New textbook for teaching Portuguese language and the cultures of the Portuguese-speaking world **************************************************************

Ponto de Encontro: Portuguese as a World Language! by Anna Klobucka, Climence Joukt-Pastri, Patricia Isabel Sobral, Maria Luci de Biaji Moreira, Amilia P. Hutchinson

This program provides an ample, flexible, communication-oriented framework for use in the beginning and intermediate Portuguese classroom. It takes a highly interactive approach towards presentation and practice of the language and it integrates cultural information and exchange at every stage of instruction. Ponto de Encontro is the first Portuguese language textbook that allows the instructor to choose to teach either Brazilian or European Portuguese, while at the same time offering language learners a rich variety of insights into cultural, social, and political realities of the entire Portuguese-speaking world, composed of more than 200 million speakers in eight countries on four continents.

Instructor Supplements Instructors Resource Manual Video on VHS or DVD Brazilian Testing Program Brazilian Testing Audio European Testing Program European Testing Audio

Student Supplements In-Text Audio Brazilian Student Activities Manual Brazilian Student Activities Manual Audio European Student Activities Manual European Student Activities Manual Audio Answer Key to Brazilian & European Student Activities Manual Student Video DVD

Online Resources Companion website www.prenhall.com/ponto

One tip: watch telenovelas. I hate them as a rule, but with their excessive dialogue and simple plot lines, they're good for improving comprehension skills and adding to vocabulary. You can follow the story even if you don't get everything everybody says. Movies without subtitles are also good.

Another: listen to music while reading the lyrics. Again, good for comprehension and vocabulary – with the added advantage, if you choose good music, of not being insipid like the telenovelas.

For those in the US who like martial arts and dance, try capoeira classes. The fight/dance is performed to music, with lyrics in Portuguese, which everyone in the group sings as they wait their turn.

Television in general – which brings me to my final tip. Without a special cable package, it is difficult to get Brazilian TV in the states. Or was. Now there's Internet TV, something called All TV. I suggest the program Tão Brasil, hosted by my friend Assis Ângelo (http://www.alltv.com.br/main/pt/apresentador.php?apr_ID=147), which focuses on Brazilian roots culture. Wednesday nights, 9 p.m. Brazilian time. I think All TV has also launched its own telenovela. All TV includes an interactive function that allows viewers to talk with program hosts in real time. The All TV homepage: http://alltv.ig.com.br/main/pt/

Other ideas?

Bill Hinchberger

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Posted by JOAO:
bom dia!! meu nome e JOAO. eu sou do MEXICO eu estudou ARTE DE DISENHO GRAFICO na California State Universidade Los Angeles. eu gosta de fazer desenhos, esportes(futebol), e filmes. eu precisou de praticar meu PORTUGUES por fabor, ayuda me

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