An Exciting Travel to Brazil

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Brazil is the world's five largest country for geography and population. It is "the" largest country of South American. Between Brazil's most sought after event (Carnaval) and its vast and diverse countryside full of exciting and interesting places, there is a lot here for every traveler to see.

Beyond the spectacular scenes, it is a must that each and every traveler take the necessary safeguards to get vaccinated before your flight takes to the skies.

There are some 4,600 miles of coast line, overgrown tropical islands and colonial towns that map out the presence of the first of the Portuguese settlers who arrived here years ago. They were one of the first people to put Brazil on the map - besides the Jesuit Priests.

Away from the popular coastal cities and areas of high population, you'll find the mysteries of the Amazon river and its surrounding forests, where you'll find plenty of wildlife to fill your family adventure album full of colorful and amazing pictures. And take a gander at some of the huge and spectacular waterfalls Brazil has to offer.

But if your idea of an adventure involves city lights and neon signs, then you'll find plenty of fun in the city of Rio de Janeiro, just to name one. And Rio de Janeiro is host to the main event for Brazil's Carnaval. Carnaval is Brazil's version of New Orleans's Mardi Gras, just on a grander scale.

Carnaval is an event that started as a celebration of the Roman Catholic Church, but has evolved to become one the most bright, exciting, exotic, lively and well rehearsed events in the world. Its occurence can not only be witnessed in Rio de Janeiro, but the entire country celebrates.

And, if your time allows while in Rio, don't forget to check out the statue of Christ the Redeemer which sits on top of Corcovado mountain. It was constructed back in 1922 and is one of the tallest statues in the world.

Weather you are a nature lover or a people lover, there is a lot to do in Brazil.

Five Great Reasons Why You Should Be Learning The Brazilian Portuguese Language

I will make it easy for you to decide which language to choose. My article "Five Great Reasons Why You Should Be Learning The Brazilian Portuguese Language", will give you the knowledge to make an informed decision.

One activity that can be very exciting is learning to speak another language. Despite the possibility of learning the language being challenging, the reasons for learning a new language can be very rewarding. The only problem is: there are so many languages to learn. Which one shall I choose? I am here to pass on to you some reasons why you should learn Brazilian Portuguese. After having read my article, I am sure you will be picking up that "How to Learn the Portuguese Language" book.

It is interesting to note that Portuguese is the sixth most spoken language in the world. What does that mean? it means that nearly two hundred fifty two million people speak this language every day. After having learned to speak this great language, you will have the skills to communicate with a lot more people, and it is true that the Portuguese language is close to the Spanish dialect. You are not only learning a new language, you are learning two languages.

This unique nomenclature is spoken in 11 countries out of the 4 continents, and it is being accepted by more and more people each and every day. This is why, in some parts of the world - such as the beautiful tourist city of Rio de Janeiro - they are improving their relationship with America and Europe in the business of importing and exporting. And this equates to more employment opportunities for me and you, beyond being a pleasure to learn.

By the way, since I am talking about careers, learning Portuguese opens up other career possibilities. The door remains open to those who speak more than one language. what kind of careers? Well, for starters, education, tourism and research. Not to mention those careers involving international trade. It is a fact, as stated by UNESCO, that the Portuguese language will be that choice language of an estimated 3 hundred and 35 million people around the world. To learn Brazilian Portuguese now increases your advancement over those who don't.

Have I still not made a believer out of you? Are you still thinking "Sounds like a difficult language to learn"? The fact is, it is not difficult to learn. Anyone can learn to speak the language given the right tools and resources. Especially when you consider the difficulty levels in languages like Korean or Mandarin.

To learn a new oral communication opens up a new and exciting world. For instance, you will be able to enjoy the Portuguese culture at its fullest. And speaking of the Portuguese culture, how about a trip to Portugal?

The Brazilian Language

In this article, you are going to learn about the evolution of Brazilian Portuguese, characteristics of the language, a little about the grammar and how you can learn the Brazilian Portuguese language. This could be a huge benefit for those seeking to learn for the first time.

The Evolution Of The Brazilian Language And How To Learn It

There are some set of dialects which are readily used in the Brazilian language. Due to the relative novelty of the language and government support it enjoys, this language is spoken by almost all the natives of Brazil and Brazilian immigrants in the US, Japan, Paraguay, and Portugal. There is a slight difference in Portuguese as compared to Portuguese.

The Brazilian Language in due course has been influenced by many languages like Amerindian language, various African languages and lexicons from Topi-Guarani and Yoruba Origin.

• Brazilian Language is a popular dialect spoken by natives and immigrants from Brazil.
• It is influenced by many other languages too.

Characteristics of Portuguese

The influence of Portuguese has been going on for years. The Brazilian taught in the schools of Brazil was based on the Portuguese standards and even the writers and the professors of Brazil modeled the Portuguese writers. As far as the spoken English was concerned, there was considerable influence of Portuguese accent on the Brazilian language. Brazilian actors could be seen working in Portuguese Cinema and vice-versa. In formal writings also many Brazilian authors have got literary awards in Portuguese.

Peculiarity of Portuguese

• The conjugation begins with relative clauses
• Lack of third person object pronouns, replaced by respective personal pronouns
• Lack of second person verb forms
• Lack of relative pronouns

Grammar of Portuguese

It is a topic prominent language. There is an extensive use of sentences with topics. It is done by turning an object or verb in a sentence to external comments. There is an increased use of progressive verbs and you will rarely find a present continuous construct. Brazilian Portuguese language follows the classical Portuguese form of continuous expression.

Brazilian Portuguese language is sometimes similar to European Portuguese and sometimes retains the essence of Portuguese. There is a clear resemblance of lexicons and syllables, but at times some of the rules do not follow. The reduction of the vowel sound in Portuguese language is adapted by the Brazilian Portuguese language, but is more frequently pronounced.



Where to learn the Brazilian Portuguese Language?

There are various methods by which you can learn this language. There are online and offline courses available which teaches the Brazilian Portuguese language. Learning Brazilian Portuguese has now been made easy as there are many online resources on hand, free of cost which you can use to learn the language. Those who want to learn Brazilian Portuguese language can also learn Portuguese without much effort.

The online resources contain Brazilian Portuguese vocabulary collections, videos, and online language courses. This language can be learnt at a basic, intermediate, or advanced level. The courses are available as classroom programs. Various videos and tutorials are also available on video streaming websites which can be consulted in the process of learning Brazilian Portuguese. Those who have already learned Portuguese will find the language much simpler.

David's Life in Brazil

So, have your plans for a new life ever focused on Brazil? My article today will focus on David's life in Brazil - a man who sacrificed the life he knew in the USA for a change in Brazil.

The Story of David

David's story begins when, in 2008, he visited the city of Rio de Janeiro. David fell in love with the country and its people. He met his wife in Rio. She helped him learn the language. However, David did not entirely give up his way of life in America from the first moment. For him, Brazil was an on-again off-again type of affair. He rented an apartment in Rio with his wife. It was a relatively small dwelling, with around 15 units. He only lived there for about the first 4 months. He moved back to the United Stats afterwards to go back to work for his former employer.

During his second stint in Brazil, he opened a business with his wife. He had saved enough money from working in the USA to buy the equipment he would need. You could say that David's business helped the inner city youth by giving them a place off the streets to engage their minds through video games.

All in all, he 6 Xbox 360's and 6 Playstation units. At certain times of the day, all would remain occupied at the same time. The business was flourishing. To help save for their house in Brazil, David and his wife (Renata) slept at their place of business. Renata's parents just lived a few blocks away from the business. So, they could get some decent meals and a shower on a daily basis. David and Renata lived like this for 6 months before they moved in to their new house. This time, David stayed in Brazil for, more or less, 3 years.

He returned to the United States to go back to work one more time with his old job. But, because of the bad US economy, it would be more difficult for him. He worked for 1 year trying to save for his life with Renata - who was waiting for him back in Rio. But he did not accumulate the savings he was looking for. He knew there was only one thing for him to do - return to the life he loved and missed.

And, this day, David is back in Brazil living with his wife - where he knows he belongs. Why not? he owns his own house. How many people can say they own their home? The life in Brazil is good. It's a simple life. The people are very friendly and sociable. The sun shines most everyday, the beaches are pleasant, and the cost of living is affordable.

For more stories like this, be sure to keep in touch with my blog. Or learn more about Brazil or the Portuguese language via my website.

Brazilian Portuguese - From Novice to Advanced

The three stages of Portuguese

Like any phase in life, when learning Portuguese, you must endure the first stage if you wish to learn and move on to the next. Learning to speak and write a new language is no different. You must approach it with the same enthusiasm, determination and drive that you would with anything. From novice to advanced, I will explain the process. For the three stages of Portuguese, you have novice, intermediate and then there's the advanced.

Novice - The novice stage is the most important part of learning a foreign language. Because, like building a house from the ground up, you are building your foundation of all elements involved with the learning process - vocabulary, reading, pronunciation, listening skills and grammar. If your goal is simply learning to speak, you would still need to adhere to the pronunciation and listening skills in order to establish a foothold in your endeavor to learn a challenging yet rewarding language.

Advice for beginners

* Remind yourself that everyone starts from the beginning and, As I mentioned in the second paragraph, you must know that the beginning phase is the most important part of language learning. Once you've accomplished the beginning, it's all downhill afterwards.

* Understand that you are going to make some mistakes. No one is perfect. Even in the face of mockery you must drive on. You may sound like a "gringo" to native speakers, but everybody learning a foreign language speaks with an accent.

* Learning to write the language can also help with pronunciation. Once you understand how a word is written, you will better understand how it is pronounced. So, if you encounter difficulties getting the pronunciation correct the first time, just think about how the words are formed. Also, by knowing how a word is written, you know where all the syllables fall in. And knowing the syllables is key to proper pronunciation based on the rules of pronunciation for that particular language.

* Always seek advice from native speakers. It's your chanced to make improvements to sound more authentic. Ask them for some critique in your pronunciation. How can I sound more like a Brazilian?

Intermediate - The intermediate phase is when you refine your pronunciation and begin building your vocabulary. Once you have moved beyond the "novice" stage, you become more involved in conversation with native speakers because you are able to pick up more translation to understand the topic of discussion. This is when you begin to see how the language is structured.

Advanced - Finally, we move into the advanced stage of the learning process. Your pronunciation becomes more accurate, you fully understand the fundamentals of grammar and can build on your own sentences without disrupting the structure of each, and, by now, you have amassed an impressive vocabulary. You will be able to function in society without help or embarrassment. Take your conversation with you to the faculty board meetings. You've moved past the "red in the face phase" and can now call yourself bilingual - proud owner of a second language.

From Novice to Advanced, I explained what is involved and what it takes to proceed to the next level. By now, you should have a clear perspective. Understanding the steps involved helps to prepare you for success in language learning. To learn more about myself or the advise I have to offer, a visit to my website should get you on your way.

Listening Skills - A Fundamental Element of Language Learning

Your listening skills are what you will eventually acquire learning to speak a language. Find out how to improve your language learning upon having read: Listening skills - a fundamental element of language learning. Upon having read: Listen skills - a fundamental element of language learning, you will understand what it takes to learn a language.

Listening Skills - Your listening skills are what you will eventually acquire learning to speak a language. Through listening to native speakers of your target language converse, you will develop an important element in language learning that will enable you to understand oral communication. This is a fundamental element of the language learning process. Fundamental because: you will not understand what is being spoken without it. Kind of like the melody of a favorite tune. At first, it's just a new song. But as time progresses and you listen more and more, you grow more accustomed to the melody and are able to duplicate the melody in your head. It does not matter if you know every word that exists in a foreign language. Without good listening skills, you will not pick up much of what is being spoken.

How Long Does it Take to Learn Listening Skills? - Everyone is different. Some people will pick it up in no time; where as, for others, it may take longer. Myself - it has taken longer. But I have a bit of a lazy approach when it comes to accessing new information. So, it depends on how much effort and time you are willing to sacrifice. Word by word, you will begin to visualize the "whole picture". Think of it like a puzzle slowly being pieced together.

6 Tips to Good Language Learning Listening Skills

1. Watch foreign movies often - The next time you rent a video from Netflix, think about something dubbed in the target language of your choice. They usually come with subtitles. So, you won't be totally at a loss.

2. Pick up some audio lessons at your local public library - Some of the larger cities usually contain a substantial selection of audio materials in which to listen.

3. Listen to foreign songs - If your target language happens to be Brazilian Portuguese, you couldn't possibly ask for a larger selection of good music to choose.

4. Watch Youtube videos - There are plenty of those to choose from online these days. Just "Google" your preferred language.

5. Join a conversation between native speakers - Look for organizations in your area such as Meetups. They usually organize meetings in your local area where you will be able to find native speakers.

6. Practice listening to your partner - You and your language learning partner have a perfect opportunity to hone your listening skills.

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Comparable Brazilian language software

What if I told you that it is important to use repetition when learning a new, foreign language? Well, the fact of the matter is, this is how the majority of us, at least those of us here on planet earth, learn to communicate as a child. We learn by hearing sounds over and over from our parents.

And did you also know that, when we learn to speak as infants, we often associate images with words & vise versa? (and because of this, there exists the need for flashcards). Once upon a time, I used a program that uses all these important resources of language learning softwares and applications. This program uses a new kind of technology called "Speech Recognition" (which will allow you to perfect your pronunciation) and the use of flash cards as well.

 

What made me such a language learning "Guru?"

 
In case you might have been thinking to yourself, "What makes him such an expert to educate me?" Ok, here we go... I lived, for many years, in the country of Brazil; incidentally, I have plenty of documented experience, in which I share on my website, The Brazilian Language. And so, I think I have room - figuratively speaking - to share this info with you guys out there. I spent much of my days, in Brazil, making trips to the stores, conversing with the local people, or chatting with my wife and/or her family. So, it's kind of hard NOT to learn anything. And for me, being a brain dead loser growing up in high school, this is a major accomplishment - with a capital A. And, some of those conversations were related to matters of significance, personal problems, marital issues? Wait a minute here ... Why am I telling you about my personal life? Well, you get the point right? So, yeah, I even attended a school for a short while during my stay in Brazil. Imagine that. Was a dope in high school then went to Brazil and continued my education in a foreign school, while learning another language? My point is this. If you immerse yourself with the sights and sounds of the country, you will learn the language whether you want to or not. It just comes naturally my friend. But, also, what I am trying to say is, you don't have to live in Brazil - like I did - to learn a language well. So why not bring Brazil home to you? (if Brazilian Portuguese is your bag) Yeah, that beautiful Brazilian woman wearing brilliant clad and dancing to Samba during Brazil's most sought after event of the year - Carnaval? or if your of the female persuasion, could be the hunk Novela star all the ladies are ranting about - sorry ladies. Did not mean to leave you out.
 

So tell me already about the program

 
First, let me explain what it is that makes this language software program run. This software uses a "Declarative First" approach when it comes to learning the Portuguese language (or any other language for that matter). So what do I mean by "Declarative First?"... well, the "hot shots" who research language learning studies know that there are two important factors that contribute to successfully learning language and those two would be declarative memory and procedural memory. Exactly what are these? Hey? I just work here. These factors allow people to learn, retain, and produce language. The main focus of this program is learning vocabulary as opposed to learning grammar and sentence structure. And, to learn a new language this way has been proven more effective than trying to remember all the boring rules of the language. Ugg! Who needs the stuff anyways? Did I forget to mention that language learning can be fun? Yeah, and remember that beautiful Brazilian? You can have a party on the beach after learning Brazilian Portuguese. This program I am talking about is Transparent. Go check em out. Take it for a test spin.

 

Now, join Thebrazilianlanguage.com's mailing list and get FREE Brazilian Portuguese video lessons. This is our way of saying "Thank you for your support!"

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