Listening - Billionaire

Hello world!

Today I'll post a song that you probably know... It is sang by Bruno Mars and Travie McCoy and is called Billionaire. The video is here:

Hoje postarei uma música que você provavelmente conhece... É cantada por Bruno Mars e Travie McCoy e se chama Billionaire. O vídeo está aqui:

Billionaire - Travie McCoy and Bruno Mars

(Bruno Mars)
I wanna be a billionaire so fucking bad.
Buy all of the things I never had.
I wanna be on the cover of Forbes magazine.
Smiling next to Oprah and the Queen.

[Chorus]
Oh everytime I close my eyes.
I see my name in shining lights.
Yeah, a different city every night oh
I, I swear the world better prepare
for when i'm a billionaire.

(Travie McCoy)
Yeah I would have a show like Oprah
I would be the host of everyday christmas give Travie a wish list.
I'd probably pull an Angelina and Brad Pitt
and adopt a bunch of babies that ain't never had shit.
Give away a few Mercedes like here lady have this.
And last but not least grant somebody they last wish.
It's been a couple months that i've been single so
you can call me Travie Claus minus the ho ho.
Ahaa get it.
I'd probably visit where Katrina hit
and damn sure do alot more than FEMA did.
Yeah can't forget about me stupid.
Everywhere I go imma have my own theme music.

(Bruno Mars) [Chorus]
Oh everytime I close my eyes
(What you see? What you see? bro) I see my name in shining lights.
(Ahan, ahan and what else?) Oh ye-eah a different city every night oh
I, I swear the world better prepare
for when I'm a billionaire.
Oh oh oh oooh when I'm a billionaire.
Oh oh oh oooh.

(Travie McCoy)
I'll be playing basketball with the president.
Dunking on his delegates.
Then I compliment on his political etiquette.
Toss a couple milli in the air just for the heck of it
But keep the fives, twentys, tens, and bens completely separate
And yeah I'll be in a whole new tax bracket
We in recession but let me take a crack at it
I'll probably take whatevers left and just split it up
So everybody that I love can have a couple bucks
And not a single tummy around me would know what hungry was
Eating good sleeping soundly
I know we all have a similar dream
Go in your pocket pull out your wallet
And put it in the air and sing

(Bruno Mars)
I wanna be a billionaire so fucking bad
Buy all of the things I never had
Uh, I wanna be on the cover of Forbes magazine
Smiling next to Oprah and the Queen
(What up Oprah?) Oh everytime I close my eyes
(what you see? What you see? bro) I see my name in shining lights.
(Ahan, ahan and what else?) Yeah a different city every night oh
I, I swear the world better prepare for when I'm a billionaire.
Oh oh oh oooh when i'm a billionaire.
Oh oh oh oooh.

I wanna be a billionaire so fucking bad.

That's it for today! I hope you like it!

Isso é tudo por hoje! Espero que goste!

See you!

Texts and Questions - Language Classes in America

Hey people!

Today we're starting a new section here. I'll post a text, any kind of text, and I'll give you some questions about it and you'll have to interpret it. It's very good to practice the language.
Today's text says that language classes are popular in America's public schools and was written by Mohamed Elshinnawi:

Language Classes Popular in America's Public Schools

More than 900 young students arrive at Kent Gardens Elementary every morning to take part in a system-wide language training program known as partial immersion. Its aim is to help students become fluent in a foreign language of their choice. In this particular school, French is the language being offered.

"Half of the day is spent with a French immersion teacher, where they learn math and science in French and the other part of the day is spent with the English teacher where they are taught social studies and language arts in English," says Annie Dwyer, a 5th grade French teacher.

Students not only receive instruction in the French language but are also exposed to the cultures of French-speaking countries. They interact with teacher-interns from France. Some students host the French interns in their homes, establishing personal cultural links.

Students at Kent Gardens Elementary come from many different cultural backgrounds, and they give many different reasons for wanting to be fluent in a foreign language.

"I am actually Muslim," says Rosa Ahmat, "so my parents want me to learn about other cultures and people from other places."

Anwar Mendes says he expects to travel a lot in the future. "So I will have a pretty good chance of meeting a person that speaks French."

"It will be very hard to get a good job if you do not know the other languages," says Neha Rana.

Many educators support that belief. They say immersing young students in foreign language study for at least half of their school day gives them the mult-lingual skills they'll need to succeed in an increasingly global economy.

There are other benefits as well. "It expands the mind of the child and also gives them a greater cultural awareness of other cultures and makes them more tolerant of others' differences," says 6th grade French teacher Christine Bedoret.

Some critics of immersion programs believe that spending half the school day learning in a foreign language could negatively impact students' fluency in English. Richard Gordon, a 6-grade English and social studies teacher, disagrees. "One thing I noticed when I teach my students coming from the foreign language program is that they are very oral, they are very vocal, and they can express themselves very well in my English classes."

But French teachers like Francoise Brottet admits there are challenges involved in the immersion program. "Since they do not understand everything (we say), we have to find creative and different ways to teach them."

Young students have their own challenges. "It can be a bit confusing at times, because you learn the terms in French and sometimes some tests and homework you get are written in English," says 6th grader Kimia Zadegan.

Over the past decade, hundreds of American public schools have begun offering partial immersion programs to teach students Latin, Spanish, German, Japanese and many other languages.

Dr. Robyn Hooker, Kent Gardens' Principal, says that many of the students at the school are already multi-lingual, as well as multi-cultural, when they enroll. "Many of the children in our school, because it is an international school, come to us speaking perhaps two or three and in some instances four languages, so it becomes a part of our responsibility to prepare children for global society — and that always includes the languages."

Hooker believes the training students are receiving at Kent Gardens — and in similar language immersion schools across the country — will help them to communicate more effectively not just in their own American polyglot, but in the 21st century's increasingly global village.

-----

1. (UFV 2008) What kind of program is offered by Kent Graden Elementary to its students?

2. (UFV 2008) Does the text present arguments for or against this type of program? Justify.

3. (UFV 2008) According to Richard Gordon, the students participating in immersion programs

 (a) double the quotient of intelligence by practicing the language.

 (b) improve their English fluency.

 (c) forget their mother language.

 (d) become, in general, shy and quiet.

 (e) greatly improve the writing skills.

4. (UFV 2008) In a studyon the relationship between language and culture, Kramsch explains that trans, inter and multicultural communication is a complex and mental ability, involving a specific aspect of language learning: the ability to learn the language/culture of another without losing your own and thus move between these "worlds"."Multicultural" people can play different social roles, linguistically and culturally appropriate in a situation of contextualized interaction.

Considering Kramsch's tought, choose the alternative that presents a phrase from the text that confirms this explanation:

 (a) "It expands the mind of the child and also gives them a greater cultural awareness of other cultures and makes them more tolerant of other's differences."

 (b)"It can be a bit confusing at times, because you learn the terms in French and sometimes tests and homework you get are written in English."

 (c) "It will be very hard to get a good job if you do not know the other languages."

 (d) "So I will have a pretty good chance of meeting a person that speaks French."

 (e) "Since they do not understand everything we say, we have to find creative and different ways to teach them."

5. (UFV 2008, adapted) The words their (5th line, 2nd paragraph) and they (1st line, 4th paragraph) refer, respectively, to the words:
 (a) "Schools" and "languages"
 (b) "Students" and "schools"
 (c) "Educators" and "students"
 (d) "Students" and "educators"
 (e) "Language" and "educators"




6. (UFV 2008) The passage of the text in the 6th paragraph in Passive Voice "some tests and homework you get are written in English" can be written in the Active Voice as:


 (a) Someone wrote the tests and homework you get in English.
 (b) Someone writes the tests and homework you get in English.
 (c) Someone will write the tests and homework you get in English.
 (d) Someone is writing the tests and homework you get in English.
 (e) Someone writes the tests and homework you got in English.

I hope you like this!

See you!
____________________

Hey people!

Hoje estamos começando uma nova seção aqui. Eu postarei um texto, qualquer tipo de texto, e darei a você algumas perguntas sobre ele e você terá que interpretá-lo. Esse é um bom jeito de praticar o idioma.
O texto de hoje fala que aulas de idioma são populares em escolas públicas da América e foi escrito por Mohamed Elshinnawi:

(Leia o texto acima, destacado em azul)

-----

1. (UFV 2008) Que tipo de programa é oferecido na Kent Graden Elementary para seus estudantes?

2. (UFV 2008) O texto apresenta argumentos contra ou a favor deese tipo de programa? Justifique.

3. (UFV 2008) De acordo com Richard Gordon, os estudantes que participam em programas de imersão

 (a) dobram o quoeficiênte de inteligência ao praticar o idioma.

 (b) melhora sua fluência no Inglês.

 (c) esquecem o idioma materno.

 (d) se tornam, em geral, tímidos e quietos.

 (e) melhoram bastante as habilidades de escrita.

4. (UFV 2008) Em um estudo sobre a relação entre idioma e cultura, Kramsch explica quea comunicação trans, inter ou multicultural é uma habilidade complexa e mental, envolvendo um aspecto específico do aprendizado de um idioma: a habilidade de aprender o idioma/cultura de outro sem perder a sua própria e então transitar entre esses dois "mundos". Pessoas "multiculturais" conseguem desenvolver dois papéis diferentes na sociedade, linguistica e culturalmente adequados em uma situação de interação contextualizada.

Levando em conta o pensamento de Kramsch, escolha a alternativa que apresenta um frase do texto que confirma essa explicação:

 (a) "It expands the mind of the child and also gives them a greater cultural awareness of other cultures and makes them more tolerant of other's differences."

 (b)"It can be a bit confusing at times, because you learn the terms in French and sometimes tests and homework you get are written in English."

 (c) "It will be very hard to get a good job if you do not know the other languages."

 (d) "So I will have a pretty good chance of meeting a person that speaks French."

 (e) "Since they do not understand everything we say, we have to find creative and different ways to teach them."

5. (UFV 2008, adapted) As palavras their (5ª linha, 2º parágrafo) e they (1ª linha, 4º parágrafo) referem-se, respectivamente, às palavras:
 (a) "Schools" e "languages"
 (b) "Students" e "schools"
 (c) "Educators" e "students"
 (d) "Students" e "educators"
 (e) "Language" e "educators"




6. (UFV 2008) O trecho do texto no 6º parágrafo na Voz Passiva "some tests and homework you get are written in English" pode ser escrito na Voz Ativa como:


 (a) Someone wrote the tests and homework you get in English.
 (b) Someone writes the tests and homework you get in English.
 (c) Someone will write the tests and homework you get in English.
 (d) Someone is writing the tests and homework you get in English.
 (e) Someone writes the tests and homework you got in English.

 

Espero que goste!

See you!

Articles - Exercises

Hey guys!

Today I brought you some exercises about Articles. If you didn't read my post about it, click here.

1. Complete the sentence with A or An:
a) That's _____ very beautiful blouse! You should wear it!
b) I saw _____ airplane yesterday!
c) I saw _____ big airplane yesterday!
d) A: How long will it take?
    B: About _____ hour or two.
e) This horse is horny. It's _____ horny horse.

2. Complete with The, A or An:
a) _____ book you told me about was sold...
b) _____ girl was trying to run from his brother, that's what I saw.
c) _____ elephant bothers many people, two elephants bother even more...
d) In _____ future, I hope things get better.
e) In _____ near future I'm going to have a baby!

3. Tell me, is it right or wrong?
a) My mother said the strange word yesterday but I don't remember which one...
b) I'll watch a movie you told me about.
c) A book you were reading seemed to be very interesting!
d) The candy you gave me was dirty!
e) I saw a beautiful girl this morning.


Hey, I'm sorry for that "horny horse". I lack creativity...

I'll be posting the answers for all the exercises.



See you!
____________________


Hey guys!


Hoje eu trouxe a você alguns exercícios sobre Artigos. Se você não leu meu post sobre isso, clique aqui.


1. Complete the sentence with A or An:
a) That's _____ very beautiful blouse! You should wear it!
b) I saw _____ airplane yesterday!
c) I saw _____ big airplane yesterday!
d) A: How long will it take?
    B: About _____ hour or two.
e) This horse is horny. It's _____ horny horse.

2. Complete with The, A or An:
a) _____ book you told me about was sold...
b) _____ girl was trying to run from his brother, that's what I saw.
c) _____ elephant bothers many people, two elephants bother even more...
d) In _____ future, I hope things get better.
e) In _____ near future I'm going to have a baby!

3. Tell me, is it right or wrong?
a) My mother said the strange word yesterday but I don't remember which one...
b) I'll watch a movie you told me about.
c) A book you were reading seemed to be very interesting!
d) The candy you gave me was dirty!
e) I saw a beautiful girl this morning.

Hey, me desculpe por aquele "horny horse". Eu tenho falta de criatividade...

Estarei postando as respostas para todos os exercícios.

See you!

Articles

What's up?

Today... today... I don't know what to say...
Well, today we're going to learn how to use an article. Do you know what an article is? If you don't, an article is basically an adjective, and articles modify nouns. I think you know about all this because we see this in nearly every post here...
There are two kinds of articles:
If I say "I should read the English book because I'm going to take a test." I mean that I should read a specific book, but if I say "I should read a book because I want to gain knowledge." I mean any book.

DEFINITE ARTICLES:
The is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific or particular. The shows that the noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group, for example:

     "The house that was burning was rebuilt." - In this example, we're talking about a specific house, the house that was burning.

     "I was happy to see the woman whose bag was left in the bus station!" - Now, we're talking about a particular woman. Even if we don't know her name, it's still a particular woman because it's the one whose bag was left in the bus station.

     "I saw the computer you were talking about in that store." - Here, we're talking about a specific noun.

Here you have some tips for using The with geographical nouns:

- Names of rivers, oceans and seas: the Nile, the Pacific

- Points on the globe: the Equator, the North Pole

- Geographical areas: the Middle East, the West

- Deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas: the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest, the Iberian Peninsula

INDEFINITE ARTICLES:

A/ An show that the noun that was modified is indefinite. A/ An refer to any member of a group, for example:

     "My sister really wants to have a dog but I have no money!" - In this example, it refers to any dog.

     "Please, call a doctor now!" - Now, we don't want to see a specific doctor, we need any doctor who's available.

     "I saw a computer there, but I ain't sure if it is the one you were talking about..." - Here, there probably were many computers. We are talking about a single, non-specific thing, a computer.

Here you have some tips for using A or An:

- Use A when the next word begins with the SOUND of a consonant: a boy, a girl, a person...

- Use An when the next word begins with the SOUND of a vowel: an airplane, an elephant, an unicycle...

- You should use An with words like "hour" because it sounds like a vowel.

- And you should use A with words like "horse" because it sound like what? Haha, a consonant!

Did you like it? What about some exercises?

Hey! That's it for today...

images: http://englishonthe.net/2009/01/14/golden-rules-for-english-articles/

See you!

___________________

What's up?

Hoje... hoje... eu não sei o que dizer...

Bom, hoje vamos aprender como usar um artigo. Você sabe o que é um artigo? Se você não sabe, um artigo é basicamente um adjetivo, e um artigo modifica o substantivo. Eu acho que você já sabe sobre tudo isso porque nós vemos isso em quase todos os posts aqui...

Existem dois tipos de artigos:

Se eu digo "I should read the English book because I'm going to take a test." quer dizer que eu deveria ler um livro específico. Mas se eu digo "I should read a book because I want to gain knowledge." quer dizer que eu deveria ler qualquer livro.

ARTIGOS DEFINIDOS:
The é usado antes de substantivos singulares e plurais quando o substantivo é específico ou particular.The mostra que o substantivo é definido, que ele refere a um membro particular de um grupo, por exemplo:

     "The house that was burning was rebuilt." - Nesse exemplo, estamos falando de uma casa específica, a casa que estava quimando.

     "I was happy to see the woman whose bag was left in the bus station!" - Agora, estamos falando de uma mulher em particular. Mesmo se não sabemos o nome dela, ainda é uma mulher em particular pois é a mulher cuja bolsa foi deixada na estação de ônibus.

     "I saw the computer you were talking about in that store." - Aqui, falamos sobre um substantivo específico.

Aqui você tem algumas dicas para usar o The com substantivos geográficos:
- Nomes de rios, oceanos e mares: the Nile, the Pacific

- Pontos no globo: the Equator, the North Pole

- Áreas geográficas: the Middle East, the West

- Desertos, florestas, golfos, e penínsulas: the Sahara, the Persian Gulf, the Black Forest, the Iberian Peninsula

ARTIGOS INDEFINIDOS:
A/ An mostra que o substantivo que foi modificado é indefinido. A/ An referem a qualquer membro de um grupo, por exemplo:

     "My sister really wants to have a dog but I have no money!" - Nesse exemplos, se refere a qualquer cachorro.

     "Please, call a doctor now!" - Agora, não queremos ver um médico específico, nós precisamos de um médico que esteja disponível.

     "I saw a computer there, but I ain't sure if it is the one you were talking about..." - Aqui, provavelmente havia muitos computadores. Estamos falando sobre uma coisa não específica, um computador.

Aqui você tem algumas dicas para usar A ou An:

- Use A quando a próxima palavra começa com SOM de uma consoante: a boy, a girl, a person...

- Use An quando a próxima palavra começa com SOM de vogal: an airplane, an elephant, an unicycle...

- Você deve usar An with com palavras como "hour" porque soa como uma  vogal.

- E você deveria usar A com palavras como "horse" porque ela soa como o que? Haha, uma consoante!

Você gostou disso? Que tal alguns exercícios?

Hey! Isso é tudo por hoje...

images: http://englishonthe.net/2009/01/14/golden-rules-for-english-articles/

See you!

Asking for and Giving Directions in English

Hey people!!!

Well, as I said, I can't keep on posting everyday because I'm always away from my computer... But today is holiday, so I have some time to post...
Today we're going to learn how to give and ask for directions in English. First of all, we have to know the places of a city, for example, the market, or the library.
Can you figure out the name of the following places in your language?

We can read books and newspapers at the library.
In the market you can buy things like fruits, vegetables, cleaning products...
If you are not from my city, you can visit the tourist information office for help about where to go...
You can learn things like Math, History and English in the school.
At the hospital there are  sick people who want to be healed and there are doctors who help them.
You can withdraw money in the bank.
And in the zoo, there will be different kinds of animals.
At the park there will probably be toys and children, and their aprents will be there too.
You can watch good movies at the cinema.
In the church, you can worship God, in my case I trust in Jeovah, my God.
The hotel is the place where people pay for a room and sleep there and eat there for some time, usually when they are on vacation.
You can watch soccer, basketball, handball, volleyball, any sport in a stadium.
And finally, in the museum, you can see paintings or sculptures, bones of a dinosaur and things like that.

Here we have the map of NY and its main parts:

Now that you know some places of a city, how can you ask for or give directions?
Here are some phrases and questions that you can say that are very useful:

ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS:
How do I get to...?
What's the best way to...?
Where is …?
Can you tell me the best way of getting to...?


GIVING INFORMATION:
Go straight on (until you come to…).
Turn back./Go back.
Turn left/right (into… street).
Go along …
Go ahead.
Cross …
Take the first/second road on the left/right
It's on the left/right.
straight on
It's next to....
It's between..... 
It'sat the end (of) ....
...on/at the corner.
...behind.
...in front of.
It's (just) around the corner.


LANDMARKS:
Can you see a large sign / roundabout?

On your left there will be a hospital / the police station...
Just after the level crossing / shopping centre (or mall)...
Go past the ...
Traffic lights
Crossroads, junction 
Signpost 


Now read this dialog for a better understanding:
Tourist: Excuse me. is tehre a bank around here?
Police Officer: Yes, there is a city bank on the corner of Central and Maple Avenue. Do you know how to get there? 
T.: yes, I do, thanks! And are there hotels in thsi area?
P.O.: Well, there isn't any hotel around here but there are two hotels next to Saint Peter's theater, there is one across from the park and there is a Youth Hostelnear the museum. You have to take number 7 bus to get there. The bus stop is in front of the Youth Hostel.
T.: Just one more question. Is there a good Brazilian restaurant near the hostels?
P.O.: No, there aren't Brazilian restaurant in the town. But there is a delicious Italian restaurant behind the Youth Hostel and a Mexican restaurant across from Saint Peter's theater.
T.: Ok. Thanks anyway. Bye!

New Fast English, Book I, page 123, Elton da Silva Vargas e Wellington da Silva Rehder

That's all for today! Hope you liked it.

image: http://www.nyctourist.com/map1.htm

See you!
____________________
Hey people!!!


Bom, como eu disse, eu não poso ficar postando todos os dias pois eu sempre estou longe do meu computador... Mas hoje é feriado, então eu tenho algum tempo para postar...
Hoje vamos aprender como dar e pedir direções em Inglês. Primeiro, temos que conhecer os lugares da cidade, por exemplo, o mercado ou a biblioteca.
Você pode descobrir o nome dos seguintes lugares no seu idioma?


We can read books and newspapers at the library.
In the market you can buy things like fruits, vegetables, cleaning products...
If you are not from my city, you can visit the tourist information office for help about where to go...
You can learn things like Math, History and English in the school.
At the hospital there are  sick people who want to be healed and there are doctors who help them.
You can withdraw money in the bank.
And in the zoo, there will be different kinds of animals.
At the park there will probably be toys and children, and their aprents will be there too.
You can watch good movies at the cinema.
In the church, you can worship God, in my case I trust in Jeovah, my God.
The hotel is the place where people pay for a room and sleep there and eat there for some time, usually when they are on vacation.
You can watch soccer, basketball, handball, volleyball, any sport in a stadium.
And finally, in the museum, you can see paintings or sculptures, bones of a dinosaur and things like that.

Aqui temos o mapa de NY e suas partes principais:

Agora que você conhece alguns lugares da cidade, como pedir ou dar informações?
Aqui estão algumas frases e perguntas que você poder fazer e que são muito úteis:


PERGUNTANDO DIREÇÕES:
How do I get to...?
What's the best way to...?
Where is …?
Can you tell me the best way of getting to...?


DANDO INFORMAÇÕES:
Go straight on (until you come to…).
Turn back./Go back.
Turn left/right (into… street).
Go along …
Go ahead.
Cross …
Take the first/second road on the left/right
It's on the left/right.
straight on
It's next to....
It's between..... 
It'sat the end (of) ....
...on/at the corner.
...behind.
...in front of.
It's (just) around the corner.


PONTOS DE REFERÊNCIA:
Can you see a large sign / roundabout?

On your left there will be a hospital / the police station...
Just after the level crossing / shopping centre (or mall)...
Go past the ...
Traffic lights
Crossroads, junction 
Signpost 

Agora leia esse diálogo para uma melhor compreensão:
Tourist: Excuse me. is tehre a bank around here?

Police Officer: Yes, there is a city bank on the corner of Central and Maple Avenue. Do you know how to get there? 
T.: yes, I do, thanks! And are there hotels in thsi area?
P.O.: Well, there isn't any hotel around here but there are two hotels next to Saint Peter's theater, there is one across from the park and there is a Youth Hostelnear the museum. You have to take number 7 bus to get there. The bus stop is in front of the Youth Hostel.
T.: Just one more question. Is there a good Brazilian restaurant near the hostels?
P.O.: No, there aren't Brazilian restaurant in the town. But there is a delicious Italian restaurant behind the Youth Hostel and a Mexican restaurant across from Saint Peter's theater.
T.: Ok. Thanks anyway. Bye!

New Fast English, Book I, page 123, Elton da Silva Vargas e Wellington da Silva Rehder

Isso é tudo por hoje! Espero que tenham gostado!

image: http://www.nyctourist.com/map1.htm

See you!