Class #2 with Alexia — July 3, 2026
note: this is a recording of your private coaching session with Alexia. No one will see it except you, Alexia, and Foster 🙏
Video
Audio
Session summary
We spent this class on your academic article, some tricky pronunciation (that "lh" sound is getting so much better), and a lot of great storytelling: your daughters' very different personalities, your weekend in Rio, and what it really means to feel "successful" in a second language.
📖 Reading strategy for your academic article
parágrafo — paragraph (you read three, but noted they were all introduction, which made them harder to follow)
Instead of reading the whole article in one sitting, read one paragraph at a time and we'll discuss it together next class.
🗣️ Pronunciation: the "lh" sound
melhorar — to improve
trabalhar — to work
brilhar — to shine
guiar — to guide
The common mistake is adding an extra "i" sound that doesn't exist in Portuguese (turning trabalhar into something closer to "trabaliar"). The "lh" is a single soft sound, no separate "i."
🌍 Countries and pronunciation
Inglaterra — England
Reino Unido — United Kingdom
Países Baixos — Netherlands
👨👩👧👧 Talking about your daughters
a filha mais velha / a filha mais nova — the older daughter / the younger daughter
com cuidado, com precaução — carefully, cautiously
turma, turminha — group of friends/classmates
lanchonete — a casual sandwich/snack place
fazer estágio — to do an internship
⚖️ Career vocabulary
advocacia — the legal profession
advogada — lawyer (fem.)
se formar em Direito — to graduate in law
Direito do Esporte — sports law
🎬 Your weekend in Rio
cozido a vapor — steamed
não consigo me conter / segurar as minhas reações — I can't contain myself / hold back my reactions
experiência antropológica — an anthropological experience
Maria Bethânia is Caetano Veloso's sister, good for building vocabulary since she sings slowly and clearly.
📐 Grammar: foi, era, estava
All three translate to "was" in English, but they answer different questions:
Foi (from ser or ir) marks a completed event, something that happened and finished. "Foi uma experiência ótima" — it was a great experience (over, done).
Era (from ser) describes an ongoing state or background fact in the past, no clear start or end. "Ele era a pessoa mais nova" — he was the youngest person (a description, not an event).
Estava (from estar) describes a temporary condition or location at a specific past moment. "Eu estava no Rio" — I was in Rio (where I was, not an event that happened).
Rule of thumb: foi = something that happened and ended; era = a description or ongoing trait; estava = a temporary state or location at that moment. Getting the verb tense right matters less than getting the meaning across, this comes with more speaking practice, not memorization.
🎯 Language learning and expectations
estruturar / organizar — to structure / organize
afinar o piano — to tune the piano
medidor de sucesso — a measure of success
platô — a plateau
📚 Homework
1. Continue your academic article, one paragraph at a time
Read the next paragraph (or two) and come ready to talk through what you understood and what tripped you up.
Want more homework or have any questions? Message us on WhatsApp anytime.