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Blog criado por Bruno Coriolano de Almeida Costa, professor de Língua Inglesa desde 2002. Esse espaço surgiu em 2007 com o objetivo de unir alguns estudiosos e professores desse idioma. Abordamos, de forma rápida e simples, vários aspectos da Língua Inglesa e suas culturas. Agradeço a sua visita.

"Se tivesse perguntado ao cliente o que ele queria, ele teria dito: 'Um cavalo mais rápido!"

sexta-feira, 4 de dezembro de 2015

Season's Greetings



Good morning!

I am taking a short break in order to relax. It has been a very long term and I would like to take some free time in order to rest.

Thank you all for your visit. I hope to see you people soon!


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

segunda-feira, 16 de novembro de 2015

DID ENGLISH SPEAKERS REALLY NOT USE CONTRACTIONS IN THE 19TH CENTURY AS DEPICTED IN TRUE GRIT?


Won’t, don’t, wouldn’t, isn’t and even ain’t- where would we be without our contractions? Prevalent in spoken English and increasingly accepted in written pieces, contractions enable brevity and make written works more accessible and friendly.
Contractions in some form of English date back to Old English (450 AD – 1150 AD), a language that bears little resemblance to our English today. Before this period, although the Romans had already invaded, the dominant language on the island was Celtic. In the 5th century, several groups, notably the Angles and the Saxons, began to invade, and they brought their Germanic languages and rune alphabets with them, along with several well-established contractions. These included shortened forms for “is not” (nis, today, “isn’t”), “did not have” (ne haefde), “was not” (ne waes, today “wasn’t”) and “would not” (wolde, today “wouldn’t).
During the Old English period, Christian missionaries introduced Latin as well as the Roman alphabet, so by the time the Normans appeared in the mid-11th century, the language was ready to incorporate a fair bit of French, the language of post-Conquest English nobility. (In fact, King Richard “The Lionheart” barely spoke English, and only spent about six months in the country he was king of for the decade he was king.)
Nonetheless, the common people continued to speak English, although now peppered with thousands of French words and conventions, and eventually, this pidgin developed into Middle English (1150 AD to 1450 AD). Far easier for a modern English speaker to understand, it was during this period that negative contractions (i.e. using “not”) arrived on the scene in the form of ne were (“were not”) and noot (“knows not”). Other contractions from this period include thilke (for “the ilke” meaning “the same”) and sit (a shortened form of sitteth).

domingo, 15 de novembro de 2015

Charlie Chaplin's Controversial Speech - The Great Dictator 1940



Hope... I'm sorry but I don't want to be an Emperor -- that's not my business -- I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible, Jew, gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another, human beings are like that.


We all want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone and the earth is rich and can provide for everyone.

The way of life can be free and beautiful.

But we have lost the way.

Greed has poisoned men's souls -- has barricaded the world with hate; has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed.

We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in: machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little: More than machinery we need humanity; More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.

The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men, cries out for universal brotherhood for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world, millions of despairing men, women and little children, victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people. To those who can hear me I say "Do not despair".

The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed, the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress: the hate of men will pass and dictators die and the power they took from the people, will return to the people and so long as men die [now] liberty will never perish...

Soldiers -- don't give yourselves to brutes, men who despise you and enslave you -- who regiment your lives, tell you what to do, what to think and what to feel, who drill you, diet you, treat you as cattle, as cannon fodder.

Don't give yourselves to these unnatural men, machine men, with machine minds and machine hearts. You are not machines. You are not cattle. You are men. You have the love of humanity in your hearts. You don't hate -- only the unloved hate. Only the unloved and the unnatural. Soldiers -- don't fight for slavery, fight for liberty.


In the seventeenth chapter of Saint Luke it is written " the kingdom of God is within man " -- not one man, nor a group of men -- but in all men -- in you, the people.

You the people have the power, the power to create machines, the power to create happiness. You the people have the power to make life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure. Then in the name of democracy let's use that power -- let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world, a decent world that will give men a chance to work, that will give you the future and old age and security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power, but they lie. They do not fulfil their promise, they never will. Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people. Now let us fight to fulfil that promise. Let us fight to free the world, to do away with national barriers, do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men's happiness.

Soldiers -- in the name of democracy, let us all unite!

Look up! Look up! The clouds are lifting -- the sun is breaking through. We are coming out of the darkness into the light. We are coming into a new world. A kind new world where men will rise above their hate and brutality.

The soul of man has been given wings -- and at last he is beginning to fly. He is flying into the rainbow -- into the light of hope -- into the future, that glorious future that belongs to you, to me and to all of us. Look up. Look up.


PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites are, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
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quinta-feira, 12 de novembro de 2015

20 Things Only ADHD (Highly Creative) People Would Understand


There’s no argument anymore. Neuroscience confirms that highly creative people think and act differently than the average person. Their brains are literally hardwired in a unique way. But that gift can often strain relationships. I’ve seen it firsthand while working with New York Times bestselling authors and Grammy-winning musicians.
If you love a highly creative person, you probably experience moments when it seems like they live in a completely different world than you. Truth is, they do. But trying to change them isn’t nearly as effective as trying to understand them.
It all begins by seeing the world through their lens and remembering these 20 things:
1. They have a mind that never slows down.

The creative mind is a non-stop machine fueled by intense curiosity. There is no pause button and no way to power it down. This can be exhausting at times but it is also the source of some crazy fun activities and conversations.
2. They challenge the status quo.

Two questions drive every creative person more than any others: What if? and Why not? They question what everyone else takes at face value. While uncomfortable for those around them, it’s this ability that enables creatives to redefine what’s possible.
3. They embrace their genius even if others don’t.

Creative individuals would rather be authentic than popular. Staying true to who they are, without compromise, is how they define success even if means being misunderstood or marginalized.
4. They have difficulty staying on task.

Highly creative people are energized by taking big mental leaps and starting new things. Existing projects can turn into boring slogs when the promise of something new and exciting grabs their attention.
5. They create in cycles.

Creativity has a rhythm that flows between periods of high, sometimes manic, activity and slow times that can feel like slumps. Each period is necessary and can’t be skipped just like the natural seasons are interdependent and necessary.
6. They need time to feed their souls.

No one can drive cross-country on a single take of gas. In the same way, creative people need to frequently renew their source of inspiration and drive. Often, this requires solitude for periods of time.
7. They need space to create.

Having the right environment is essential to peak creativity. It may be a studio, a coffee shop, or a quiet corner of the house. Wherever it is, allow them to set the boundaries and respect them.
8. They focus intensely.

Highly creative people tune the entire world out when they’re focused on work. They cannot multi-task effectively and it can take twenty minutes to re-focus after being interrupted, even if the interruption was only twenty seconds.
9. They feel deeply.

Creativity is about human expression and communicating deeply. It’s impossible to give what you don’t have, and you can only take someone as far as you have gone yourself. A writer once told me that an artist must scream at the page if they want a whisper to be heard. In the same way, a creative person must feel deep if they are to communicate deeply.
10. They live on the edge of joy and depression.

Because they feel deeply, highly creative people often can quickly shift from joy to sadness or even depression. Their sensitive heart, while the source of their brilliance, is also the source of their suffering.
11. They think and speak in stories.

Facts will never move the human heart like storytelling can. Highly creative people, especially artists, know this and weave stories into everything they do. It takes longer for them to explain something, explaining isn’t the point. The experience is.
12. They battle Resistance every day.

Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art, writes:
“Most of us have two lives. The life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.”
Highly creative people wake up every morning, fully aware of the need to grow and push themselves. But there is always the fear, Resistance as Pressfield calls it, that they don’t have what it takes. No matter how successful the person, that fear never goes away. They simply learn to deal with it, or not.
13. They take their work personally.

Creative work is a raw expression of the person who created it. Often, they aren’t able to separate themselves from it, so every critique is seen either as a validation or condemnation of their self-worth.
14. They have a hard time believing in themselves.

Even the seemingly self-confident creative person often wonders, Am I good enough? They constantly compare their work with others and fail to see their own brilliance, which may be obvious to everyone else.
15. They are deeply intuitive.

Science still fails to explain the How and Why of creativity. Yet, creative individuals know instinctively how to flow in it time and again. They will tell you that it can’t be understood, only experienced firsthand.
16. They often use procrastination as a tool.

Creatives are notorious procrastinators because many do their best work under pressure. They will subconsciously, and sometimes purposefully, delay their work until the last minute simply to experience the rush of the challenge.
17. They are addicted to creative flow.

Recent discoveries in neuroscience reveal that “the flow state” might be the most addictive experience on earth. The mental and emotional payoff is why highly creative people will suffer through the highs and lows of creativity. It’s the staying power. In a real sense, they are addicted to the thrill of creating.
18. They have difficulty finishing projects.

The initial stage of the creative process is fast moving and charged with excitement. Often, they will abandon projects that are too familiar in order to experience the initial flow that comes at the beginning.
19. They connect dots better than others.

True creativity, Steve Jobs once said, is little more than connecting the dots. It’s seeing patterns before they become obvious to everyone else.
20. They will never grow up.

Creatives long to see through the eyes of a child and never lose a sense of wonder. For them, life is about mystery, adventure, and growing young. Everything else is simply existing, and not true living.


quarta-feira, 4 de novembro de 2015

Dating a Translator? You Better be Aware of These 7 Details




If you think there’s nothing intimidating about translators, you seriously got it all wrong. We’re not even talking about individual characters here. There’s something – many things actually – common to translators that you may want to be aware of. Avoid the “shock” of dating a translator by knowing these idiosyncrasies.

7. They can be ridiculously passionate about languages and translation.

Obviously, translators know languages and they are passionate for them if they know them by heart and if they’ve been doing translations for years. If you don’t want to get yourself in hot water, don’t even think of engaging them in discussions like; which language is better or whether or not it’s really necessary to know different languages. Don’t even dare raise the speculations about computers and AI taking over the language translation industry.

6. They expect you to know the difference between a translator and an interpreter.

As much as possible, avoid mistakenly using the terms translator and interpreter interchangeably. These are two different things in translation. Hint: A translator is to write, while interpreter is to speak. In their defense, though, this is not really a matter of being obsessive compulsive. If you don’t know what they are actually doing, it can be easily interpreted as your lack of interest in them.

5. Sometimes they love exhibiting their superiority.

Don’t dare compare, even implicitly, a translator you are dating with your ex. Translators know their worth as they are usually exposed to various cultures because of the nature of their work. They are usually tolerant but they know they have an edge in their multilingualism alone that they can easily brag whenever they feel like you are making comparisons. This often makes them appear judgmental or critical of other people especially when it comes to their written or verbal use of languages. When going to foreign-themed restaurants, for example, they tend to easily catch errors in menus or signages, and raise an eyebrow over misspellings or mistakes in the words used. If you are not sure how to pronounce certain foreign food names, it’s better to simply point it on the menu to the waiter to avoid the embarrassment or not-so-secret grin from your date.

4. They are strict with grammar.

Annoyed by online “commenters,” forum members, or social media users who are excessively fond of correcting people’s grammar and punctuation use, word choice, or spelling? Prepare to encounter someone similar in the flesh. Translators have been trained to be meticulous and precise to properly convey the idea of the texts they are translating. They are somewhat obsessed with the thought that a little mistake in spelling or punctuation can change the message of what ought to be conveyed.

3. They are always on work mode.

Those who work in the translation field rarely rest their brains. Even when they are simply strolling around or doing some window shopping on their way home, their neural networks continue moving to associate the words and things they see with their equivalent terms in other languages. And they’re not even intentionally doing this! It’s a habit they could hardly undo. This shouldn’t be annoying, though. Just think of it as a learning opportunity.

2. They can use languages to tease, irritate, or curse you.

Familiar with instances when someone wants to say something to you but he or she couldn’t muster enough of the courage to say it. How about situations wherein someone wants to cuss at you or give you a less than pleasant treatment? Translators know how to use the third, fourth, or fifth languages they are fluent with to indirectly do these. Many of them want to express themselves to release the pressure they are feeling but they want to do it in a less confrontational way.

1. They will ask for context…and more context.

Translators know the value of context more than anyone. If you argue with them or if you are trying to reason out to them, be ready to properly present the context. Most likely, this is because they are trained to always look at the context in everything. Likewise, if you are asking them to translate sentences or phrases, don’t expect them to automatically generate a translation. Remember that they always want to be precise in understanding and translating messages. Also, if you want to use one-liners and witticisms on them, don’t expect them to simply show an expression of awe without looking into the context of the words you are using.
Lawyers, programmers, and financial analysis experts are not the only professionals who have the inherent ability to intimidate their dates. Translation professionals, too, possess qualities and attitudes you may not find easy to handle. If you ever plan on dating one, remember the pointers above.


PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites are, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.
Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact me!
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quinta-feira, 29 de outubro de 2015

Is Hell Exothermic or Endothermic?



As you study for exams, remember it is not the quantity it is the quantity. And remember there is no substitute for pure unadulterated bull

Dr. Schambaugh, of the University of Oklahoma School of Chemical Engineering, Final Exam question for May of 1997. Dr. Schambaugh is known for asking questions such as, "why do airplanes fly?" on his final exams. His one and only final exam question in May 1997 for his Momentum, Heat and Mass Transfer II class was: "Is hell exothermic or endothermic? Support your answer with proof."

Most of the students wrote proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law or some variant. One student, however, wrote the following:

"First, We postulate that if souls exist, then they must have some mass. If they do, then a mole of souls can also have a mass. So, at what rate are souls moving into hell and at what rate are souls leaving? I think we can safely assume that once a soul gets to hell, it will not leave.

Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for souls entering hell, let's look at the different religions that exist in the world today. Some of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, then you will go to hell. Since there are more than one of these religions and people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all people and souls go to hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in hell to increase exponentially.

Now, we look at the rate of change in volume in hell. Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in hell to stay the same, the ratio of the mass of souls and volume needs to stay constant. Two options exist:

1.   If hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter hell, then the temperature and pressure in hell will increase until all hell breaks loose.
2.   If hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until hell freezes over.

So which is it? If we accept the quote given to me by Theresa Manyan during Freshman year, "that it will be a cold night in hell before I sleep with you" and take into account the fact that I still have NOT succeeded in having sexual relations with her, then Option 2 cannot be true...Thus, hell is exothermic."
The student, Tim Graham, got the only A.


PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites are, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.
Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact me!
Did you spot a typo?
Do you have any tips or examples to improve this page?
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quinta-feira, 22 de outubro de 2015

Happy Dussehra to everyone celebrating it today!

Sadhguru: Navaratri, culminating with Dussehra, is a cultural festival of great importance and significance for all. It is a festival that is all about the goddess. In Karnataka, Dussehra is about Chamundi, in Bengal it is about Durga. Like this, it is about various goddesses in different places, but essentially it is about the feminine goddess or the feminine divinity.



Dussehra – The tenth day of celebration
Navaratri is replete with symbolism about vanquishing evil and wanton nature, and about having reverence for all aspects of life and even for the things and objects that contribute to our wellbeing. The nine days of Navaratri are classified as per the three basic qualities of tamasrajas andsattva. The first three days are tamas, where the goddess is fierce, like Durga and Kali. The next three days are Lakshmi related – gentle but materially oriented goddesses. The last three days are dedicated to Saraswati, which is sattva. It is related to knowledge and enlightenment.

Vijayadashami – The Day of Victory
Investing in these three will make your life in a certain way. If you invest in tamas, you will be powerful in one way. If you invest in rajas, you will be powerful in a different way. If you invest in sattva, you will be powerful in a completely different way. But if you go beyond all this, it is no longer about power, it is about liberation. After Navaratri, the tenth and final day is Vijayadashami – that means you have conquered all these three qualities. You did not give into any of them, you saw through every one of them. You participated in every one of them, but you did not invest in any one of them. You won over them. That is Vijayadashami, the day of victory. This brings home the message of how being in reverence and gratitude towards everything that matters in our lives leads to success and victory.

Dussehra – Devotion and Reverence
It is my wish and my blessings that all of you should celebrate Dussehra with total involvement, joy and love.
Of the many things that we are in touch with, of the many things that contribute in making and creating our lives, the most important devices that we employ in making a success of our lives are our own body and mind. Being in reverence towards the very earth that you walk upon, towards the air that you breathe, the water that you drink, the food that you eat, the people that you come in touch with and everything else that you use, including your body and mind, will lead us to a different possibility as to how we can live. Being in a state of reverence and devotion towards all these aspects is a way of ensuring success in every endeavor that we partake in.
Celebrate Dussehra With Joy & Love
Traditionally, in Indian culture, Dussehra was always full of dances, where the whole community mixed, met and mingled. But because of external influences and invasions over the past two hundred years, we have lost that today. Otherwise Dussehra was always very vibrant. Even now it is still so in many places, but it is being lost in the rest of the country. We have to bring it back. The Vijayadashami or Dussehra festival is of a tremendous cultural significance for all who live in this land – irrespective of their caste, creed or religion – and should be celebrated with gaiety and love. It is my wish and my blessings that all of you should celebrate Dussehra with total involvement, joy and love.
Editor’s Note: Celebrate Navaratri with us at the Isha Yoga Center from October 13 – 22, 2015. Each day of Navaratri includes special abhishekams, poojas, Maha Aratis followed by classical dance and music performances every night.

PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites are, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.
Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact me!
Did you spot a typo?
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quarta-feira, 21 de outubro de 2015

Entrevista com Roberto Murawski. .




Poderia fazer um breve resumo da sua vida profissional e nos contar como se tornou professor de Língua Inglesa?

Tornei-me professor de Inglês de forma acidental. Assim o digo pois já possuía outra profissão e nunca havia cogitado lecionar profissionalmente. Ocorre que, em virtude da incessante busca em manter o nível e fluência até então adquiridos depois de mais de 20 anos estudando a língua e vivido no exterior (Inglaterra e Canadá), passar a ensinar revelou-se um processo natural e eficaz a fim de atingir este desiderato. Após obter titulação internacional (Cambridge – CAE) alguns familiares insistiram para que eu ministrasse aulas particulares e assim foi o início deste ofício que exerço juntamente com a minha outra profissão.

Como aprendeu inglês? Usou algum método especifico? Qual a sua opinião em relação ao ensino de línguas estrangeiras no Brasil?

A minha experiência com a língua foi iniciada na infância (12 anos de idade) e perdura até a presente data (35 anos atualmente). Neste ínterim estudei em diversas escolas de Inglês, tais como Fisk, College, Cultura Inglesa, PLI (Canadá) e Edgware Academy (Inglaterra).

No tocante à minha opinião sobre o ensino de línguas estrangeiras no Brasil, acredito que não possuo embasamento, tampouco dados para tecer profundas considerações sobre o tema proposto. Todavia, é notável que, na escola pública, o ensino da língua Inglesa deixa muito a desejar.

Você já estudou outro idioma?
Sim. Estudei Francês (Aliança Francesa), nível intermediário.

Quais os planos para a vida profissional? E como a língua inglesa se encaixa em tais planos? Já pensou em estudar Letras?

Os planos para o futuro profissional no que cerne a língua Inglesa consistem em manter ou quiçá, aprimorar minhas habilidades com a língua bem como desenvolver minha capacidade de transferir todo o conhecimento que adquiri no decorrer destes anos.

Como é o seu relacionamento com os outros colegas de profissão, costuma participar de encontros, congressos, workshops com outros professores?

Como ministro aulas particulares não tenho contato com outros professores. Conheço alguns professores e esporadicamente conversamos sobre o ofício, métodos de ensino, material didático, etc.

Como é Roberto Murawski professor e como foi esse mesmo Roberto Murawski aluno?

Acredito que mantenho as mesmas características tanto no papel de aluno como de professor. Sempre fui estudioso e esforçado, curioso e inquisitivo, e acima de tudo, perseverante. Entretanto, confesso que na qualidade de professor, novos desafios têm surgido, uma vez que, não basta ter vasto conhecimento da língua, é preciso, antes de tudo, ter a capacidade de transmitir este conhecimento.

Quais são as maiores dificuldades no ensino de inglês na região onde você atua?

Falta de material didático disponível nas livrarias locais.

PORTAL DA LÍNGUA INGLESA has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-partly internet websites referred to in this post, and does not guarantee that any context on such websites are, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
In some instances, I have been unable to trace the owners of the pictures used here; therefore, I would appreciate any information that would enable me to do so. Thank you very much.
Is something important missing? Report an error or suggest an improvement. Please, I strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact me!
Did you spot a typo?
Do you have any tips or examples to improve this page?
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