FIFA World Cup 2014 - Learn Brazilian Portuguese!

We are still pumped from the U.S. 2-1 victory over Ghana last night! We can't wait to see them face Portugal on Sunday--although powerhouse Rinaldo has us pretty nervous. We're happy to have author Denise Santos with us today. She has some background on Brazilian Portuguese and some helpful futbol-related phrases:

Contrary to popular belief, Spanish is not widely understood in Brazil – and neither is English. Portuguese is the official language in Brazil, and it is estimated that more than 250,000,000 people currently speak Portuguese in the world, making it the eighth most spoken language globally.

A strong motivation for learning Brazilian Portuguese these days is the FIFA World Cup, currently taking place in several cities around Brazil from June 12 to July 13, 2014.

To make the most of one’s  ‘Brazilian experience’ it is advisable to learn some basic Portuguese to be able to talk to and understand locals more easily. You probably already know how to say “Gooooollll!” but you’ll need to know more to get by!

Beginner’s Brazilian Portuguese with 2 Audio CDs is a book written for the elementary learner with a focus on vocabulary and grammar development around everyday activities, for example:

•   greeting and introducing yourself
• thanking
• asking for and understanding prices
• asking for and giving directions
• checking in at a hotel
• ordering and buying food and drink
• expressing needs and wants

Those planning to go to Brazil for the World Cup can find below some useful language. Click the audio link to hear the word or phrase, and repeat it. 

English	Portuguese	Audio link
I love soccer!	Eu adoro futebol!
Where is the game?	Onde é o jogo?
Where is the stadium?	Onde é o estádio?
Where is the exit?	Onde é a saída?
First half	Primeiro tempo
Second half	Segundo tempo
Half-Time (break)	Intervalo
Yellow card	Cartão amarelo
Red card	Cartão vermelho
Foul	Falta
Referee	Juiz
Linesman	Bandeirinha
Offside!	Impedimento
Ball Boy	Gandula
Goal!	Gol!

 

Beginner’s Brazilian Portuguese with 2 Audio CDs offers extensive listening and speaking practice, including systematic work on pronunciation. A set of two CDs accompanies the book, and they contain material recorded by native speakers to be used for oral comprehension work, pronunciation practice, or support for activities in the book.

You can find the book at your local bookstore, Amazon.com, or Barnes & Noble.

Persian and Albanian Join Beginner's Series

We're always seeking new languages for our Beginner's series, so we're happily ushering in two: Beginner's Albanian and Beginner's Persian, both accompanied by two audio CDs. With the audio, you can follow along in the books as native speakers run through dialogues at two different paces, as well as demonstrate pronunciation of vocabulary and expressions. Some exercises require the CD, which tests listening comprehension.

Beginner's Persian provides a great introduction to Farsi Persian, the official language of Iran and a widely-spoken tongue throughout the rest of the Middle East and Central Asia. Author Mohammed Mehdi Khorammi currently teaches Persian language and literature at New York University, and has put his years of classroom experience towards a carefully-structured textbook that truly works for students.

And while the language can often prove difficult because of script-reading and writing, we provide a guide specific to honing these skills. That pairs with the ten lessons of dialogues, vocabulary, grammar, and exercises, as well as glossaries and a history of the language.

It is also available for purchase in bookstores, on our website, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.



 
Beginner's Albanian by Anila Mayhew uses similarly detailed methods to introduce the official language of Albania and Kosovo. Today, 5.8 million people worldwide speak Albanian, even though teaching it was a forbidden practice under the Ottoman Empire. Combining two dialects, Gheg and Tosk, modern standard Albanian serves as a testament to the fortitude and history of the Albanian people.

An introduction to this history and culture opens the book, which goes on to include thirteen lessons of dialogues, vocabulary, and expressions, as well as glossaries, exercises, and pronunciation guides.

 You can find this title at your local bookstore, on our website, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.