Another Resource for Learning Portuguese

[Bueller]

For anyone studying Portuguese, here's another tip: www.nossalinguaportuguesa.com.br . I've been reading the Inculta e Bela series of books by this professor lately, and they are very good; they are compilations of columns he writes for a major São Paulo newspaper, so they can be absorbed in small bites. Funny, clicking through the above website just now, I see that though the books include columns through y2000, many of the same columns, as well as more recent ones, are archived for free at this site.

 One thing that distances people in the U.S. from Brazilian people and culture is the relative lack of resources for learning Portuguese. If you already understand the basics of Portuguese, Neto's materials are a great next step.

[cancunhound]

... in response to Another Resource for Learning Portuguese, posted by Bueller on Apr 18, 2003

Another thing that distances US from Brazil, for me anyway - is that I would need a visa to visit - at least until I have my Colombian passport.  If your not familiar with Pimsleur - they have a great 3 part tape program that works great for conversational proficiency.

[Bueller]

... in response to Re: Another Resource for Learning Portug..., posted by cancunhound on Apr 18, 2003

Yes, I have the first of the Pimsleur series, and recommend it highly for getting started.
 The visa isn't such a big deal, though the price recently went from US$60 to $100. It's valid for up to six months a year for five years, unless they changed that too.

[Brazilophile]

... in response to Re: Re: Another Resource for Learning Po..., posted by Bueller on Apr 18, 2003

Some of your visa information is incorrect.  The Brazilian tourist visa is valid for 90 days from the date of entry into Brazil.  You can stay an additional 90 days if you want, but in that case you must go to an immigration office and have a second visa stamped in your passport.  The 6 months comes from the rule that no tourist can be in Brazil for more than 180 days out of the year.  

The tourist visa that costs $100 is valid for only 90 days.  It does not permit re-entry in subsequent years.  There is/was a 5 year tourist visa available but that was rescinded in 2002 for US passport holders.  It is still available for citizens of some other countries, such as Australia I believe.

[Bueller]

... in response to Brazil Visas, posted by Brazilophile on Apr 19, 2003

Well, they have made it harder then. I got mine in early 2002, entered in March, went to Paraguay at the end of 90 days, then reentered as a tourist and applied for a student visa which goes through this October but is renewable for another year. The classes that make me qualified for the visa cost R$200 a semester.

[Brazilophile]

... in response to Re: Brazil Visas, posted by Bueller on Apr 19, 2003

Yes, the visas are harder to get.  The new rules became effective Nov 1, 2002, the same date that new US rules for Brazilians entering the US came into effect.

Please tell us more about your student visa.  What is the mechanism for applying?  What kind of schools and courses qualify?  I am interested in language schools.

Courses that cost R200 per semester are dirt cheap.  Are they at a federal university?  How did you receive the subsidy?  I thought they were for Brazilians only.

[Bueller]

... in response to Re: Re: Brazil Visas, posted by Brazilophile on Apr 19, 2003

Yes, it's a federal university. You just show up and pay, because the language program for foreigners is not part of the for-credit curriculum.