THAT'S REALLY OLD-FASHIONED!

Hello again!

Many of you young guys mustn't even imagine, but in the past, young people couldn't go out on a date without a third person, usually the girl's sister or friend. Without another person,  parents wouldn't allow her to go out with her boyfriend. This was called "segurar vela". Nowadays it's not a common practice, but some people may go out this way, for different reasons. And in English we call that "to be the third wheel". People usually hated to be in this situation. I myself was the third wheel many times, for my sister, my cousin.... I must say it was not fun at all!

Do you think it's funny? Try to be the third wheel next time your best friend goes out with her boyfriend! You'll know what I'm talking about!

see you!

Carmen

BYE BYE VACATIONS....

Well, dear friends....

For most of us, it's time to go back to work, or to school... Then, let's learn the idiom that explains better what Brazilian people must do to pay all their bills: "work one's finger to the bone". Well, at least it's what I do! In Portuguese we say "matar-se de trabalhar". So, teenagers, before complaining about getting up early to go to school or because your teacher assigned too much homework, remember : your parents work their fingers to the bone to pay for the education you receive!

Have a great year!

Carmen

MORE WHAT PEOPLE SAY

Hey, folks!

You go to a restaurant with two other people. The waiter wants to know how many people will be there, so he can find you the right table. He'll probably ask you: "how many at your party?", which doesn't mean that it's your birthday party or something like that. "Party" in English can also mean "grupo". So, in this situation, your answer must be "There are three of us", which means "estamos em três". Never say "we are in three", that's wrong.

I hope you enjoyed the tip!

Carmen

READING IS FUN!

Hello, friends

Atendendo a pedidos dos meus aluninhos iniciantes, vou escrever em Português hoje... E será para sugerir que leiam livros em inglês... Ah, assustou-se? Existem no mercado diversas editoras que oferecem o que chamamos de "graded readers", ou leituras graduadas. O que é isso? São as leituras recomendadas para cada nível de estudo de inglês em que você se encontre. Iniciante, básico, intermediário, etc. Eles seguem o que é esperado que os alunos possuam de conhecimento gramatical e vocabulário para cada etapa. E para aqueles que se assustam quando o livro tem muitas páginas, podem ficar tranquilos. Eles são textos adaptados, simplificados, e geralmente são pequenos e tem poucas páginas.. Vai aqui o link de uma ótima livraria virtual que oferece ótimos preços e é bem segura de comprar pela internet:

http://www.sbs.com.br/

A propósito, nesta página você encontrará a promoção da Macmillan, uma ótima editora, que está oferecendo graded readers com desconto. Aproveitem a oportunidade and... enjoy your reading!!!!! Se tiverem alguma dúvida sobre qual nível de leitura devem adquirir, é só entrar em contato comigo, ok?

Carmen

MORE THINGS PEOPLE SAY...

Hi, there!

You know those days when everything seems to go wrong, and you're really in a bad mood??? If you're superstitious, you may say you have a bad luck... and in Portuguese you'd say: " levantei com o pé esquerdo". But in English you wouldn't put the blame on your luck... the idiom in this case is "to get up on the wrong side of bed". So, the next time you see a friend who's really nervous, ask him: " What's the matter with you? Did you get up on the wrong side of bed?"

so, tomorrow, watch out for the side of bed that you get up!

bye bye!

Carmen

THINGS PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY....

Hi, guys

There are some things we say in Portuguese and we wonder what they could be in English. Today let's learn one of them:
When you're in a bar, drinking with friends, and it's time to go home, it's normal to ask for a last drink. In Portuguese, it's called "a saideira". The equivalent in English is " one for the road".
So, the next time you go out with your friends, you can say: " Hey, guys, let's have one for the road!"
bye bye!
Carmen

ONLINE DICTIONARIES. WHICH ONE SHOULD I USE?

Hi, everybody!
you know, there are thousands of online dictionaries... so, wich one should I use???? That's a question many students ask me. Well, it depends on what you're looking for. If it's a simple translation, even the google translator is good. But if you want more advanced information about the word, or if it's an idiom, or a phrasal verb, then you're gonna need something more specific. Here are some useful links:
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/american-english/ - for American English
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/learner-english/ - if you want more information and examples on how to use the words
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/ - a very complete dictionay

So, try these ones and say what you think about them!

Carmen

WELCOME FRIENDS!!!!!

Dear friends
It's something new for me, since I'm not used to the new technologies... But I decided that my students deserve a blog! Here I'll share curiosities, grammar tips, interesting links and everything else I think might help you learn. Of course I'd also like you to participate, with things you've learned, doubts and comments! 
thanks and I hope to read from you soon!!!! 
Carmen