Ser or estar - that is the question!

Ser or estar - that is the question!

One of the first challenges that foreign students face when learning Portuguese is to learn the difference between the verbs "ser" and "estar". 

The basic difference is that the verb “ser” is used for permanent situations and the verb “estar” for temporary ones. What is permanent and what is temporary? That is an important question, and in some situations, it is not so simple. 

One student told me that the famous Shakespeare quote “To be or not to be; that is the question,” should be translated as “ser ou estar eis a questão”. Hamlet, the main character, lives a dilemma: on one hand are his values, the “ser,” and on the other hand is the situation in which he finds himself, the “estar”.

Teachers in general give to the student a list and examples of proper use of these two verbs. For example: we use “ser” with professions, nationalities, and religions and “estar” with temporary characteristics or frame of mind. This explanation is good for A1 students, but it is not enough for the more advanced. 

A special case is when we talk about marital status. The verb "ser" is most often used, but marital status can change, can’t it? So, the verb "estar" can also be used especially when the change in marital status is new or it is something that is going change soon. 

One of the most enigmatic uses is the use of the verbs "ser" and "estar" with the word “morto” (death). It is possible to use both verbs, but the idea conveyed when we use one or the other verb is different. When we use the verb "estar" it indicates that a person who once lived is now dead. The point is we show a change of state from alive to dead. On the other hand, we use the verb “ser” if someone has been dead a long time or for the passive voice as in, “He was killed (by someone).”

Whenever I correct essays by foreign students, this is a common confusion -- when to use the verb "ser" or the verb "estar" regardless of the student's level or nationality. You may know that there are the verbs "ser" and "estar" in Spanish. True. But these verbs are not always used in the same way in Portuguese as in Spanish. For example, in Spanish it’s correct to say, “Canadá está en Norteamérica (Canada is in North America).” But in Portuguese we consider the fact that Canada has always been in North America and no one can take Canada out of its place; so we say “O Canadá é na América do Norte (Canada is in North America).” Or we use the verb “ficar”, meaning “located in” as in “O Canadá fica na América do Norte.”

Do you think it is difficult to use the verbs “ser” and “estar” correctly? Did you learn something new from this article? Tell me in the comments.

Want to Learn a New Language? It’s Never Too Late

When is the best time to start learning a language? My simple answer is NOW. Even an old dog can learn new tricks! In fact, it is never too late to learn and open possibilities in this life, for example, travel, meeting new people and learning about different cultures.

It is a myth to think that children learn a language faster and better than adults. Adults usually have more responsibilities and are occupied at all times with work, family and much more difficult tasks. Children, on the other hand, have a simple and exploratory life. But with organization of time and dedication, adults can also learn. Children may be better at picking up accents, but adults, because they have more life experience, know how to communicate effectively and can be more skilled in understanding complex structures of a language. Adults have more self-discipline and longer attention spans. In a way, any student must adjust a busy life to make the dream of learning a language possible.

Learning a new language is a way to keep your brain active. When we learn a language we challenge our brain, and it is believed that this process helps maintain brain cells and stimulates communication among them. Learning a new language is one of the most effective ways to increase intelligence, keep your mind active, and protect your brain from aging.

What is holding you back from learning? Don't be afraid to start learning a new language, no matter your age. A well-organized one-to-one online course with an experienced teacher can make all the difference. I can help you with that!

What’s the biggest challenge you face in learning a new language? Tell me in the comments.

A Brazilian Way to Say “What’s Done is Done”

In Portuguese there is an expression used to say that in some situations, there's no point taking further action. The sentence is “Agora é tarde, a Inês é morta”. That means, “Now it's late, Inês is killed.” In English, this is similar to “What’s done is done.”

This expression is about Inês de Castro (1320-1355) who was the mistress of Portugal’s Prince Dom Pedro (1320-1367), with whom she had three children.

Prince Dom Pedro’s father, Dom Afonso, wasn’t in favor of this romance and had her beheaded. When Dom Pedro became the eighth king of Portugal, he posthumously granted Inês the title of queen. This honor was obviously worthless to Inês who had already been dead for many years. Thus, the expression "A Inês é morta" refers to actions that are useless because they are taken too late. 

But in fact, the future in full of possibilities. The famous Brazilian medium Chico Xavier had a notorious saying,  "Nobody can go back and make a new start. But anyone can start over and make a new end." 

Time passes and sometimes windows of opportunity are lost. When we see that we did not do what should have done we think, “Agora é tarde, a Inês é morta”. But in fact, for some projects, it’s never too late to take an effective action, and new projects can arise and our paths can open up.

It’s important to know which saying applies to your situation. Can you think of times in your life when the sayings “Inês é morta” or “make a new end” applied? Tell me in the comments. 

A king of the tropics in the United States

Dom Pedro II was elevated to the position of emperor at the age of 6, after the abdication of his father, Dom Pedro I, in 1831. He assumed power at 15, becoming the youngest ruler Brazil has ever had. Educated from an early age to be a monarch, he identified very early on with intellectuals, so he had a true passion for letters, science, and knowledge of new cultures and technologies. His curiosity led him to take long tours around Brazil and abroad.

Dom Pedro II's first international voyage was to Europe and North Africa, and his second voyage was to the United States in 1876. This was not an official visit, but one of the Emperor's curious journeys and it was full of compromises. There he visited various institutions, like schools, factories, and even prisons. Wherever he went, Dom Pedro II generated a following. The biggest event, no doubt, was the inauguration of the Philadelphia Universal Exposition. This celebrated the country's 100 years of independence, which Dom Pedro II attended with great interest.

There the Emperor marveled at the technological advances of the U.S. On that occasion, he met Thomas Edison, who invented the light bulb, and Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the telephone, and tested this new invention. Captivated by the invention, he made sure that Brazil was one of the first countries in the world to own a telephone.

Dom Pedro II at Niagara Falls

The pleasing relationship between Dom Pedro II and the Americans culminated in a curious situation, to say the least: the Emperor won a symbolic candidacy for the presidency. His charisma made Americans enjoy his presence to the point that he won several write-in votes in the election.

The Brazilian Imperial Museum (http://museuimperial.museus.gov.br/diario-d-pedro-ii.html) will make available on its website the journal contents of Dom Pedro II, concerning the trip to the U.S. from April to July 1876. There are forty-three pages handwritten notebooks that are part of the Museum's collection.

If you want to learn Portuguese I can teach you in individual lessons by Skype at Cafetalk .

Rondon, Celebrated Frontiersman of Brazil

Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon was a marshal and one of the most important military Brazilians. He was born in the state of Mato Grosso. He had Indian origin and was orphaned as a child; his father died before he met him and his mother died early. Because of that, he was raised by an uncle who bore the surname Rondon. After his uncle's death, he went to Rio de Janeiro to start his army career. 

Rondon was an expert communicator and cartographer. His dozens of expeditions across the country, demarcated borders, mapped twelve rivers and corrected the layout of many other rivers. He was responsible for the construction of more than 5,000 meters of telegraph lines, such as the one that linked Cuiabá to Santo Antônio do Madeira - the first to penetrate the Amazon region, later named the Rondon Commission of 1907. The precision of his maps compared to today’s satellite images has proven highly accurate.

Between 1913 and 1917, he participated in the Roosevelt-Rondon scientific expedition, touring the territory of the state of Mato Grosso alongside former American President, Theodore Roosevelt. The expedition had come into contact with numerous indigenous peoples, such as the nhambiquaras, karipunas, macurapes, botocudos, jarus and caingangues. He was one of the articulators and director of the Xingu Indigenous National Service, work fulfilled by the Villas-Bôas brothers who were also notable explorers. The Xingu Indigenous National Service later developed into the National Indigenous Foundation.  

Rondon had rigorously strict habits. He slept less than five hours a night and woke up before four in the morning. Invariably, in his exploration missions, he bathed in a river before sunrise. In 1913, he was struck by a poisoned arrow from the Nhambiquaras Indians. He was struck in the leather of the bandit he wore which luckily protected him. As a result, he was able to retreat, ordering his men not to clash with the Indians and to not react to any aggression.

Marshal Rondon received worldwide recognition for his role as an explorer. He was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by none other than Albert Einstein in 1925 and the New York Explorers Club in the 1950’s. In February 1956, the Federal Territory of Guaporé, created earlier in 1943 from the dismemberment of areas of the states of Amazonas and Mato Grosso, was renamed Rondônia in his honor.

If you want to learn Portuguese I can teach you in individual lessons by Skype at Cafetalk .

Brazilian Cultural Characteristics

Personal Space
Many people think Brazilians are friendly and outgoing. However, it is important to avoid generalizations. As in all cultures, there are many individual differences in Brazil as well.
Regarding personal space, Brazilians accept some friendly touch and proximity. This space may be smaller than in some cultures.

Brazilians Don’t Like to Say No
Because Brazilians do not want to hurt another person, they speak slowly and sometimes they are not totally straightforward. For example, if you invite someone to dinner, they may start to give you a lot of excuses because the person doesn’t want to say no. Since foreigners do not understand this, they can be confused and often frustrated. So if plans seem “up in the air”, the answer is probably no.

Brazilian Punctuality
One feature for which the Brazilian is known is his lack of punctuality, especially when meeting friends. It is not intentional to be rude, but outside of work, the Brazilian does not care too much about the time. For some, the important thing is simply to get somewhere, even if late. So if a Brazilian says, ‘I’m on my way now’, expect it to take an hour at least. As another example, if something is scheduled for 3 pm, your friend will likely arrive around 3:30 pm. In social situations, you can expect late arrivals, especially if more than one person is invited.

Greetings
In formal situations, Brazilians shake hands with each other. In informal situations, women usually exchange two kisses (in reality, the cheeks touch and the kisses are in the air). A woman and a man can also kiss in informal situations. Two men never kiss, but they can hug each other with slaps on the back.

If you want to learn Portuguese I can teach you in individual lessons by Skype at Cafetalk .

Sister Dulce - The Good Angel of Bahia

Sister Dulce's canonization takes place on October 13th, 2019 in Rome, ruled by Pope Francis. She was a Brazilian Catholic Franciscan Sister who was the founder of the Obras Sociais Irmã Dulce also known as Irmã Dulce’s Social Work (www.irmadulce.org.br). Sister Dulce was the second daughter of dentist Augusto Lopes Pontes, professor at the School of Dentistry, and Dulce Maria Lopes Pontes. She was born on May 26, 1914, in Salvador and named Maria Rita de Souza Brito Lopes Pontes. At age seven, in 1921, she lost her mother Dulce, who was only 26 years old. The following year, with her brothers Augusto and Dulce (the dear Dulcinha), she received her first holy communion. The vocation to work for the needy was the direct influence of the family, especially of her aunts. At age 13, fearlessness and sense of justice were revealed as striking traits, and she began to receive beggars and the sick in her home, transforming the family residence. On February 8, 1933, shortly after her graduation as a teacher, Maria Rita then joins the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God in the city of São Cristóvão, Sergipe. On August 13, 1933, she received the nun's habit of the Missionary Sisters and adopted, in honor of her mother, the name of Sister Dulce. Sister Dulce's first mission as a nun was to teach at a school run by her congregation. But her thoughts were ever on working with the poor. In 1939, Sister Dulce occupied five abandoned houses on Rat’s Island to house the sick she gathered in the streets of Salvador. Expelled from the place, she pilgrimaged for a decade, taking her patients to various parts of the city. Finally, in 1949, Sister Dulce occupied a chicken coop with the first 70 patients next to the Santo Antônio Convent, after authorization from her superior. She built the largest hospital in Bahia from a simple chicken coop. As early as 1959, the Irmã Dulce’s Social Worker Dulce was officially established and the following year the Albergue Santo Antônio, a refuge for the homeless, was inaugurated. Having met the Pope John Paul II once in 1980 during his first visit to Brazil, Sister Dulce and the Pontiff would meet again on October 20, 1991, on his return visit to Brazil. John Paul II made a point of breaking the rigor of his agenda and went to the Santo Antônio Convent to visit the nun, whose health was already very weak due to respiratory problems. Five months after the Pope's visit, the Bahia people would mourn the death of the Good Angel of Bahia. Sister Dulce died on March 13, 1992, shortly before her 78th birthday. The fragility with which she lived the last 30 years of her life - 70% of her breathing capacity compromised - did not prevent her from building and maintaining one of the largest and most respected philanthropic institutions in the country, a true work of love for the poor and sick. Canonized with 4 other saints, Sister Dulce was the first woman born in Brazil to ever be canonized. This was one of the fastest canonizations in modern history; only Madre Teresa of Calcutta (19 years prior) and Pope John Paul I (9 years prior) were canonized faster than her.


If you want to learn Portuguese I can teach you in individual lessons by Skype at Cafetalk .

Reaching for the Moon (movie)

I saw a movie called “Reaching for the Moon”, in Portuguese “Flores Raras”. It is a movie about the stay of the American poet Elizabeth Bishop in Brazil. In Brazil, she had a love affair with a woman landscape gardener called Lota. Initially, the cultural differences were evident because Lota was rude in Bishop’s point of view, but they fall in love because of this.

They lived together on a farm where Lota built a bucolic place (a pretty little cottage in the countryside) where Bishop could have inspiration to create poems. Lota was friend of a politician called Carlos Lacerda. He was elected to be the governor of the Rio de Janeiro State. As governor, he decided to build a big park called “Aterro do Flamengo” and invited Lota to work on the project.

Lacerda and Lota supported the coup d’état in 1964, but Bishop didn’t agree with it.

Lota and Bishop broke up. Because of it, Bishop went back to the US and consequently, Lota became very depressed. When Lota was a little better she decided to visit Bishop in New York where she committed suicide.

If you want to learn Portuguese I can teach you in individual lessons by Skype at Cafetalk .

Paulo Coelho: A Brazilian Alchemist

Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist. He was born in Rio de Janeiro to a traditional Catholic family. Paulo Coelho liked to write at a young age, but he was discouraged by his father who wanted his son to be an engineer. Because of that, Paulo had depressive episodes requiring hospitalization during adolescence. During the 60's, he devoted himself to theater, and in the 70’s, he joined The Hippie Movement, at which time he composed songs for popular Brazilian singers like Rita Lee, Elis Regina, Raul Seixas, the latter being an important partner. In 1980 Coelho married the artist, Christina Oiticica, who remains his life-long support.

In 1986, Coelho walked the 500-plus mile Road of Santiago de Compostela, a turning point in his life. On the path, Coelho had a spiritual awakening, which he described in the autobiographical book, The Pilgrimage.

His work, The Alchemist is the best-selling Brazilian book of all time and is considered an important literary phenomenon of the twentieth century. As of 2016, The Alchemist has been translated into 70 languages. This gave Coelho the position as the world's most translated living author, according to the 2009 Guinness World Records. According to his wife, the book was written in 15 days. The Alchemist follows a young Andalusian shepherd on his trip to Egypt after having a recurring dream of finding treasure there. The main theme of the book is finding your own destiny. 

In another book, Veronika Decides to Die, Paulo Coelho tells the story of 24-year-old Slovenian, Veronika, who appears to have everything in life going for her, but who decides to kill herself. This book is partly based on Coelho's experience in various mental institutions. According to the author, the Veronika character is himself, hospitalized three times in psychiatric hospitals, from where he extracted elements for his realistic and touching accounts of depression in this book.

Despite being a popular author whose books are between the romance and self-help genres, he won a chair at the Brazilian Academy of Letters. The academy is considered the foremost institution devoted to the Portuguese language in Brazil.

A Noite - the first skyscraper in Latin America

The building "A Noite", in English “the night”, is the first skyscraper in Latin America. It is located in Rio de Janeiro and built in an Art Deco style. When we look at old pictures of Rio de Janeiro this building stands out. The head office of many companies, including the radio Nacional which broadcast famous programs and soap operas, used to be in this building. These programs were used from the 30s to the 50s by the president of Brazil, Getúlio Vargas, as a propaganda tool. The last occupant of "A Noite" was the National Industrial Property Institute.

Nowadays the building is empty because of maintenance issues. There are plans to renovate it, but none have materialized. As a consequence of the Olympic games, the area surrounding the building was restored; this included the renovation of the Port area and the construction of the "boulevard olimpico". Unfortunately, "A Noite" continues to be neglected.

If you want to learn Portuguese I can teach you in individual lessons by Skype at Cafetalk.

Products From The Amazon Jungle That You Might Know

You may be aware of the Amazon Jungle by  the environmental news about deforestation. You might also know that the Amazon rainforest contains the largest river in the world and the second in length. But did you know that the Amazon Jungle provides unique products that can link you its nature?

Although the Amazon region includes territory belonging to nine nations, the greatest part of this forest is in Brazil comprising about 60%. The area called Legal Amazon covers 59% of the Brazilian territory. But for a long time, this area was quite isolated because of the distances to the bigs cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Nowadays, although the Amazon is still distant from large Brazilian cities, the products of Amazonia are increasingly available in Brazil urban centers and exported to countries all over the world. Here are some of them.

Chocolate

Chocolate from Amazon is good for consumers as well as for forest preservation and economy. Cacao production is an income alternative for those who want to keep the forest standing. The state of Pará is where the greater production in Amazonia occurs.

Brazil Nuts

Brazil nuts are an excellent choice for snacks between meals. Besides being a delight, this seed also has serious health benefits. Among the main ones is the presence of good fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals. In Brazil we call this “Castalha do Pará”, literally “nut from Pará”.

Açaí Berries

The açaí (euterpe oleracea) is a palm tree that produces a fruit of purple color, much used in the confection of food and drinks. To be consumed, the açaí should be first pulped in a special machine which turns it into a thick juice.

In the Amazonia, the açaí is traditionally consumed fresh along with cassava flour or tapioca usually with ice, but this way of preparing is just possible in areas near the harvest zone because once processed, the açaí is quickly spoiled. In other areas of Brazil, the açaí must be industrialized by a preparation from the frozen pulp beaten with guarana syrup, generating a paste similar to ice cream. People eat this adding cereals and fruits like banana.

The açai can be also used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries to make vitamins and supplements.

Cosmetics

The company “Natura” invested in research to create products using Amazonia raw materials. They produce shampoo, conditioner, fragrances, soaps, and moisturizing creams with fruits and plants from Amazonia. You can find more information at https://naturaeco.com/.


If you want to learn Portuguese I can teach you in individual lessons by Skype at Cafetalk .

Special Places in Nature to Visit in Brazil

Brazil is a big country with many natural parks to visit. If you like to see awesome landscapes or you love adventure, Brazil is the perfect country for your vacation. Here are three interesting and unique sites to appreciate.

Lençois Maranhences

The Lençois Maranhences is a gigantic area formed by white sand dunes interspersed with blue lagoons supplied by rainwater. Few other landscapes are as impactful as the vision of this "wet desert". Every day there are 4 × 4 traction cars full of tourists taking them to the lagoons, which is the best way to see them.

The scenery is dominated by endless dunes and freshwater lagoons. The large formations of sand reach up to 40 m in height and are generated by the action of the winds that constantly blow from the sea. The continent-wide advance reaches 50 km and extends for about 70 km of deserted beaches.

You can stay in a typical local hostel in the city of Barreirinhas or in a resort with all the amenities. The best period to visit is between June and September when the lagoons are filled with more water.

Here you have this official site the National Park of Lençois Maranhances with information in Portuguese http://www.icmbio.gov.br/parnalencoismaranhenses/guia-do-visitante.html

Iguazu Falls

These falls are located on the border of three countries: Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. There are two options to see the Iguazu Falls: the Brazilian or the Argentinean side. On the Brazilian side, we have the Foz do Iguaçu city.

Around the falls there is the Iguaçu National Park that preserves the original habitat including the exuberant vegetation of the subtropical jungle. There are an average of 1.3 million liters per second in no less than 275 falls of water that compose the complex of falls in this world heritage site considered the biggest falls in the world.

Here is the official site the National Park of Iguazu Falls with information in Portuguese.

http://www.icmbio.gov.br/parnaiguacu/guia-do-visitante.html

Aparados da Serra National Park

This park is located in the south of Brazil between the states Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina.

The biggest attraction here is the Itaimbezinho Canyon. With a depth of up to 700 m, vertical walls and a narrow crevice, it is one of the largest canyons of the Americas. In addition, it has rocky walls adorned with the lush green of the Atlantic Forest.
There are three trails open to the public, with the trail of Vértice and Cotovelo being the main attractions. Some canyons require a special guide to explore.

Here is the official site the National Park of Aparatos da Serra with information in Portuguese

http://www.icmbio.gov.br/parnaaparadosdaserra/guia-do-visitante.html

Portuguese vocabulary - professions

In Portuguese, the nouns and adjectives are either masculine or feminine. Words for professions are also masculine (o advogado, o engenheiro) or feminine (a advogada, a engenheira).

Masculine / Feminine

o advogado / a advogada   -   lawyer
o arquiteto / a arquiteta   -   architect
o ator / a atriz  -   actor/actress
o cantor / a cantora   -   singer
o engenheiro / a engenheira - engineer
o escritor / a escritora   -  writer
o médico / a médica   -   physician
o fotógrafo / a fotógrafa   -   protographer
o professor / a professora   -   teacher, professor
o programador / a programadora   -   programmer



However, some of these words have only one form (o estudante, a estudante).

Masculine & feminine

atleta   -   athlete
cineastra   -   filmmaker
dentista   -   dentist
diplomata   -   diplomat
economista   -   ecomonist
estudante   -   student
gerente   -   maneger
jornalista   -    journalist
motorista   -   driver
policial   -   police officer


If you want to learn Portuguese I can teach you in individual lessons by Skype at Cafetalk .

Portuguese vocabulary - Talking about sickness

The flu - gripe
a high fever - febre alta
a slight fever - um pouco de febre
a sore throat - dor de garganta
a cold - resfriado
asthma - asma
bronchitis - bronquite
an upset stomach - dor de barriga
a backache - dor nas costas
arthritis - artrite
a toothache - dor de dente
a headache - dor de cabeça
diarrhea - diarréia
the chicken pox - variola
a hernia - hernia
a cough - tosse

Brazil: An Exciting Place to Vacation

 Brazil is an amazing country to visit. The country offers a lot of possibilities of things to do and see. In this continental country, you can see beautiful landscapes, have fun with friendly people, and practice a new language without spending a lot of money.

1) The unique and exotic landscape

Brazil is in an amazing country to see different kinds of beautiful landscapes. With an extensive coastline in tropical and subtropical areas, the beaches are wonderful. Also in Brazil the world's largest rainforest - the Amazon - where the highways are rivers. In addition, there are a lot of natural places to explore like waterfalls, caves, lakes, canyons, and mountains.

2) Fun, friendly people

In the country of football and Carnaval, you have a lot of fun things to do, not just during Carnaval, but all the year. Brazilian people enjoy life and openly receive foreigners regardless of their origin. On the weekends, Brazilians like to play football, drink beer with friends, have a barbecue, or go to the beach. Sunday is the day to stay with family and friends.

3) An affordable vacation

The most expensive cities to live in Brazil are Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. But if you go to other cities, such as Natal, Fortaleza, and Salvador, it is not so expensive to stay. As Brazil produces many agricultural products, food is not expensive. On the other hand, electronics are more expensive to buy, but you can bring these items with you.

4) Language

Once a Portuguese colony, the official language of Brazil is Portuguese. Brazilian people like to help foreigners who don’t speak their language. Because English is not a language spoken by most of the Brazilian population, it is still a good idea you study basic Portuguese before travel.

I teach Portuguese in individual lessons on Skype. With a package of 10 lessons, you can learn survival Portuguese to travel. If you are interested write to me portuguesewithangelica@gmail.com or at Cafetalk .

3 Aspects of Portuguese Language That You May Not Know

What do you know about Portuguese? I invite you to expand your knowledge about the Portuguese language. Here are some aspects of the Portuguese language that you may not know. 

1) There are more words in Portuguese similar to English than you think.

Agenda, animal, artificial, bar, base, cafeteria, capital, casual, central, chance, chic, chocolate, cinema, colonial… all of these words are cognates, meaning they are written the same in both English and Portuguese. In fact, many other words are identical in English and Portuguese like real, natural and hotel. There are also other nearly-identical words such as apartamento, simples, and opinião. It happens because many words in both English and Portuguese have Latin origin. 

2) 80% of all people who speak Portuguese are actually in Brazil.

Portuguese language should be called “Brazilian” language as most people that speak this language are in Brazil. There are 244 million people speaking Portuguese in the world. About 80% of that is in Brazil. Nevertheless, for the longest time, the Brazilian government wasn’t interested in promoting the Brazilian dialect as a foreign language. On the other hand, Portugal has always promoted its dialect by the Camões Institute and other initiatives. 

3) Average Brazilian people do not speak English.

For a long time, English was not an obligatory subject at school. In addition, the quality of the English teachers in Brazilian schools are not good enough at effective conversation. Private English courses are expensive and the teachers are not native speakers. In general, Brazilians people don’t need to speak English in their everyday life. There are plenty of materials translated from English to Portuguese, and there are good publications produced in Brazil for the country's needs.


If you want to be updated about Portuguese language and Brazil send me an e-mail portuguesewithangelica@gmail.com to receive a list of cognates in Portuguese and English.