Tag Archives: History
Brazilian Twin Town Posted by Rachel on Dec 8, 2009
Last month, National Geographic did a special episode about Cândido Godói, Brazil, a small town in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The town, which is occupied by descendants of German immigrants, many of whom still speak German, has one of the highest incidences of twins in the world. The special focused on a…
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…
Brazilian Portuguese Video Learning Series Posted by Rachel on Mar 10, 2009
Today we return to the video learning series to practice listening comprehension (in this case, understanding the paulistano accent). We’re going to learn about the urban and social development of São Paulo from a History Channel series called “Mapas Urbanas.” The show is split up into three videos. Have a look and happy listening!
Online Brazil Photography Collection Posted by Rachel on Mar 5, 2009
Until June, you can access one of the most spectacular collections of Brazilian photography with works dating from the late 1800s to the 1980s, taken by professionals and amateurs alike. The majority of the collection was taken in Rio de Janeiro but there are sections in other states, like São Paulo. The collection is organized…
Video Learning Series Posted by Rachel on Feb 11, 2009
Today, we begin a new series using Youtube videos in Portuguese to practice listening skills, as well as a way to learn about Brazilian culture and history. This excellent series, called O Povo Brasileiro, is broken down into thirty videos on Youtube, which describes Brazilian history from its indigenous origins to modernity. After watching the…
A Brief History of Brazilian Currency Posted by Rachel on Nov 13, 2008
Today we’re going to look at the many changes Brazilian currency has undergone throughout history. To understand the difference in value of each currency, see here. Until recently, the Brazilian economy was quite unstable and inflation was often quite high, and as a result the currency changed many times. You’ll note that some of the…