Prof. Jayro - Língua Inglesa

Listen to Arthur!

2011-05-17T14:26:00.000-03:00

http://tts.imtrahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifnslator.net/G2ch

Grandma and Grandpa

2011-01-26T23:46:00.000-03:00

Memory problems

Grandma & Grampa are sitting there watching TV when Grandpa decides he's hungry for some ice cream.

"Hey, Grandma - I'm going to the kitchen and get myself a dish of ice cream. You want I should get you some, too?"

"Sure, Grandpa, sounds good. But you better write down what you're going out there for or else you'll forget." replies Grandma.

"I will not!" retorts Grandpa. "In fact, tell me what you want on it and I'll show you I can remember that, too."

"OK," says Grandma, "I'll have some chocolate sauce. But you're going to forget..."

Grandpa heads out to the kitchen and disappears for about 20 or 30 minutes, accompanied by a cacaphonous banging of pots and pans.

Finally he emerges, carrying a plate of scrambled eggs.

"See there, Grandpa. I told you you'd forget!" chides Grandma.

"What do you mean, 'forget,' Grandma? What did I forget?" demands Grandpa.

"You fool," says Grandma. "You forgot my bacon!"

Oh, give me a home...

2010-06-28T21:57:00.001-03:00

Oh, give me a home...

A woman was worried whether or not her dead husband made it to heaven, so she prays earnstly for God to allow him to speak to her "Hello Margaret, this is Fred."

"Fred!" she exclaimed. "I just have to know if you're happy there in the afterlife. What's it like there?"

"Ooooooh, it's much more beautiful here than I ever imagined," Fred answered. "The sky is bluer, the air is cleaner, and the pastures are much more lush and green than I ever expected. I lack for nothing; the only thing we do, all day long, are eat and sleep, eat and sleep, over and over."

"Thank God, you made it to heaven," his wife cried.

"Heaven?" he answered. "I'm a buffalo in Montana."

A good way to improve your vocabulary - Tiny Letters to God

2010-06-22T19:42:00.000-03:00

Tiny souls: God just loves hearing from them!

Dear GOD,

Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, why don't you just keep the ones you have?

--Amy

Dear GOD,

Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they had their own rooms. It works with my brother.

--Larry

Dear GOD,

If you watch me in Church Sunday, I'll show You my new shoes.

--Mickey

A good way to improve your vocabulary White Hair

2010-06-22T19:41:00.001-03:00

One day a little girl was sitting and watching her Mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head.

She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?"

Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."

The little girl thought about this revelation for while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"

Middle Age

2010-06-22T19:39:00.000-03:00

Middle age is when work is a lot less fun and fun a lot more work.

Nostalgia

2010-06-22T19:36:00.000-03:00

It's hard to be nostalgic when you can't remember anything.

A good way to improve your vocabulary

2010-06-22T19:34:00.000-03:00

Nothing on from the waist down

A man came walking up to his grandparent's house when he noticed his grandfather sitting on the porch, in a rocking chair, with nothing on from the waist down.

"Grandpa, what are you doing?" he exclaimed. The old man looked off in the distance without answering.

"Grandpa, what are you doing sitting out here with nothing on below the waist?" he asked again.

The old man slowly looked at him and said,"Well, last week I sat out here with no shirt on, and I got a stiff neck. This is your grandma's idea."

Vocabulary Help

waist - cintura
grandfather - avô
porch - varanda
rocking chair - cadeira de balança
waist down - da cintura para baixo
slowly - lentamente
week - semana
shirt - camisa
stiff neck - pescoço duro
grandma's idea - idéia da sua avó

At the restaurant

2010-03-28T16:45:00.001-03:00

A waiter brings the customer the steak he ordered with his thumb over the meat.

Are you crazy? yelled the customer, You have your hand on my steak!

What? answers the waiter, You want it to fall on the floor again?

Frank, the eternal optimist

2010-03-28T16:23:00.001-03:00

Frank constantly irritated his friends with his eternal optimism. No matter how horrible the circumstance, he would remark, "It could have been worse." To cure him of this annoying habit, his friends decided to invent a situation so bad, so terrible, that even Frank could find no hope in it.

On the golf course one day, a friend said, "Frank, did you hear about Tom? He came home last night, found his wife in bed with another man, he shot them both, then turned the gun on himself." "That's horrible," Frank said. "But it could have been worse." "How could it have been possibly any worse?" the friend asked. "Well," Frank answered, "if it had happened the night before, I'd be dead now."

Curious Facts

2009-12-27T13:48:00.001-03:00

- The sentence: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter of the alphabet.
- There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.
- There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order "abstemious" and "facetious."
- TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.
- "Dreamt" is the only English word that ends in the letters "mt".

Anesthesia

2009-09-23T15:13:00.001-03:00

A man was just coming out of anesthesia after a series of
tests in the hospital, and his wife was sitting at his
bedside. His eyes fluttered open, and he murmured,

You're beautiful.

Flattered, the wife continued her vigil while he drifted
back to sleep. Later, her husband woke up and said,

You're cute.

What happened to 'beautiful?' she asked him.

The drugs are wearing off, he replied.

- wife - esposa
- bedside - lado da cama
- flutter - tremer
- beautiful - bonita, linda
- flattered - sensibilizada pelo elogio
- drift back to sleep - voltar a dormir
- wake up - acordar
- cute - bonitinha
- the drugs are wearing off - a anestesia está acabando
- reply - responder

Anniversary gift

2009-09-23T15:11:00.001-03:00

A young man, wanted to get his beautiful blonde wife something
nice for their first wedding anniversary. So, he decides to buy her
a cell phone. She is all excited and she loves her phone. He shows
her and explains to her all the features on the phone.

The next day the blonde goes shopping. Her phone rings and it's
her husband.Hi hon, he says, How do you like your new
phone?

I just love it, it's so small and your voice is clear as a bell. But
there's one thing I don't understand. How did you know I was at
the beauty parlor?

- wedding - casamento
- cell phone - telefone celular
- features - recursos
- bell - sino
- beauty parlor - salão de beleza

Weird Language

2009-09-10T18:52:00.000-03:00

George Bernard Shaw (GBS) was a famous Irish writer. He wanted to reform English spelling so that it was more logical. He asked the following question as an example:
How do we pronounce the word "ghoti"?
His answer was "fish".
How can "ghoti" and "fish" sound the same? GBS explained it like this:
• the gh = f as in rouGH
• the o = i as in wOmen
• the ti = sh as in naTIon
Of course, this was a joke. The word "ghoti" is not even a real word. But it showed the inconsistency of English spelling.
It is very important to understand that English spelling and English pronunciation are not always the same.

English is a Crazy Language!

2009-08-20T14:34:00.000-03:00

Let's face it -- English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.

We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese... One blouse, 2 blice?

Doesn't it seem crazy that you can make amends but not one amend, that you comb through annals of history but not a single annal? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? If you wrote a letter, perhaps you bote your tongue?

Sometimes I think all the English speakers should be committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? Park on driveways and drive on parkways?

How can a "slim chance" and a "fat chance" be the same, while a "wise man" and "wise guy" are opposites? How can overlook and oversee be opposites, while "quite a lot" and "quite a few" are alike? How can the weather be "hot as hell" one day and "cold as hell" another?

Have you noticed that we talk about certain things only when they are absent? Have you ever seen a horseful carriage or a strapful gown? Met a sung hero or experienced requited love? Have you ever run into someone who was combobulated, gruntled, ruly or peccable? And where are all those people who are spring chickens or who would actually hurt a fly?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out and in which an alarm clock goes off by going on.

English was invented by people, not computers, and it reflects the creativity of the human race (which, of course, isn't a race at all). That is why, when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible. And why, when I wind up my watch, I start it, but when I wind up this essay, I end it?

Now I know why I flunked my English. It's not my fault, the silly language doesn't quite know whether it's coming or going.

Noam Chomsky talks about Universal Grammar

2009-08-20T14:30:00.002-03:00

Jokes in English - A good way to improve your vocabulary

2009-07-26T16:02:00.000-03:00

Five reasons to believe computers are female
1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic.
2. Even the smallest mistakes are committed to memory.
3. The native language used to communicate with others of their kind
is incomprehensible to anyone else.
4. The message bad command or file name is about as informative as
If you don't know what's wrong, then I'm not going to tell you.
5. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending
half your paycheck on accessories for it.

Jokes in English - A good way to improve your vocabulary

2009-07-26T16:01:00.001-03:00

Flunking School
The local high school has a policy that the parent's must call the
school if the student is to be absent for the day. Kelly changed
to protect the guilty, deciding to sluff (get rid of) and go to the mall with
her friends waited till her parent's had left for work and called
the school herself.

This is the actual conversation of the telephone call.

Kelly: Hi, I’m calling to report that Kelly is unable to make it
to school today because she is ill.

Secretary at high school: Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. I'll note
her absence. Who is this calling?

Kelly: This is my mother.

Jokes in English - A good way to improve your vocabulary

2009-07-26T15:59:00.001-03:00

Nineteen things that took me almost 50 years to learn
=====================================================

By Dave Barry

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative
on the same night.

2. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race
has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word
would be meetings.

3. There is a very fine line between hobby and mental illness.

4. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never
want you to share yours with them.

5. And when God, who created the entire universe with all of its
glories, decides to deliver a message to humanity, He WILL NOT use,
as His messenger, a person on cable TV with a bad hairstyle.

6. You should not confuse your career with your life.

7. No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too
seriously.

8. When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual
who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often,
that individual is crazy.

9. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

10. Never lick a steak knife.

11. Take out the fortune before you eat the cookie.

12. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.

13. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling
reason why we observe daylight savings time.

14. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests
that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging
from her at that moment.

15. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to
make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.

16. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender,
religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside,
we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.

17. The main accomplishment of almost all organized protests is to annoy
people who are not in them.

18. A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice
person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails.)

19. Your friends love you anyway.

Thought for the day: Never be afraid to try something new. Remember
that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built
the Titanic.

Jokes in English - A good way to improve your vocabulary

2009-07-26T15:56:00.000-03:00

Politically Correct
===================

Population registration has started recently in Kosovo.

International officials find it sometimes hard to do and sometimes funny.

While registering people in a village an international woman started to
ask some questions to a local man.

-- Name, she asked.

-- Avdul, he answered.

-- Surname, she asked.

-- Qerimi, he answered.

-- Sex, she asked for gender.

-- Oh, yes, please, he answered.

- hard - difícil
- funny - engraçado
- surname - sobrenome

Where are my keys?

2009-07-03T14:05:00.001-03:00

Reading Comprehension Text

Where are my keys? - Most brains can handle only five to nine short-term memories at once. Newer information - phone call! ice cream! - can bump a previous memory out of storage before it’s committed to long-term recall. Even worse, new memories tend to merge with permanent ones, muddying the recollection of ritual activities. Michael “Professor” Solomon, author of How to Find Lost Objects, says it’s easy to accidentally substitute one routine motion for another. So look for your keys where you normally put your wallet. If that fails, check the car, the sofa cushions, the door lock, and (duh) your pocket. You’re probably staring right at them.

Vocabulary

brain – Cérebro
handle – lidar com
short-term – curto prazo
at once – de uma só vez, ao mesmo tempo
bump – expelir, bater
storage - armazenamento
merge – unir, mesclar
muddying – confundindo, sujar-se na lama
look for – procurar
wallet - carteira

Short-term - curto prazo
Long-term - longo prazo
Committed to - comprometido Example: I’m committed to the project.

God and Adam

2009-05-14T18:46:00.000-03:00

Adam: God I must compliment you on your new creation; women. I mean I couldn't have asked for more. I mean God, why did you make her so gorgeous?
God: So you would love her my son.
Adam: Yeah, but God why did you make her so sexy?
God: So you would love her my son
Adam: But why did you give her SUCH a cute smile?
God: So you would love her my son
Adam: Then god... WHY OH WHY did you make her SOOO stupid?
God: So she would love you my son!

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Tips for Improving American English Skills: American English Idioms Using the Word "Up:" What's Up with That?

2009-05-14T18:43:00.000-03:00

Tips for Improving American English Skills: American English Idioms Using the Word "Up:" What's Up with That?

Idioms

2009-04-07T18:42:00.001-03:00

An idiom is a phrase where the words together have a meaning that is different from the dictionary definitions of the individual words, which can make idioms hard for ESL students and learners to understand.

A lick and a promise
If you give something a lick and a promise, you do it hurriedly, most often incompletely, intending to return to it later.

A watched pot never boils
Some things work out in their own time, so being impatient and constantly checking will just make things seem longer.

Telephone Numbers

2009-04-07T18:32:00.002-03:00

"Deu branco"

2009-01-12T15:14:00.004-03:00

Como se diria "Deu branco enquanto eu estava narrando a história"?
"My mind went blank while I was telling the story."

Como dizer "Deus me livre" em inglês

2009-01-12T15:07:00.001-03:00

in the USA...

God forbid!
Heaven forbid!

In informal contexts, you'll also hear
No frigging way!
No freaking way
No way!!
Just kill me!
Just shoot me!
I'd rather be dead!

Pratice with video lessons

2008-09-27T23:05:00.002-03:00

For a Change = Sair da rotina

2008-09-27T22:59:00.002-03:00

I'm tired of watching soap operas. Can we watch something else for a change? (Estou cansado de assistir novelas. Podemos assistir outra coisa para quebrar a rotina?)

Common Mistakes in English Usage.

2008-09-27T22:46:00.001-03:00

I overheard someone saying, "...and also starring Keanu Reeves." “And also” is redundant; say just “and” or “also.”
I think the best way to rephrase it is, "also starring Keanu Reeves."

School tests harm science education

2008-09-27T22:25:00.000-03:00

Making schoolchildren take tests is harming students’ interest in science, as well as having a negative impact on kids’ natural curiosity. This is the conclusion of a British university report into science teaching and testing in primary schools. Researchers from Durham University warned that too many schools were teaching science just so students could pass tests. There is a lot of pressure for students to get to better schools. The experts said there was very little real science teaching going on that encouraged students to find out things for themselves. Learning by doing, experimenting and seeing should be at the heart of all physics, chemistry and biology lessons. The Durham University team found the opposite; that there was little hands-on, practical work taking place in Britain’s schools.

GO COMMANDO!

2008-09-08T18:23:00.001-03:00

GO COMMANDO
On the second episode of the third season of FRIENDS(The One Where No One’s Ready), Chandler hides Joey’s underwear. So, Joey decides to wear ALL of Chandler’s clothes instead. And to bother him, he explains he is “going commando”. To go commando is a humorous American slang for “wear no underpants”. According to Wikipedia, , this phenomenon is also referred to as “going Indian”, “freeballing” (in the case of men not wearing underwear), and “freebuffing” (in the case of women).

Portuguese is fascinating!

2008-09-08T18:17:00.002-03:00

Às vezes ficamos tão atentos a outras culturas e idiomas que esquecemos que o nosso país e o nosso idioma, também tem o seu valor. Na última semana um dos membros do grupo de estudos no Yahoo enviou uma lista com as dez principais razões para um estrangeiro aprender Português. Muito interessante!

1. Brazil is an alluring, exotic country with a rich past and amazing people;
2. North and South America will become an economic block in this century;
3. Music: understanding the poetry of Portuguese lyrics;
4. Travel. Most people don’t speak English in Brazil;
5. Brazil is the country of the future;
6. Because it’s what cool people (like you!) do;
7. The sound: Portuguese pronunciation is incredibly beautiful;
8. To impress your friends;
9. To meet new people;
10. Portugal isn’t half bad either.

Everything I Do, I do For You.

2008-09-02T18:45:00.000-03:00

(Everything I Do) I Do It For You

SLANG

2008-08-23T08:17:00.001-03:00

A palavra Slang: O seu significado é gíria e vem da junção de duas outras palavras: Secret e LANGuage. Secret Language vem do fato de que as gírias (Slang) foram inicialmente utilizadas pelos comerciantes de Londres para conversar sem que fossem entendidos e atualmente (currently, não actually) fazem parte de conversas informais ao redor do mundo (around the world).

The Origin of "OK"

2008-08-23T08:13:00.000-03:00

O termo OK, surgiu no século XVIII, na campanha para a reeleição do Presidente Martin Van Buren (1782-1862) nos Estados Unidos.

O apelido (nickname) dele era Old Kinderhook (ele nasceu em Kinderhook, Estado de Nova York) e, em 1840, as iniciais OK se popularizaram como lenha na sua campanha para indicar que, com Old Kinderhook como presidente tudo estaria ótimo. De forma humorística, também se dizia que OK era sigla para “ol korrect” - all correct -, ou seja, “tudo correto”.

A forma escrita é OK, ou okay e, informalmente, fala-se também okey-dokey ou okey-doke. A palavra OK pode ser usada também como verbo regular, significando “aprovar”, “endossar”. Por exemplo: He OK’d everything ou He okayed everything. “Ele aprovou tudo.”

Há também a expressão A-OK, significando “excelente”, que vem da era espacial. Foi usada pela primeira vez na década de 60 pela NASA, nos Estados Unidos, para indicar que todos os sistemas estavam em perfeitas condições.

All systems OK
(abreviada para A-OK).

NOON

2008-08-23T08:10:00.000-03:00

Hello, everybody! Começamos hoje uma série de artigos sobre a etimologia (origem) de várias palavras da língua inglesa. A palavra NOON (meio-dia) tem sua origem na Roma antiga. Naquele tempo não existia relógio, que seria inventado entre os séculos XII e XIII e obviamente havia a necessidade de referência ao tempo. No grego e no latim havia a palavra “hora” e eles a mediam pelo nascer do sol que era contado como a primeira hora.

O número “nove” era muito significativo naquela época pois eram nove as musas, havia a novena do catolicismo, as nonas da Roma Antiga, etc. Por causa disso, na Idade Média, a “nona hora” era considerada a hora da contrição (arrependimento sincero dos pecados cometidos), conhecida como “nona” ou “nonus”. Curiosamente, a nona hora (contada a partir do nascimento do sol às 6 da manhã) era às 15 horas.

Quando os ingleses passaram a celebrar a hora da contrição, “nonus” foi virando “noon”, da mesma forma que em português temos a palavra “nono”.

Então, a Igreja Católica se deu conta que às 3 da tarde não era a hora adequada para contrição pois os camponeses estavam no meio do trabalho. A hora ideal seria, então, após o almoço, depois de ter almoçado e antes de voltar para o trabalho.

Como os camponeses almoçavam muito cedo, a hora depois do almoço era o meio-dia. Por causa dessa decisão, “noon” deixou de significar a “nona hora” e passou a querer dizer meio-dia.

Adir Ferreira

Olympics 2008 - Forever Friends

2008-08-18T14:43:00.000-03:00

Forever Friends (English Version)
Artist: Sun Nan & Coco Lee ( 孫楠/李玟)
(Olympic 2008 Song)

You’ve tasted bitter defeat and the sweet success
You want it all and you settle for nothing less
You’ve tried harder than the rest
You’ve become one of the best
This is the time you’ll remember for all your life

* Forever friends
In harmony
As the whole world joins and sees
Days of unity and peace
Forever through the years
We’ll hear the cheers
Joy and laughter everywhere
We’re together here to share
Forever friends /

You’ll meet all races, see faces you’ve never seen
People from parts of the world where you’ve never been
And you’ll feel it in your heart
We spent too much time apart
This is the time when all dreams of man come alive

(Repeat *)

No matter where we are or go
No matter what we hope for or know
No matter how we word our prayer
There is one dream we share

Forever friends
In harmony
As the whole world joins and sees
Days of unity and peace
Forever through the years
We’ll hear the cheers
Joy and laughter everywhere
We’re together here to share
One world One Dream
Forever friends
In Harmony
Forever Friends

Forever Friends - Olympics 2008

2008-08-18T14:36:00.000-03:00

Forever Friends - Olympics 2008

Learn English from Old Songs!

2008-08-18T14:34:00.001-03:00

Something Stupid - Frank Sinatra - beginners

Oh my God!

2008-08-17T16:38:00.001-03:00

O assunto é o uso de exclamações de surpresa com sentido religioso. Em português usamos “Nossa!”, “Senhor!”, “Jesus!”, “Meu Deus!” entre outras, não é? Em inglês não é diferente, porém o puritanismo exerceu forte influência nos hábitos e costumes – entre eles a fala e, por conseqüência, a escrita – dos povos de língua inglesa.

Esse puritanismo excessivo tomava rigorosamente ao pé da letra as injunções e proibições da Bíblia, entre as quais se destaca o segundo mandamento que proíbe “tomar em vão” o santo nome de Deus. A obediência escrupulosa a esse mandamento deu origem a expressões onde a palavra God é substituída por outra que também começa com G. Let’s check it out!

Gosh! = God!

Goodness gracious! = Good God!

My goodness! = My God!

Goodness knows ... = God knows …

For goodness´ sake! = For God´s sake!

Good grief! = Good God!

By golly! = By God!

Ye gads! = You gods! (Oh gods!)

Também com a palavra Jesus.

Gee! = Jesus!

Geez / Jeez! = Jesus!

Também existe a expressão “God damn it“, que é bem forte e não é ouvidas em programas de televisão aberta, é traduzia como “maldição”, “maldito”.

God damn it! You ruined my car!

Take this god-damned thing out of my face!

Não use as expressões acima em conversa formal.

Good sayings!

2008-08-16T08:30:00.003-03:00

Whatever it is you are feeling is a perfect reflection of what is in the process of becoming.
Não importa o que você esteja sentindo. Isso será um reflexo perfeito do que virá a se tornar.

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. - Buddha
Tudo o que somos é resultado do que pensamos.

When you visualize then you materialize.
Quando você visualiza você materializa.

Imagination is everything it is the preview of life's coming attractions.
Imaginação é tudo.É a prévia das atrações futuras. - Albert Einstein

Whatever the mind of man can conceive it can achieve.
Tudo o que a mente do homem pode conceber ela pode alcançar.

You are the only one who creates your reality
Você é o único que cria a sua realidade.

The one below really rules!!!

If you think you can…or if you think you can’t…you’re right!
Se você acha que pode… ou se você acha que não pode… você está certo!

How do I use "half"? Como devo usar a palavra "half"

2008-08-16T08:09:00.005-03:00

Basicamente ela significa "metade". Mas leia os exemplos abaixo e compare.
Eu só tenho metade do dinheiro que necessito - I have only half of the money I need.
Ele cortou a maçã ao meio. - He cut the apple in half.
Ela cortou seus gastos pela metade - She cut her expenses by half.
Ele saiu no primeiro tempo do jogo. He left in the first half of the game.
A metade dos meus amigos sabe disso. Half my friends know about that.
Eu meio que sabia disto - I half knew that.
Corte os tomates ao meio. Cut the tomatoes in halves.
Estamos no meio do caminho para sua casa. We are half away from your house.

Good luck and take care!

Nothing to do with - Não tem nada a ver!

2008-08-16T08:04:00.001-03:00

1. This has nothing to do with my decision [Isto não tem nada a ver com minha decisão]
2. I have nothing to do with your problems. [Eu não tenho nada a ver com seus problemas]
3. Bush admits that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11. [Bush admite que o Iraque não teve nada a ver com o atentado de 11 de setembro]

Aí está como se diz "não tem nada a ver" em inglês.

Como se diz "Quem muito fala pouco sabe"?

2008-08-14T18:12:00.002-03:00

Empty vessel make the most sound (noise).

To put up with or stand up? How can I use them?

2008-08-14T18:06:00.002-03:00

Usamos o verbo “to put up with” na forma afirmativa e “to stand” na negativa e interrogativa para expressar a idéia de agüentar, suportar e tolerar em inglês. Vamos ver alguns exemplos de uso:

1. We had to put up with that noise until late. (Tivemos que agüentar aquele barulho até tarde.)
2. It’s really hard for you to put up with that. (É muito difícil pra você suportar isso.)
3. James will have to put up with the pressure. (James vai ter que agüentar a pressão.)
4. I can’t stand cold weather. (Eu não suporto o clima frio.)
5. He couldn’t stand the pain. (Ele não suportou a dor.)
6. How can you stand this kind of thing? (Como você tolera este tipo de coisa?)

See you around.

English in Films: "The Ultimate Gift"

2008-08-09T14:53:00.000-03:00

Hi guys! Today I’m going to talk about a very nice movie: “The Ultimate Gift”. This is a film based on author Jim Stovall’s bestselling novel. The story is about a boy named Jason whose grandfather just died. When he goes to claim his inheritance (which he thought was a part of his grandfather’s multi-billion dollar company), things don’t happen they way he expected. Jason must complete 12 separate assignments within a year, to receive 12 “gifts” leading to an “ultimate gift”. The gifts of money, friends and learning are among the dozen that Jason must learn before he is eligible for the mysterious “Ultimate Gift” his grandfather’s will has for him.

You really have to watch this movie! It will make you appreciate all the beautiful gifts you already have and will make you wish to have the ones you don’t! For more info about this movie, please check: www.theultimategift.com

Okay, now, two phrases caught my attention.

BRACE YOURSELF!

To “Brace (someone or oneself)” is a way to say “prepare for something difficult or unpleasant”. In other words, if you hear “Brace yourself!” it means“Prepare yourself! (something bad is coming).” Could be used as a threat.

UPSET THE APPLECART

This other expression was mentioned by Jason’s mother. She said, “I’m not going to upset the whole apple cart just because you’re facing a few challenges. I’m sorry.” To “upset the applecart” means to spoil a plan or disturb the status quo[1]. The “applecart” is a plan, system, situation, or undertaking that may be disrupted or terminated (used mainly with this expression).

See you!

Learn 400 Words in a Minute!

2008-08-09T14:42:00.000-03:00

O texto abaixo foi extraído de um email que circula na Internet e tem algumas informações interessantes. Confira! Como aprender a escrever 400 palavras em Inglês em apenas um minuto. Se você pensa que estou brincando, experimente ler toda esta matéria e depois me conte. Comece logo a estudar Inglês que, diferentemente do que você pensa, é extremamente fácil de aprender. Bastando apenas a seguir regrinhas elementares.

Mas, antes de tudo, quero explicar que as Regras abaixo apresentam uma ou mais exceção, o que demonstra duas coisas: primeiro que tais exceções só servem precisamente para confirmar as Regras e, segundo que é bem preferível, errar numa ou noutra ocasião e aprender 400 palavras em inglês num minuto, do que ficar preocupado com a rara exceção… e não aprender nada.

Regra 1

Para todas as palavras em português que terminem em DADE (como a palavra cidade) retire o DADE e coloque em seu lugar TY e assim CIDADE passou a ser CITY. Vejamos agora um pouco das cento e tantas palavras que você já aprendeu nestes primeiros vinte segundos de leitura deste artigo:

CIDADE = CITY
VELOCIDADE = VELOCITY
SIMPLICIDADE = SIMPLICITY
NATURALIDADE = NATURALITY
CAPACIDADE = CAPACITY

Regra 2

Para todas as palavras em português que terminem em “ÇÃO” (como a palavra NA-ÇÃO) tire fora o “ÇÃO” e coloque em seu lugar “TION” e assim a palavra NAÇÃO passou a ser NATION (as respectivas pronúncias não importam no momento, e além disso você estaria sendo muito malcriado querendo exigir demais numa aula de graça!). Vejamos agora algumas das centenas de palavras em que a imensa maioria delas se aplica a essa Regra:

SIMPLIFICAÇÃO = SIMPLIFICATION
NAÇÃO = NATION
OBSERVAÇÃO = OBSERVATION
NATURALIZAÇÃO = NATURALIZATION
SENSAÇÃO = SENSATION

Regra 3

Para os advérbios terminados em “MENTE” (como a palavra NATURALMENTE), tire o “MENTE” e em seu lugar coloque “LLY” (e assim a palavra passou a ser NATURALLY. Quando o radical em português termina em “L”, como na palavra TOTALMENTE, acrescente apenas “LY”). Veja agora abaixo algumas delas:

NATURALMENTE = NATURALLY
GENETICAMENTE = GENETICALLY
ORALMENTE = ORALLY

Regra 4

Para as palavras terminadas em “ÊNCIA” (como no caso de ESSÊNCIA), tire o “ÊNCIA” e em seu lugar coloque “ENCE”. Eis algumas delas abaixo:

ESSÊNCIA = ESSENCE
REVERÊNCIA = REVERENCE
FREQÜÊNCIA = FREQUENCE
ELOQÜÊNCIA = ELOQUENCE

Regra 5

E para terminar esse artigo, ficando ainda com mais água na boca, aprenda a última e a mais fácil delas (há um monte de outras regrinhas interessantes, mas não disponho aqui de espaço para tudo). Para as palavras terminadas em “AL” (como na palavra GENERAL) não mude nada, escreva exatamente como está em português e ela sai a mesma coisa em inglês.

Veja alguns exemplos:
NATURAL = NATURAL
TOTAL = TOTAL
GENERAL = GENERAL
FATAL = FATAL
SENSUAL = SENSUAL

Conforme você acaba de ver, a menos que seja um leitor preguiçoso e lento, não foi preciso gastar mais de um minuto para aprender 400 palavras em inglês. Façam o favor de dar crédito a quem lhes revelou a dica, tá? Mas não espalhem, senão o mundo vai aprender o idioma em 30 dias.

The Verb "To Be" - Beginners

2008-08-09T14:38:00.001-03:00

The verb "to be"

Learn English singing along!

2008-08-09T14:35:00.001-03:00

Uptown Girl

2008-07-30T08:33:00.002-03:00

7 mistakes to be avoided (by inglesja)

2008-07-24T09:00:00.003-03:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAk6j1PC1e0

About Real English Method

2008-07-24T08:39:00.000-03:00

It all started over a decade ago when a group of American and British ESL teachers at the Marzio School in the south of France decided that the traditional materials they were using to teach their students simply weren't doing the job they were designed for. Classroom English is all too often "perfect" with slow short phrases spoken on the audio and video tapes used with students. This is fine until the learners actually meet genuine Americans and other Anglo-Saxons, to discover that nobody, in the real world, speaks "classroom English".

Michael Marzio and his friends started interviewing people on the streets of the USA and other countries during his vacations, came back to his school in France, and edited the video according to grammar structures and functions, in order to make the spontaneous, authentic speech usable by different levels of students, including beginners.

The idea was to take the shock out of hearing real English for the first time. Since our students watch and listen to real people, the shock is built into the method itself, saving learners many hours of frustration during their first weeks and months in new English-speaking environments.

The first results were in the form of video cassettes (now DVDs) & CD-ROMs. We now concentrate on web video and interactivity for students.

2008 will be a year of consolidation, while we make new web lessons. We just finished early 2008 filming in Miami Beach.

The Marzio School teamed up with Future Work Systems to produce the online version of Real English. This partnership is called Real English L.L.C., and is based in New Jersey, USA.

Happy Leap Day!

2008-07-14T22:23:00.000-03:00

Você sabia que em Inglês o dia 29 de fevereiro é chamado de Leap Day? O Leap day, também conhecido como Leap Year Day, é o dia adicionado ao mês de fevereiro nos anos bissextos (leap years).

How do you say "saudade" in English?

2008-07-14T22:20:00.001-03:00

A polêmica que gira em torno da palavra Saudade vem de longa data. Em inglês, o verbete citado anteriormente, pode ser entendido como miss (sentir falta) ou ainda homesick (sentir-se triste por estar longe de casa e da família). Provavelmente existem diversas outras traduções, mas nenhuma delas têm a capacidade de substituir a palavra saudade com a mesma carga semântica. Posto isso, realmente não há um cognato perfeito. A saída, obviamente, é sempre usar o bom senso e buscar uma palavra com sentido aproximado para a situação.

De acordo com uma lista feita a partir da opinião de mais de 1000 tradutores profissionais, a palavra saudade, em português, é a 7ª palavra mais difícil de traduzir. A lista considera palavras de todos os idiomas. Confira abaixo o ranking:

1. “Ilunga” (tshiluba) - uma pessoa que está disposta a perdoar quaisquer maus-tratos pela primeira vez, a tolerar o mesmo pela segunda vez, mas nunca pela terceira vez.

2. “Shlimazl” (ídiche) - uma pessoa cronicamente azarada.

3. “Radioukacz” (polonês) - pessoa que trabalhou como telegrafista para os movimentos de resistência o domínio soviético nos países da antiga Cortina de Ferro.

4. “Naa” (japonês) - palavra usada apenas em uma região do país para enfatizar declarações ou concordar com alguém.

5. “Altahmam” (árabe) - um tipo de tristeza profunda.

6. “Gezellig” (holandês) - aconchegante.

7. Saudade (português)

8. “Selathirupavar” (tâmil, língua falada no sul da Índia) - palavra usada para definir um certo tipo de ausência não-autorizada frente a deveres.

9. “Pochemuchka” (russo) - uma pessoa que faz perguntas demais.

10. “Klloshar” (albanês) - perdedor.

Thank you.

Obama and Johansson exchange emails. Learn with the news.

2008-06-21T22:52:00.004-03:00

Actress Scarlett Johanson said she communicates regularly with presidential candidate Barack Obama by email.
In January, she announced that she is a big Obama supporter.
"I'm not telling people who to vote for, and I don't expect that if I did it would swing votes. At least, I hope not," she told the Politico.com website.

words:

supporter: fan
to swing votes: to change someone's mind, to cause someone to vote for someone else.

Our course provides lessons based on current news. Join us!

One of our lessons...

2008-06-21T22:24:00.000-03:00

New Semester is Coming!

2008-06-12T14:45:00.001-03:00

Estaremos começando novos grupos em agosto. Visite-nos.

Bush me!

2008-05-13T18:40:00.000-03:00

Mini Me

Bird Flu!

2008-05-13T18:37:00.001-03:00

Idioms - Come Over

2008-05-13T18:34:00.000-03:00

come over someone
to change or influence someone's behavior. No one knows what came over Bill, but he stopped smoking.

American Slang - Cereal

2008-05-13T18:31:00.001-03:00

Cereal

Definition: serious
Example: I thought that he was joking, but I soon figured out that he was cereal.

Visit these sites!

2008-04-25T12:45:00.001-03:00

FREE INTERACTIVE AND HANDOUT EXERCISES FOR EFL/ ESL STUDENTS AND TEACHERS:
http://www.handoutsonline.com/
http://www.usingenglish.com/handouts/
http://perso.wanadoo.es/autoenglish/

American Slang

2008-04-25T12:42:00.000-03:00

Plowed
Origin: American Slang (St. Louis)
Definition: extremely drunk
Example: He got so plowed that he fell asleep in the doghouse.

English Slang

2008-04-25T12:40:00.000-03:00

Shambolic
Origin: English Slang
Definition: chaotic, disorderly, in a shambles
Example: Jane’s party was utterly shambolic. She hadn’t gotten the drinks or food when everyone arrived.

American Slang

2008-04-25T12:37:00.000-03:00

it didn’t get

Origin: American Slang (Pennsylvania Dutch)
Definition: to not turn out right
Example: I baked a pie, but it didn’t get.

What's the weather like?

2008-04-23T15:21:00.000-03:00

What's the weather like?

Friday Fun Blog: Extra Man!

2008-03-25T18:13:00.000-03:00

Friday Fun Blog: Extra Man!

Do you know the meaning of...?

2008-03-25T18:10:00.000-03:00

Ignoranus: A person who is both stupid and an asshole.

Amazing Reading Text!!!

2008-03-25T18:08:00.000-03:00

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Amzanig huh?

Friday Fun Blog: Download the Internet here

2008-03-25T18:06:00.000-03:00

Friday Fun Blog: Download the Internet here

Learn English in Canada!

2008-03-09T00:38:00.002-03:00

A New Country is Born!

2008-02-23T21:34:00.000-03:00

A new country was born on February 17th as Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia. The streets of Pristina, Kosovo’s capital city, were full of fireworks and people partying, as Kosovans celebrated their status as the world’s newest nation. However, the scene in Belgrade, the Serbian capital, was very different. Serbia’s government called the declaration illegal and said it would never, ever recognize it. Serbians believe Kosovo is a sacred part of the Serbian homeland. Russia and China condemned Kosovo for declaring itself independent and said the move could spark a new conflict in the Balkans. Moscow now fears that Chechnya and other regions, those Vladimir Putin calls “frozen conflicts,” will try and push for independence from Russia. Putin called, unsuccessfully, for a special meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

Republic of Kosovo prime minister Hashim Thaci said his new country would be a "democratic, multi-ethnic state." He said all of its citizens would enjoy the same rights – both the ethnic Albanians which form 90% of the population and the 10% Serb minority. Thaci told his parliament: "We never lost faith in the dream that one day we would stand among the free nations of the world, and today we do…Dreams are infinite, our challenges loom large, but nothing can deter us from moving forward to the greatness that history has reserved for us." In a warning to Serbia, he said: "Kosovo will never be ruled by Belgrade again.” The USA, Britain, France, Germany and Italy supported Kosovo’s move and will help the young country develop in its early years. The European Union, however, is split over whether or not to recognize Kosovo’s independence.

Idioms (Marketing)

2008-02-12T21:39:00.000-03:00

Você sabe como dizer:

Fiz uma boa compra - I got a good deal.
Cheque sem fundos - Bad check/bounced check/rubber check.
Cheque pré-datado - Post-dated check.
Fora de linha - Discontinued.
A prazo/em prestações/no crediário - In installments.
De entrada/de sinal - As a down payment.
Pagar à vista, em dinheiro - Pay cash.
Pagar adiantado - Pay in advance.
No atacado - At wholesale.
No varejo - At retail.
Propaganda é a alma do negócio - It's all marketing/It pays to advertise.

What did you do yesterday?

2008-01-30T07:58:00.001-03:00

What did you do yesterday?

Three Little Birds - Gilberto Gil (Bob Marley)

2008-01-29T15:00:00.000-03:00

Three little birds

Welcome

2008-01-26T15:57:00.000-03:00

Quero dar as boas vindas a todos novos alunos. Logo, publicarei a lista de todos que estão prestigiando o nosso curso.

See you...

Your teacher.

Back to Work

2008-01-26T15:50:00.000-03:00

Hi, friends!

Party is over! Let's get back to the classroom. On January 28th, the advanced level group are starting the new semester. On February 11th, it is time for the new beginners. Welcome to you all.

Your teacher.

Can you?

2007-12-26T09:16:00.000-03:00

O verbo "conhecer"

2007-12-26T09:00:00.000-03:00

Cuidado com o múltiplo sentido do verbo conhecer.

Como é que se diz em inglês: Eu o conheci há muitos anos. - I met him many years ago.
Você conhece as regras do jogo? - Do you know the rules of the game?
Não conheço a Alemanha. - I've never been to Germany.

Congratulations to you all!

2007-12-12T08:51:00.000-03:00

5 students who got the best grades this semester:

1. Lucas Filgueiras
2. Tatiane Araújo Figueiredo
3. Maria da Penha J. Saraiva
4. Matheaus Siebra
5. Helaine Oliveira

Video - Say the alphabet. Practice with the guys.

2007-12-12T08:31:00.000-03:00

Birth dates and other dates.

2007-12-11T17:57:00.000-03:00

Video: What nationality are you?

2007-12-11T17:52:00.000-03:00

Video: Where are you from?

2007-12-11T15:50:00.000-03:00

Video - What's your job? Wait it load and then watch and practice. All answers in the end with subtitles. Espere carregar e assista. Respostas no fim.

2007-12-11T15:27:00.001-03:00

SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING? / ENTÃO VOCÊ PENSA QUE SABE TUDO?

2007-12-06T16:19:00.000-03:00

- Stewardesses is the longest word typed with only the left hand and lollipop with your right. / Stewardesses é a palavra mais longa [da língua inglesa] digitada com a mão esquerda, apenas, e lollipop, com a mão direita.

- No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple. / Nenhuma palavra na língua inglesa rima com month, orange, silver ou purple.

- Dreamt is the only English word that ends en the letters “mt”. / Dreamt é a única palavra inglesa que termina com as letras “mt”.

- Typewriter is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard. (All you typists are going to test this out.) / Typewriter é a palavra mais longa [da língua inglesa] que pode ser composta usando-se apenas letras de uma mesma fileira do teclado. (Todos vocês, datilógrafos, vão testar esta.)

- The sentence: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog uses every letter of the alphabet. (Now, you KNOW you’re going to try this out for accuracy, right?) / A frase: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog usa cada uma das letras do alfabeto [inglês]. (Agora você SABE que vai tentar verificar se isso é verdade, correto?)

- The words racecar, kayak and level are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left (palindromes). (Yep, I knew you were going to “do” this one.) / As palavras racecar, kayak e level são as mesmas lidas da esquerda para a direita ou da direita para a esquerda (palíndromes). (Sim, eu sabia que você ia testar esta.)

- There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: abstemious and facetious. (Yes, admit it, you are going to say a e i o u.) / Existem duas palavras na língua inglesa que têm as cinco vogais em ordem: abstemious and facetious. (Sim, admita, você vai dizer a e i o u.)

- There are only four words in the English language which end in "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous. (You're not doubting this, are you?) /Existem apenas quatro palavras na língua inglesa que terminam em "dous": tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous. (Você não está duvidando disso, está?)

Uma colaboração da amiga






Eneida Gastal-Keith: Louisville, Colorado, United States

Some more tips.

2007-12-06T15:54:00.000-03:00

Um aluno me perguntou o que significava Xerox©. Achei por bem explicar que, primeiro o nome vem de xerografia (Processo de impressão eletrostática). Em seguida, em 1952 a empresa Haloid Co., sediada em Rochester, New York, registrou o nome e em 1965 a palavra foi mencionada como verbo nos principais dicionários da língua inglesa, com muita objeção por parte daquela empresa.

No Brasil, o verbo pegou logo. Xerocar é usado por todos (quando podíamos usar xerografar). Xeroca-se, tira-se Xerox e até bate-se Xerox.

“Vamos Scotchteipar este pacote.” “Não. Vamos seloteipar e enviar pelo correio.”

Já me perguntaram como se diz “cara-de-pau” em inglês. Acho que o termo mais aproximado que o nativo usa é:

- He’s got a nerve. (Ele é um cara-de-pau).

Li em uma publicação que um cidadão britânico, visitando São Paulo, ficou intrigado quando uma ambulância ultrapassou o carro em que ele se encontrava e ele leu, nas portas traseiras do veículo: REMOTIONS. Ele estranhou, pois não achou necessário avisar que a função de uma ambulância é remover pessoas enfermas, é redundante.

Como se não bastasse a redundância, por que não escrever em português, se estamos no Brasil? Só que tem um agravante. A palavra REMOTIONS não existe em inglês. Remoção é REMOVALS e está associada a mudanças de mobílias e não de pessoas.

Thank you and have a nice Sunday and workdays.

Jayro Starkey E.S.L. (English as a Second Language) Teacher/Teacher of English.

Some more tips.

2007-12-06T15:52:00.000-03:00

Amass (juntar, acumular)

He amassed his papers to his memoirs. Será que ele amassou seus papéis para suas memórias? Não, Ele juntou seus escritos para sua biografia.

He amassed a large amount of money. Ele juntou muito dinheiro.

More or less (mais ou menos)

Uma das expressões que o aluno aprende logo que começa a estudar inglês é: “mais ou menos” que, obviamente, é more or less. Parece fácil demais à primeira vista, mas seu emprego correto exige um pouco de atenção devido as diferenças no uso dessa expressão em português e em inglês.

Aqui no Brasil, “mais ou menos” costuma descrever aproximações, emoções, gostos, sentimentos, indefinições. Não por falta de riqueza de vocabulário, mas por economia e vícios de linguagem que acabam sendo incorporados ao nosso dia-a-dia.

Em inglês, more or less é uma locução restrita para demonstrar ordens de grandeza. Aí, seu uso é idêntico nos dois idiomas. Observe:

. Há mais ou menos 115 mil pessoas morando no Crato.

There are more or less 115 thousand people living in Crato.

. Morreram mais ou menos 15 pessoas no desastre ontem á noite.

More or less 15 people were killed in the disaster last night.

. O preço do ingresso para o show custa mais ou menos R$ 40,00.

The price of the tickets for the show is more or less R$ 40,00.

Agora, veja algumas situações em que a expressão more or less não seria empregada.

P: Como vai você? Q: How are you?

R: Mais ou menos. A: So, so/Not too bad./Not so bad./ it wasn’t much.

P: Como foi a festa no sábado? Q: How was the party last Saturday?

R: Mais ou menos. A: So, so./ It wasn’t much./Middling.

P: Você se lembra do João? Q: Do you remember João?

R: Mais ou menos. A: Yes I do. Vaguely./Vaguely.

P: Está com fome? Q: Are you hungry?

R: Mais ou menos. R: Yes, a bit./ Yes, a little./So so.

P: Você tem dinheiro? Q: Do you have any money?

R: Mais ou menos. A: Yes, I have some, but not much./Yes, a little.

P: O trabalho está pronto? Q: Is the work ready?

R: Mais ou menos. A: Yes, nearly./Almost./Not quite.

P: Você está ocupado? Q: Are you busy?

R: mais ou menos. Q: A little./Not too busy./So so./ Yes, a bit.

Common Mistakes in English - Whether / If

2007-12-05T15:57:00.000-03:00

Whether / If

Both whether and if are used to introduce a yes/no question:

Examples:

He asked me whether I felt well.
We're not sure if they have decided.

The verb discuss generally takes whether rather than if.

Examples:

We discussed whether he should be hired.
They discussed whether to invest in the new idea.

After Prepositions

Use only whether after prepositions:

Examples:

We talked about whether we should go or not.
I looked into whether he should stay.

Infinitives

Use only whether before infinitives:

Examples:

She can't decide whether to buy the house or wait.
He considered whether to give up the position or quit next year.

Formal / Informal

Generally, whether is considered more formal than if.

Examples:

Let me know whether you will be able to attend the conference.
The CEO will decide whether this is a risk worth taking.

Noun Prepositions

2007-12-03T22:08:00.000-03:00

FOR

Use 'for' preceded by the following nouns:

a check for (amount of money)
Example: She gave me a check for $50.
a demand for something
Example: Unfortunately, there wasn't enough demand for our product.
a need for something
Example: There is a real need for discipline in this class.
a reason for something
Example: I have a reason for doing that!

IN

Use 'in' preceded by the following nouns:
a rise in something
Example: There has been a rise in prices recently.
an increase in something
Example: We have seen many increases in production levels.
a fall in something
Example: There has been a fall in prices recently.
a decrease in something
Example: We have seen many decreases in production levels.

OF

Use 'of' preceded by the following nouns:
a cause of something
Example: She is the cause of all his problems.
a photograph OR a picture of something or someone
Example: He took a photograph of the mountains.

TO

Use 'to' preceded by the following nouns:
damage to something
Example: I did a lot of damage to my car the other day.
an invitation to a celebration of some type
Example: We were invited to their wedding.
reaction to something
Example: Her reaction to his behavior was quite funny.
a solution to a problem
Example: He provided the solution to our financial situation.
an attitude to something (or TOWARDS something)
Example: Your attitude to your problems doesn't help them get resolved.

WITH

Use 'with' preceded by the following nouns:
a relationship with someone or something
Example: My relationship with Mary is wonderful.
a connection with someone or something
Example: His connections with the CIA are very limited.
a contact with someone or something
Example: Have you had any contact with Sarah?

BETWEEN

Use 'between' preceded by the following nouns:
a connection between TWO things
Example: There is no connection between the two crimes.
a relationship between TWO things
Example: The relationship between the two friends was very strong.
a contact between TWO things
Example: There is little contact between the two parents.
a difference between TWO things
Example: There is no difference between those two colors.

Why "Outdoor" for God's sake?

2007-12-03T21:54:00.000-03:00

Algum publicitário brasileiro criou este termo para aqueles anúncios enormes. Outros criaram autodoor (para cartazes em táxis), busdoor (para cartazes em ônibus) e metrodoor (para cartazes no metrô). Em inglês, esses cartazes são chamados de billboard (nos Estados Unidos) e hoardings (na Inglaterra). A palavra outdoor tem outros significados que serão explicados posteriormente.

Bread

2007-12-03T21:47:00.000-03:00

Que confusão quando no exterior alguém pede um bread. Os nativos do idioma inglês raramente usam a palavra bread, porque ela é bastante genérica. Existe bread em várias formas.

Tomemos como exemplo o “carioquinha”. Em inglês, ele seria chamado de um roll (porque a massa de pão é enrolada antes de ser assada). Um pão de fôrma é um loaf e uma fatia de pão é slice. Um pão de fôrma fatiado, portanto é um sliced loaf. Um pão de hambúrguer (em inglês hamburger), é um bun.

Cuidado! Pãozinho francês não é “French bread” nem carioquinha é “little Carioca”.

Bread and butter e não bread with butter. E o café com leite (coffee and milk, nunca coffee with milk)

COMPLAINTS (Reclamações)

2007-11-25T19:50:00.000-03:00

COMPLAINTS (Reclamações)

Não fique surpreso se ouvir que os passageiros brasileiros são os únicos que reclamam dos serviços aéreos prestados no Aeroporto Internacional de Guarulhos (SP), pois os estrangeiros não saberão aonde se dirigir para registrar suas queixas. Um amigo britânico chegou a essa conclusão porque um dia ele estava passando por lá quando avistou no saguão principal, uma placa com a seguinte mensagem:

RECLAMATIONS

“Tem algo errado neste aviso”, pensou. Mas não conseguiu identificar prontamente o que o incomodava. Sendo fluente em português, ele levou alguns segundos para perceber que se tratava de português escrito em inglês! Ele presumiu que a administração do Aeroporto, com as melhores intenções do mundo, queria mostrar ao público estrangeiro qual funcionário podia ouvir as suas reclamações.

Engraçado é que ele não viu nas proximidades outra placa com a palavra “reclamações”, para o público brasileiro! Então deduziu que aquilo poderia ser uma economia de avisos. Você também não acha que a palavra reclamations pode ser compreendida tanto por brasileiros quanto pelos viajantes de outras partes do mundo?
Então, vejamos: um nativo de inglês, que não saiba falar português, deve estranhar o fato de haver reclamations dentro de um aeroporto. Esse termo em inglês é restrito ao processo de retomada de posse de terras para fins de cultivo, etc. Você pode reclaim land da selva, do deserto ou do mar (os holandeses desenvolvem essa prática quando constroem seus diques) São land reclamations.

Errinhos bobos que complicam tudo!

(P) Português (I) Inglês equivocado (E) English
(P) Renovarei minha assinatura da SKY.
(I) I Will renew my signature for SKY. (Renovarei a rubrica para a SKY).
(E) I will subscribe SKY once again.

(P) A assinatura da VEJA não é cara.
(I) The signature for VEJA is not expensive. (A rubrica da VEJA não é muito cara).
(E) VEJA magazine subscription is not expensive.

(P) O medico me deu uma receita.
(I) The doctor gave me a receipt. (O medico me deu um recibo).
(E) The doctor prescribed antibiotics for my infection.

(P) Traga um recibo da loja.
(I) Get a recipe from the shop. (Traga uma receita (talvez de bolo, pastéis, etc. da loja)
(E) Get a receipt from the shop.

(P) Estou assinando uma nova linha telefônica.
(I) I am signing a new phone line. (Estou rubricando uma nova linha telefônica).
(E) I will subscribe to a new phone line.

Escrito originalmente para o BLOG do CRATO

TAKE MY BOOK (LEVAR MEU LIVRO)

2007-11-23T15:01:00.000-03:00

Um aluno na sala e disse, "I will take my book". Percebi que ele havia deixado o livro no carro. Então, perguntei: "Take it where?".

O sentido do verbo to take, nessa situação, é levar e não pegar. Sua frase ficou traduzida assim "Levarei meu livro", quando realmente deveria dizer "Buscarei o meu livro".

A frase, dita corretamente, seria:

- I will get my book; ou
- I will fetch my book.

Lembre!

bring Você usa para trazer de volta algo ou alguém de um lugar.
take - Você usa para levar algo ou alguém de um lugar onde você já está para outro.
fetch - Você usa quando vai a um determinado lugar com a intenção de trazer a pessoa ou objeto de volta.

Three classes for our examination!!!

2007-11-22T13:57:00.000-03:00

Atenção alunos! Faltam apenas 3 aulas para começarmos nossas provas. É hora de revisar todo o material visto no semestre.
Escutem o CD.

Obrigado

What does E.S.L. mean?

2007-11-21T18:40:00.000-03:00

ESL é uma sigla em inglês que quer dizer English as a Second Language, ou seja, Inglês como a Segunda Língua.

What does ACME mean?

2007-11-20T18:32:00.000-03:00

Um aluno me perguntou o que significava o acrônimo ACME em inglês. Ele via muito esta palavra em desenhos animados. OK. Aqui está a definição.

ACME means: A Company that Makes Everything.
ACME significa: Uma empresa que faz tudo.

Mas ACME tem outros 14 significados.

Já que vemos mais neste sentido, acho que essa definição basta.

Dicas do Inglês Global (Global English Tips) - by Jayro Starkey

2007-11-19T15:00:00.000-03:00

Wer fremde Sprachen nicht kennt, weiß nichts von seiner eigenen.
Aquele que não conhece uma língua estrangeira, não conhece a sua própria.
(Johann Wolfgang v. Goethe, 1821)

Nas comunidades locais o homem continuará falando suas línguas nativas. A comunidade global, entretanto, fonte de informação e de conhecimento, bem como meio de realização profissional do homem moderno, exige um meio de comunicação único. Quem não o falar, estará parcialmente excluído da comunidade global e de seu mercado de trabalho.

Ricardo Schütz – English Made in Brazil

Conditions (Condições) “Eu não tenho condições”.

Devido ao hábito de usarmos muito esta expressão, devemos ter certo cuidado ao transferir para a língua inglesa. Veja esses 5 exemplos.

(P) português (I) inglês equivocado (E) English

(P) Não tenho condições de tirar férias.

(I) I don’t have conditions to take a vacation..

(E) I can’t take a vacation at the moment.

(P) Se tivesse condições, poderia comprar um carro novo.

(I) If I have the conditions, I could buy a new car.

(E) If I could afford it, I would buy a new car.

(P) Eles não têm condições de reformar a casa.

(I) They don’t have conditions to reform the house.

(E) They aren’t able to decorate the house.

(P) Se tiver condições, você será promovido.

(I) If you have the conditions, you’ll be promoted.

(E) If you are capable you may be promoted.

(P) Ele não tinha condições de convencê-los.

(I) He didn’t have the conditions to convince them.

(E) He was unable to convince them.

(P) Sem condições.

(I) Don’t have conditions.

(E) No way!

Já ouvi várias vezes, exatamente assim, de pessoas que já “fizeram” o livro 4, 5, 6

ou nível T 345.9/ 75 etc. Ou seja de pessoas que, inocentemente “aprenderam” com pessoas sem vivência com a língua que se propõem a ensinar.

Aprender uma língua estrangeira é tarefa árdua e exige muito mais que o simples contato com um montão de regras.

Este artigo foi feito exclusivamente para o Blog do Crato. (www.blogdocrato.com) 18/09/07

2007-11-19T14:50:00.000-03:00

I couldn't help it!!!

Jim: I am upset. Somebody told my boss I have a part-time job.
Joe: And he doesn't like that?
Jim: No, he doesn't. he thinks that I am too tired to work.
Joe: I am sorry. I have to admit I told him.
Jim: You told him? Why?
Joe: I couldn't help it! He asked me point-blank.

Explanation :

If you can't help the way you feel or behave, you cannot control it or stop it from happening. You can also say that you can't help yourself.