brasil

(Photo by Scott Eggers)

Street Smart Brazil has the pleasure to interview Alex Martins, a native Brazilian who has lived in San Francisco since 1993, surfs with a passion, practices yoga daily, and works for himself as the local surfboard ding repair man (www.AlexMartinsSF.com). He’s well known for charging huge waves at Mavericks, the renowned surf break in Half Moon Bay (Calif.), as well as ripping on a shortboard out front of his house on the Great Highway at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach. READ MORE>

The World Cup has been a great ride so far. I’ve had lots of fun watching the games with more Brazilians than I knew lived here in the Bay Area, and with live Brazilian music and all. What a joy!

What do you think will be the score for Brazil vs. Netherlands? Post your bet on our Facebook community. The first post with the right score will get a Street Smart Brazil Travel Mug.

To win you must: READ MORE>

Fernando Pessoa was a Portuguese writer and poet, and in my opinion one of the best poets this world has even seen. Born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1935, Pessoa left an extensive, complex, and beautiful collection of writings. READ MORE>

It is Carnival and to celebrate it with our readers I visited Neguinha Sambista, a professional Samba instructor from Aquarela Samba Troup, in Berkely, CA. We interviewed her about the history and styles of the dance, and she told us about her classes. We also filmed parts of the lesson for you! Aquarela teaches Samba and provides Samba shows around the SF Bay Area. We filmed Neguinha Sambista at the Dance Mission Theatre in San Francisco. READ MORE>

Today I will answer your questions about the use of the word muito. Students often feel confused with muito. When is it just muito and when does it have a plural and a feminine?

I will organize my answer in three parts.

1) When muito means “very” it does not vary. Check out these examples: READ MORE>

Açaí is getting very popular in the US today, as it is hailed for its richness in antioxidants. However, it is usually sold only in the form of a liquid juice, often mixed with blueberry juice. While this is delicious, it is very different from how we enjoy it in Brazil. There, we go to barracas (beach hut) and have it served up in an ice-cold puree with bananas, granola, and honey.  It is made with a blender, but you don't drink it--it is eaten with a spoon. Acai na tigela (acai in the bowl) is a must-have when you visit Brazil.  Watch how it is made in our video below. READ MORE>

There are three ways in which you can type the Portuguese accents.  READ MORE>

Students often ask what the best Portuguese textbook is. There are several good books available. The best one for you will depend on your goals and your learning style. Here are a few books to consider.

  READ MORE>

Street Smart Brazil had a fantastic get-together this past Sunday. Students, instructors, and friends met to socialize, practice Portuguese, and watch a Brazilian movie together. We saw the hilarious comedy Se Eu Fosse Você with renowned Brazilian actors Glória Pires and Tony Ramos. I can tell you that we did have a great laugh! Learning was on the menu, of course, and attendants received a vocabulary sheet with the main idiomatic expressions, colloquial language, and slang in the movie. I am so happy about the event! Several students are already asking when the next event will be! Muito obrigada, students. Valeu, friends. Show de bola, Street Smart team :) READ MORE>

We are thrilled to be one of the first to publish lessons on Knoodle, a new on-demand learning platform that just launched this week. The Street Smart Brazil presentations have beautiful slides integrated with video. You have photos, text, image, and voice to make your learning fun and effective. Knoodle offers both free and low-cost lessons. Street Smart Brazil's first two lessons are offered free! READ MORE>