I have lived in Brazil for 2 years, 5 months and 23 days. I have yet to take a Portuguese class. I've been getting by on what I vaguely remember of Spanish, what I've learned helping my kids do their homework, a bit of Pimsler, a bit of Rosetta stone, learning some songs for the Festa Junina last year and for Kindergarten graduations (amazing how music will help vocabulary and pronunciation) and a whole lot of luck. I can survive, but it's not easy. And I sound like an unintelligible 2 year old many times.
A few weeks ago Sebastian got an invitation to a friend's house, and when I went to pick him up I ended up staying at their house for 2 1/2 hours just talking with the mom, in Portuguese. She is one really cool person, and she recently returned from a month in Canada where she studied English. She's also considering getting her Master's in Portuguese so she can teach foreigners. And what do you know: she wants to give me free classes to see how it goes! I'm pretty excited, and hoping that I can make some good progress.
Here I go!
A few weeks ago Sebastian got an invitation to a friend's house, and when I went to pick him up I ended up staying at their house for 2 1/2 hours just talking with the mom, in Portuguese. She is one really cool person, and she recently returned from a month in Canada where she studied English. She's also considering getting her Master's in Portuguese so she can teach foreigners. And what do you know: she wants to give me free classes to see how it goes! I'm pretty excited, and hoping that I can make some good progress.
Here I go!
Your friend and future teacher sounds very professional. These are great attributes in a person so feel free to tell her that she may use my brainteasing - and hilarious - bilingual Grittjokes, plus my cunning grammatical Grittips. I also grant her my permission to include them in any future Portuguese handbook she happens to devise, free of charge. I do want her to cite me as the source of these gemas* though.
ReplyDeleteBoas aulas para você Shelley. E tenho certeza de que, como uma Brazilian Hen, receberás uma OVAção no futuro pela qualidade que o seu português ganhará graças às aulas de sua amiga.
*Tom - from eatrio.net - commenting on "Grittjokes: The Third One", http://grittypoet.blogspot.com.br/2012/07/grittjokes-third-one.html
GROAN.
DeleteI think you have done it the right way. learning street talk first, getting over the fear of speaking - then taking the class. I took 3 semesters at PUC and came out $R4500 poorer and did not say one word in class. and being an emersion method class you (I) were espected to understand what they were telling you (the book is on the table????) I have been here almost 10 years and having a Brasilian trainer at the gym helped make me speak more than any class.... now I need to have just verbs and past tense at that in a class room ... I went to the gym this morning.... almost everything you way is in a past tense form.... good luck and lucky you to find a new friend.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I don't have so much fear of speaking. Maybe it comes from working with kids, and the grace they extend me, and the silly things they say (in English AND in Portuguese). I'm trying!
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