culture

A few weeks ago I went to Santa Cruz (California) for the beautiful wedding of my student Sarah. Carl and I were driving to our hotel when I spotted the familiar green and yellow colors. I basically yelled: "Eita, Brazilian place, I am hungry, stop the car!"

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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>

In November, we wrote about the exhibition "When Lives Become Form: Contemporary Brazilian Art, 1960's to Present” at the Yerba Buena Center of the Arts. We went and had a great time. Now John Shepherd, the film curator there, has written us about a very interesting event that is happening this week.   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>

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.

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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>

I was in Brazil enjoying a fantastic cappuccino with crushed peanuts over it when I thought that it would be fun to write a post about the differences in the coffee drinks in Brazil and in the US. READ MORE>

 Just finished the latest Street Smart Brazil flyer.  Look for it in a cafe near you, and get 5% off of 3 classes when you sign up by December 1, 2009.  (applies to regular classes for new clients only)

I have talked about patterns between English and Portuguese in previous posts.  I gave you a list of cognates -- words that are very similar -- and I listed ninety words that are easy to memorize.

Today I will give you a list of 55 words with the following pattern: READ MORE>

Here is a great way to practice your Street Smart Portuguese and build your vocabulary: Below is a list of Brazilian magazines on a wide variety of subjects. Some of them make all their content available online; others offer their .com edition on their site. Either way, you will keep informed and enjoy lots of practice.

Here is a tip for you: Read it out loud -- it is great practice.

Boa leitura! READ MORE>