Angela — March 18th, 2024
Olá, Angela! 👋
On this page, you can find all of our classes, additional resources, and related materials.
For some reason, I can’t find the recording of our class together, but I did include my notes.
With each week, you can find the class recording, notes, vocabulary, transcripts, etc.
We are very flexible with the dates, so don’t worry about the weeks too much 🙂
As always, don’t hesitate to send us a message!
Alexia & Foster ❤️
Progress
Proposal
Introduction
Olá, Angela!
Thank you for considering coaching with us! We are truly grateful and honored that you are considering it. You're amazing.
Below, you will find:
- My notes from our initial call
- Our current assessment of your Portuguese
- A rough draft of a coaching curriculum
- Our proposal for the coaching package
No matter what decision you make, please know that you hold a special place in our hearts. When we first received your submission, we were so excited that you considered working with us! 🙂
Without further ado,
Initial Notes:
Objective, Goals & Observations:
Notes from Angela: I have been studying Portuguese for almost 3 years off and on. I love the language and the culture. My goal is to be able to speak fluently enough to raise my kids also speaking the language. I really enjoy listening to the podcasts and I have been watching the replays of the live classes. CC club is one of my favorite resources!
- I have friends and family that speak Portuguese and I am also trying to teach my kids while still learning myself.
- I would like to speak more fluently so that I am able to easily communicate.
- Practicing conversation
- Understanding native speakers
- Reading & Writing
- Improve pronunciation
- Angela has Portuguese family that speaks with a Cabo Verde accent 🙂
- She wants her kids to grow up bilingual
- Her husband thinks its sexy when she speaks in Portuguese
Note from Foster: Angela expressed that she is feeling stuck at her current level of Portuguese and needs a push to transition from an intermediate level to a more confident, advanced level of full conversational fluency. She feels stuck with her current tutor as they are more like friends now.
Our job is to give her the “friendly push” and over the intermediate plateau!
Assessment of current Portuguese
Oral Comprehension: Really good. Angela is able to understand almost everything in the CC Club and our podcast ✅
Pronunciation: Room for improvement. Angela is not yet familiar with a handful of Brazilian sounds and needs to a good bit of work work on developing a solid foundation in pronunciation to enhance her overall fluency. Building muscle memory with the Brazilian sound system is fundamental for Angela to speak fluently.
Conversation: Angela speaks really well given her experience. This is her first foreign language & she has only been studying for three years!
She communicates confidently, is not afraid to make mistakes, and always maintains a great attitude. Still, there is a lot of room for improvement with Angela’s conversational fluency, especially:
- She has a tendency to quickly switch to English
- She is not confident talking about more complicated subjects
- She is not comfortable using more advanced grammar structures
- She still thinks in English & then translates to Portuguese
Grammar: Angela has a solid understanding of the basic structure of Brazilian Portuguese. She would greatly benefit from more advanced phrase training and repetition to develop a more intuitive sense of Portuguese grammar.
Reading: She has a difficult time finding good material to read.
Writing: We didn’t really talk to much about writing in our initial call.
Proposal for coaching curriculum
8-10 week program
- We have a flexible designed an intensive eight-week program, with an additional two-week buffer for unforeseen circumstances.
Pronunciation & language classes with Foster (45 mins)
- These classes will vary from week to week, but will primarily focus on the fundamentals of learning Brazilian Portuguese and pronunciation, ensuring that you are progressing in the right direction.
Conversation & cultural classes with Alexia (45 mins)
- These classes will primarily focus on practicing real-life conversations and discussing relevant topics that are interesting and important to you.
Personalized homework assignments
- Each week, we will provide you with a variety of training, exercises, and challenges. We will collaborate with you to create engaging and effective homework assignments.
Private Whatsapp group with Alexia & Foster
- We will use Whatsapp as a channel to share homework, audios, provide feedback, and answer any questions that you may have.
Personalized repetition audio trainings + feedback
- Similar to the repetition audios in the "Fundamentals" course, but tailored to meet your specific needs.
Personal database + dedicated study hub
- You will have a dedicated private page on our website to track your progress and centralize all of your study materials.
Personal private podcast feed
- If you would like, we can create a private podcast feed with all of our coaching materials for you to easily practice on the go.
Your Commitment
If you're interested, here is a rough breakdown of how we determined our pricing:
Private classes with Alexia and Foster are priced at $30 each. Outside of classes, we plan to dedicate a similar amount of time and effort as you, which is approximately 3-5 hours per week or 28 hours in total. The cost for 12 classes plus 28 hours of work amounts to $1,200. If everything goes well, we plan to charge a minimum of $1,200 for coaching in the future.
As of now, you will receive:
- A special discount for CC Club.
- An extra special one of our first "real client" discounts
- An additional special discount just because we think you’re awesome 🥰
If you have any questions about the pricing or need further assistance, we are more than happy to help.
If you require a template to seek financial assistance from your employer or family/friends, please let us know and we will provide one.
Curriculum (draft — will be updated after program begins)
Conclusion & next steps
And that’s what we have to offer so far! 🙂
As you are one of our first formal potential coaching clients, things will naturally evolve as we work together.
If you have any questions, concerns, or changes you would like to make, please let us know.
If you think, “This sounds awesome, let’s get started!” — feel free to finish the checkout and we will do this thing!
Week 1
Que tal você preparar por escrito e também em forma de áudio um breve resumo sobre o último livro que você leu? Coisas a se pensar:
- Pq você escolheu o livro?
- Você gostou? Sim - pq? Não - pq?
- Você já tinha lido outro livro desse autor/autora?
- Para quem você indicaria esse livro? Qualquer dúvida me avise!
Class with Alexia
Alexia’s Audio
Resumo livro: “Say You swear”
“Say You Swear” foi escrito por Meagan Brandy. O livro é um romance e acontece na faculdade. A personagem principal feminina apaixona pelo amigo de seu irmão mas ele não quer arruinar a amizade.
Este livro é incrível e minha favorita. Eu adoro livros de romance. Eu comprei três versões (físico, audiolivro, e livro eletrônico). Este é o primeiro livro que eu li por ela, mas eu amei! Eu recomendaria este livro para qualquer um gosta de romance na faculdade e segundas chances. Minha irmã leu depois de mim e ela também gostou!
Week 2
The verb "ficar" in Brazilian Portuguese has several different uses and meanings. Here are some common use cases with examples and their translations:
- To stay or remain (temporary or permanent): Example: "Vou ficar em casa hoje." (I will stay home today.) Translation: To indicate remaining or staying in a place.
- To be located or situated: Example: "O restaurante fica na próxima esquina." (The restaurant is located on the next corner.) Translation: To express the location or position of something.
- To become or get (a state or condition): Example: "Ele ficou doente depois da viagem." (He got sick after the trip.) Translation: To indicate a change of state or condition.
- To look or appear (a certain way): Example: "Esse vestido ficou lindo em você." (That dress looks beautiful on you.) Translation: To express how something appears or looks.
- To suit or fit (well or not): Example: "Essa calça não me ficou bem." (These pants didn't fit me well.) Translation: To indicate whether something suits or fits someone.
- To agree or be okay (with something): Example: "Ficamos de sair amanhã à noite." (We agreed to go out tomorrow night.) Translation: To express an agreement or arrangement.
- To be in a relationship or dating: Example: "Eles estão ficando juntos." (They are dating/seeing each other.) Translation: To indicate a romantic relationship or dating.
- To be left or remain (after a process or action): Example: "Depois da limpeza, ficou uma mancha no tapete." (After cleaning, a stain was left on the carpet.) Translation: To express what remains after a process or action.
These are some of the most common uses of the verb "ficar" in Brazilian Portuguese, but it can also have other meanings depending on the context and the prepositions or adverbs used with it.
Here are 20 phrases using the verb "ficar" in Brazilian Portuguese, showcasing its various uses and contexts:
- Vou ficar em casa hoje assistindo filmes. (I will stay home today watching movies.)
- Não fique triste, as coisas vão melhorar. (Don't be sad, things will get better.)
- A reunião ficou marcada para amanhã às 10h. (The meeting was scheduled for tomorrow at 10 am.)
- Esse vestido ficou lindo em você! (That dress looks beautiful on you!)
- Eles ficaram noivos no ano passado. (They got engaged last year.)
- Depois da reforma, a casa ficou muito bonita. (After the renovation, the house became very beautiful.)
- Ficamos de nos encontrar no parque amanhã. (We agreed to meet at the park tomorrow.)
- O restaurante fica no centro da cidade. (The restaurant is located in the city center.)
- Fiquei muito cansado após a corrida. (I got very tired after the race.)
- Essa blusa não me ficou bem, está muito apertada. (This blouse doesn't fit me well, it's too tight.)
- Vamos ficar juntos para sempre? (Will we stay together forever?)
- Depois da chuva, ficaram algumas poças d'água no quintal. (After the rain, some puddles were left in the backyard.)
- Não fique com medo, estou aqui com você. (Don't be afraid, I'm here with you.)
- Eles estão ficando juntos há seis meses. (They have been dating for six months.)
- Fiquei surpreso com a notícia. (I was surprised by the news.)
- O preço desse produto ficou muito alto. (The price of this product became very high.)
- Fique tranquilo, eu cuido de tudo. (Stay calm, I'll take care of everything.)
- Depois da festa, a casa ficou uma bagunça. (After the party, the house was left a mess.)
- Vou ficar na casa dos meus pais durante as férias. (I will stay at my parents' house during the holidays.)
- Esse comentário ficou fora de contexto. (That comment was out of context.)
Week 3
Class with Alexia
- Crisma = Confirmation (Igreja Católica)
- um vestido branco
- quando eu casei com o meu marido
- eu fui na igreja dele
- não era a escolha certa para mim
- ninguém era da minha idade
- todos eram mais velhos
- eu não tinha ninguém
- para conversar, falar...
- pq estamos aqui?
- nos convidaram
- eles nos convidaram
- eu queria um programa que o meu filho pudesse crescer
- Tudo bem? - How are you? / Is everything okay?
- Sim sim - Yes yes
- Muito cedo - Very early
- Normalmente - Normally
- Mais ou menos - More or less
- Acordam - Wake up
- Dependem - Depend
- Escola - School
- Fins de semana - Weekends
- Filhos - Children
- Estamos fazendo - We are doing
- Eu não gosto - I don't like
- Eu gosto - I like
- Começar o meu dia cedo - Start my day early
- Eu amo - I love
- Eu preciso - I need
- Não estou aberta para negócios - I'm not open for business
- Eu sou uma pessoa - I am a person
- Eu fui batizada - I was baptized
- Eu não entendo - I don't understand
- Acredito - I believe
- Eu sei - I know
- Por quê? - Why?
- É muito estranha - It's very strange
- Eu quis - I wanted
- Eu queria - I wanted
- Eu amo a pessoa - I love the person
- Eu fui - I went
- Bom dia - Good morning
- Boa tarde - Good afternoon
- Boa noite - Good night
- Calma - Calm down
- Olá - Hello
- Pode ser - It can be
- Eu sou - I am
- Entendo - I understand
- Exatamente - Exactly
- Pronto - Ready
- Obrigada - Thank you (female)
- Tchau - Bye
Week 4
Angela’s audio
Meu fim de semana foi bom. A maior parte do tempo eu estava limpando minha nova casa. Eu também conversei ao telefone com muitas pessoas porque estamos reformando a casa. Minha coisa favorita sobre o fim de semana foi o tempo bonito. Passamos as tardes lá fora com nossos filhos e foi um alívio. Eu amo o sol.
Meu filho também foi a uma festa de aniversário. Ele se divertiu e foi bom sair de casa. A coisa que menos gostei foi o quanto estou ocupado. Meus filhos querem brincar juntos, neste caso. Meus filhos querem brincar comigo, mas agora é muito difícil. Espero que a vida desacelere em breve.
Alexia’s audio with corrections
Week 5
Homework from Alexia
Próximo dever de casa, como você disse que tava com dificuldade em saber quando usar o passado…. Então…
Escrever um texto e gravar áudio de uma das suas memórias mais legais durante a sua adolescência. Coisas a se pensar:
- quando foi?
- quantos anos você tinha?
- onde foi?
- você estava com família? Amigos?
- o que aconteceu para ser algo tão legal para você?
Class with Foster
00:18:37 Foster Hodge: ainda não vi (I haven't seen it yet)
00:19:12 Foster Hodge: não sei como falar isso em português (I don't know how to say this in Portuguese)
00:20:37 Foster Hodge: uma reação (a reaction)
00:21:53 Foster Hodge: por exemplo (for example)
00:21:56 Foster Hodge: tipo (like)
00:22:11 Foster Hodge: então — so, then
00:23:28 Foster Hodge: meu problema 🙂 (my problem 🙂)
00:24:13 Foster Hodge: falar mais naturalmente (to speak more naturally)
00:27:35 Foster Hodge: então (so, then)
00:28:23 Foster Hodge: "Então..." "Tipo assim..." "Sabe?" "Entendeu?" "Né?" "Tipo..." "Vai..." "Assim, ó..." "É... " "Hum..." "Basicamente..." "Digo..." "Bom..." "Olha..." "Vamos lá..." (These are common filler words and phrases used in Brazilian Portuguese to sound more natural)
00:29:30 Foster Hodge: tipo assim — it's like
00:30:10 Foster Hodge: né — não é? (isn't it?)
00:32:17 Foster Hodge: vai acontecer (it's going to happen)
00:32:21 Foster Hodge: vou comer (I'm going to eat)
00:33:29 Foster Hodge: ó (look)
00:33:36 Foster Hodge: olha só (look here)
00:35:42 Foster Hodge: olha só — look here
00:36:59 Foster Hodge: né? (isn't it?)
00:37:43 Foster Hodge: é uma vogal mais aberta (it's a more open vowel)
00:39:05 Foster Hodge: como se diz? como é que fala? (how do you say it?)
00:40:41 Foster Hodge: bom — well
00:41:28 Foster Hodge: vamo lá (let's go)
00:41:42 Foster Hodge: vamula! (a playful variation of "vamos lá")
00:42:16 Foster Hodge: de vez em quando (from time to time)
00:42:22 Foster Hodge: from time to time
00:42:28 Foster Hodge: occasionally
Recommended homework from Foster:
- Choose 5-10 filler words to really incorporate into your Brazilian Portuguese to break the habit of wanting to instantly switch to English 🙂
Week 6
Homework review
Aqui está a dever de casa haha!
Quando eu era uma criança, eu ia para acampamento de igreja no verão. Acampamento com meus amigos era a melhor parte do verão todos os anos. Eu morava em Waverly, KS. Eu chegava na quinta-feira e ficava até domingo. Na sexta, a gente viajava para Tahlequah, Oklahoma. No sábado a gente flutuava no grande rio. Estava muito divertido! Meus amigos e eu jogávamos jogos e rimos muito quando estávamos na cabana. Na noite do sábado, a gente viajava de volta para o acampamento em Waverly. No domingo, era hora de ir para casa. Eu sempre estava triste mas não podia esperar para voltar no próximo ano!
Corrected text:
Quando eu era criança, ia para o acampamento da igreja no verão. Acampar com meus amigos era a melhor parte do verão, todos os anos. Eu morava em Waverly, KS. Chegava na quinta-feira e ficava até domingo. Na sexta-feira, viajávamos para Tahlequah, Oklahoma. No sábado, nós flutuávamos no grande rio. Era muito divertido! Meus amigos e eu jogávamos jogos e ríamos muito quando estávamos na cabana. No sábado à noite, voltávamos para o acampamento em Waverly. No domingo, era hora de ir para casa. Eu sempre ficava triste, mas mal podia esperar para voltar no próximo ano!
Here are some suggestions for improving spoken Portuguese:
- Practice Consistency in Verb Tenses: When speaking, maintaining consistent verb tenses helps your listener follow your story more easily. Practice shifting between tenses smoothly to describe different aspects of your experiences.
- Gender and Number Agreement: Pay attention to the agreement of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives. This is a common error and can confuse listeners. Try exercises that focus on this aspect of grammar.
- Use of Prepositions: Prepositions in Portuguese can be tricky and often differ from their English counterparts. Practice using prepositions in various contexts by creating sentences or having conversations that require their use.
- Clarity and Pacing: When speaking, ensure you pace yourself so that your audience can follow along easily. This involves proper pronunciation and pausing at the right moments for emphasis.
- Pronunciation Practice: Focus on the sounds that are particularly challenging in Portuguese, such as nasal sounds and the "ão" ending. Listening to native speakers and repeating phrases can be very helpful.
- Interactive Practice: Engage in conversation with native speakers as much as possible. This real-time practice will help you use the language more fluently and improve your confidence.
Class with Foster
00:00:56.674,00:00:59.674
Foster Hodge: para resumir - to make story short
00:02:51.457,00:02:54.457
Foster Hodge: Christian Mysticism - Thomas Merton, Meister Eckhart
00:04:43.564,00:04:46.564
Foster Hodge: temas, tópicos
00:08:32.291,00:08:35.291
Foster Hodge: a minha sugestão: criar um plano para ter mais estrutura para as com aulas
00:08:47.122,00:08:50.122
Foster Hodge: para as aulas com leo
00:12:53.354,00:12:56.354
Foster Hodge: currículo
00:13:16.359,00:13:19.359
Foster Hodge: a mente de uma criança
00:13:23.037,00:13:26.037
Foster Hodge: como uma esponja
00:14:08.910,00:14:11.910
Foster Hodge: ele vai me ensinar
00:14:29.226,00:14:32.226
Foster Hodge: vou te ensinar
00:15:50.161,00:15:53.161
Foster Hodge: é o que é
00:16:17.400,00:16:20.400
Foster Hodge: simplicade
00:16:44.741,00:16:47.741
Foster Hodge: fácil - stress on the first syllable
00:17:49.568,00:17:52.568
Foster Hodge: incrível!
00:18:45.698,00:18:48.698
Foster Hodge: essa forma de pensar
00:20:09.996,00:20:12.996
Foster Hodge: Estou estudando português há três anos
00:22:50.728,00:22:53.728
Foster Hodge: menos (tempo)
00:24:03.841,00:24:06.841
Foster Hodge: adulto / adulta
00:31:48.308,00:31:51.308
Foster Hodge: diversão - fun (noun)
00:31:53.679,00:31:56.679
Foster Hodge: divertido
00:35:53.129,00:35:56.129
Foster Hodge: é mais fácil falar do que fazer
- para resumir: to make a long story short
- temas, tópicos: topics
- criar um plano: to create a plan
- currículo: curriculum
- a mente de uma criança: a child's mind
- como uma esponja: like a sponge
- ele vai me ensinar: he will teach me
- vou te ensinar: I will teach you
- é o que é: it is what it is
- simplicidade: simplicity
- fácil: easy (stress on the first syllable)
- incrível: incredible
- essa forma de pensar: this way of thinking
- Estou estudando português há três anos: I have been studying Portuguese for three years
- menos (tempo): less (time)
- adulto / adulta: adult (male/female)
- diversão: fun (noun)
- divertido: fun (adjective)
- é mais fácil falar do que fazer: it's easier said than done
- Think of creative ways to expand your vocabulary & gain confidence speaking about different topics for your classes with Leo & Alexia
- Embrace the mind of a child instead of fighting it
Calendar for Angela’s homeschooling ✅