Basic - 3 - Polite Expressions in Portuguese

Don't you think we can always get what we want if we use the right words? To me, the right word to get what we want and still receive a smile back is "por favor". You will learn this and other polite expressions in Portuguese if you watch my video, also posted on my other website "Brazilian Lingo". Here is the link for it:

http://brazilianlingo.weebly.com/lessons/polite-expressions

Assista, por favor! (Watch it, please!)

Basic - 2 - Greetings in Portuguese

Oi! Tudo bem?

In this video you will learn how to greet people and you will also have a chance to practice pronunciation and vocabulary. Here is the link for the video that is also on my other website "Brazilian Lingo":

http://brazilianlingo.weebly.com/lessons/greetings

Basic - 1 - Introducing Yourself in Portuguese

In this video I am going to introduce myself in Portuguese. Listen to the audio present in the video and try to recognize some words. After this video, others will be added to help you understand better and practice what you will see and listen here. You can also find this video on my other website "Brazilian Lingo". Here is the link to it:


http://brazilianlingo.weebly.com/lessons/introducing-yourself-apresentando-se

Portuguese Course Information

Website with lessons online: http://brazilianlingo.weebly.com

Types of classes offered

• Online  (via Skype)

• In person: 

- Private: Private tutorial instruction is tailored to meet the language goal of each student.

- Semi-private: Bring your own group of 2 or 3 people and each student pays a discount rate.

Courses

• Basic, Intermediate and Advanced.

Methodology

Lessons are given in a fun and dynamic environment. Students exercise their fluency, learn grammar and vocabulary, as well as how to interact in Portuguese using the following tools:

• Conversation: tailored to student's interests

• Reading: Brazilian literature, news, articles, texts

• Writing: exercises, compositions, homework

• Multimedia: Internet, video (movies, soap operas, news, TV shows), podcasts, audio (Brazilian songs, Brazilian shows on radio, news, dialogues in mp3)

• Games

Students learn a lot too about Brazilian culture: music, food, literature and much more! After enrolling in a course, students are invited to join Dropbox to have access to all materials used in class (textbooks and audio files). Tests are given at regular intervals to evaluate students' performance. I suggest a minimum of two hours per week. My schedule is flexible, with availability in the mornings, afternoons and evenings.

Location

Fairfax, VA, close to Fair Oaks Mall.

Contact: sancynthia@gmail.com

Testimonials

“I highly recommend classes with Cynthia Santos. I have studied Portuguese over the years with many tutors and teachers and I can say that she is one of the best I have ever found. She will tailor her lessons to the level of the student, and she will find materials that are based on your interests. One of the best things about her classes is that she always varies the material—you will spend some time talking, listening, reading, and writing. She brings in music and videos and always keeps things lively and interesting. In addition to all of this, she is a lovely person, very caring, very Brazilian. Sign up for her classes now—you won’t regret it.” (James Forman, Jr., Professor, Yale Law School, jamesformanjr@gmail.com)

"Taking Brazilian Portuguese with Cynthia is so much fun and a very nice experience because it actually feels as if I were in Brazil learning about its people, language, culture, food, music, etc. It introduced me to a new different world. Brazilian Portuguese is very unique for its variety of words because it lets me express or describe feelings and things that I can definitely not do with other languages. It has been 8 months so far and now I can actually say that I do speak Portuguese and have a very broad knowledge about Brazil as a whole. If I were you, I wouldn't think it twice to start taking the course right now." (F. Dorival, Alexandria, VA).

“Without hesitation I recommend Cynthia as your Portuguese professor. She is the most effective and efficient teacher I have ever met. She gets results faster because she looks at what your individual needs are and then meets and exceeds them. I knew nothing about Portuguese before I met her and now I can speak for hours without hesitation with people that speak Portuguese from all over the world. Cynthia’s skills go well beyond just language acquisition she also holds a Doctorate degree in Biology and she is a translator. If you work with Cynthia you are working with the best.” (Jon Delmas, Ashburn, VA)

“I thoroughly enjoyed the almost two years I spent studying under Cynthia.  Not only did I learn Portuguese, but I also learned a great deal about Brazil and its culture.  She is a wonderful teacher who is very patient and knowledgeable.  As opposed to other language courses I have taken, Cynthia does not rely exclusively on textbooks.  She tailors her lessons to fit your needs and interests, and incorporates material from Brazilian popular culture into her lessons.   I can honestly say that my Portuguese as well as my knowledge and understanding of the Brazilian people and their culture would not be near what they are today had it not been for Cynthia.”  (Kevin Hirst - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

“Cynthia Santos has the rare ability to both know the subject well and teach the subject well. She adapts the class material easily to match the level of the student. I have had six teachers over the course of Portuguese study and can conclude, without question, that Cynthia Santos is the best!”   Charles J. Hayes (Chajhayes@aol.com)

"Bilingual ability is an important objective for us, so we hired Cynthia to tutor our Brazilian-American child in Portuguese.  We have found Cynthia to be a superb, top-notch teacher.  She is very warm, talented, and highly gifted in the art of language instruction.  She immediately established a fantastic rapport with our child, and he has absolutely flourished under her tutelage.  His aptitude in Portuguese speaking, reading, and grammar has continually spiraled upward since he commenced lessons with her.  Cynthia is extremely dependable, and her home

location is very comfortable for learning.  Her rates are very reasonable, considering the quality of instruction one receives in return.  In short, we give Cynthia Santos our highest possible recommendation for Portuguese language instruction and Portuguese translation services!" (Brendan & Manuela Davis, Annandale, VA, manuelinha@yahoo.com)

“I was seeking someone to polish and renew my fluency in Portuguese after many years of not using the language. When I found Cynthia, I found the best possible teacher! It's like having a friend tutor me in a very well planned, professional way. She teaches in her home/office, which is very pleasant and comfortable. Cynthia makes learning fun and non-judgmental. She varies the private sessions I have with her each time and gears toward topics useful in my profession and in everyday life. She is flexible in meeting your needs for learning and produces results. In only a few sessions I have had a marked improvement, thanks to Cynthia!” (Barbara Hill, Fairfax, VA)

"I could not recommend Cynthia more. I have been studying Portuguese since 2007, when I was still in college, and I have had four different Portuguese teachers- Cynthia is one of the best! I have been to Brazil three times and before my last two visits (in 2009 and 2011) she prepared me very well. 

In class Cynthia exposed me to many different Brazilian accents, Brazilian politics, various Brazilian media sources, musicians from Brazil and other Portuguese speaking countries (such as Cabo Verde), and much more. Cynthia is great at keeping the material stimulating and fun. She will also tailor the classes to your needs and interests. I should also add that I have ADD and dyslexia, this makes learning another language particularly challenging. However, when I told Cyntha about my learning differences she was not only accepting but confident that this would not hinder my learning experience with her, and it didn't. 

Cynthia is a teacher by nature. She is also extremely knowledgeable, intelligent, and very kind. Through the many classes I have had with Cynthia she has become a good friend to me. I hope that if you are seeking a Portuguese instructor that you choose her- you won't regret it!" (Rebecca Keller, 24 from Silver Spring, MD, rkeller86@gmail.com)

“I highly recommend Cynthia Santos. She is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic and provides a friendly, comfortable environment to learn Portuguese. The lessons are always interesting and tailored to match student needs. She uses a balance of reading, writing, audio/video and interactive conversation integrated with Brazilian culture and her experiences living in Brazil. Cynthia is also dedicated to your progress. I needed to communicate in Portuguese in a short period of time and she helped me to achieve this goal. I recommend Cynthia to anyone who is interested in learning Portuguese.”  (Ellen Stigberg, Sterling, VA)

How are you?

I am sure you’re a nice person and therefore are very kind to people and always ask them how they are. If you’re in Brazil, you don’t need to lose your kindness because of a language barrier, just say: Como vai você? It is simple, right? Then, click here to listen to a dialogue that uses this very common expression in Brazil.

Bellow you find the dialogue in Portuguese and its translation to English:
- Bom dia! Como vai você? Good morning! How are you?
- Bem, obrigada. E você? Fine, thanks. And you?
- Mais ou menos. Eu moro na Avenida Paulista. O trânsito está muito ruim lá. More or less. I live on Paulista Avenue. Traffic is very bad there.
- Não é fácil morar em São Paulo! It is not easy to live in São Paulo!

Word of the week: Bola

Click here to learn how to pronounce BOLA.

BOLA is the favorite toy of every Brazilian boy. Every little kid in Brazil has his soccer ball. Soccer or futebol, as it is called in Brazil, is the number 1 sport in the country and everything starts when the boys first kick the BOLA in a backyard, in a park or in the streets. No green field is required, just the BOLA. And for those that are too poor to buy one, a BOLA made of socks will do. After all, this is how Pelé got started. And the toy becomes a magic instrument in talented feet of the white, black, rich and poor kids. It becomes a catalyst of dreams.

Polite Expressions

Treat everybody the way you want them to treat you!! So, be polite!! Always!

Below you will find some polite expressions or "expressões de cortesia" in Portuguese. Click here to listen to the pronunciation.

Obrigada (if you are a female)/obrigado (if you are a male)
Thank you

De nada
You’re welcome

Por favor
Please

Muito prazer
Nice to meet you

Desculpe
I am sorry

Com licença
Excuse me