Posted by Rachel on Apr 1, 2009
The Secretary of Science & Technology of Tocantins state, along with research groups from the states of Amazonas, Pará, and Maranhão are launching a R$6.9 million study to examine the cosmetic properties of Amazon fruits and plants, including the andiroba, copaíba, castanha and babaçu. The study intends to create a network of groups that will…
Podcast: Getting in Touch Posted by Rachel on Mar 31, 2009
Today is Podcast Day! Check out the podcast here: CommunicationsPodcast Also be sure to check out the BYKI list. Today, we’re going to learn about the terms used to discuss communication and getting in touch. Estou tentando entrar em contato com o Marcelo. Já liguei para a casa dele, mas ninguém está atendendo. Ele me…
A Tale of Survival Posted by Rachel on Mar 30, 2009
Emerson de Oliveira Abreu, a Brazilian from Rio de Janeiro, is used to working in dangerous conditions under the water. As a boat maintanence scuba diver, he’s accustomed to working with tools below sea level. In his spare time, he likes to hunt fish near his home in Ilha do Governador. But this past weekend…
Portuguese Vocabulary: Pets Posted by Rachel on Mar 27, 2009
Today we’re going to learn vocabulary about pets. pet = animal / bicho de estimação / mascote dog = cachorro / cão cat = gato bird = pássaro parakeet = periquito parrot = papagaio fish = peixe guinea pig = porquinho da índia pet store = pet shop dog food = ração para cachorro cat…