Grammar Lesson 2: Contractions, Getting Change From A Machine

Grammar Lesson 2: Contractions, Getting Change From A Machine

Author: College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin May 12, 2007 Duration: 12:20
asset title: Grammar Lesson 2: Contractions, Getting Change From A Machine filename: tafalado_gra_02.mp3 track number: 28/46 time: 12:20 size: 8.67 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Can you believe how many contractions Portuguese has? : nesse, num, do, naquele, aos, pelo, etc. The list goes on and on. When speakers of Spanish catch on to these contractions, sentences become instantly easier to understand. And that, of course, is what Orlando, Michelle, Valdo, and Jose Luís hope to do with today's lesson on contractions. At the same time, culturally, Valdo and Michelle found it hard to find their change that automatically fell out of a machine at the supermarket. Sure enough, that would be a new experience for visitors from Brazil. Dialog Portuguese Michelle: Ficar na fila é duro, né? Valdo: Que tal se a gente passar pelo meio e chegar naquele outro caixa? Michelle: Do lado de lá? Tá bom. Valdo: Viu, às vezes me confundo com o troco nesses supermercados. Por que eles nunca colocam as moedas nas nossas mãos? Michelle: Porque as moedas caem das maquininhas que ficam ao lado do caixa. Valdo: Ah, tá ... é que nos supermercados brasileiros a gente recebe todo o troco dos próprios caixas. Spanish Michelle: Esperar en la fila es duro, ¿verdad? Valdo: ¿Qué tal si pasamos por el centro y esperamos en aquel otro cajero? Michelle: ¿Del otro lado? Está bien. Valdo: Sabe, a veces me confundo con el cambio en esos supermercados. ¿Por qué ellos nunca dejan las monedas en nuestra mano? Michelle: Porque las monedas caen de las maquinitas que están al lado de la caja. Valdo: Ah, entiendo ... es que en los supermercados brasileños uno recibe todo el cambio de los propios cajeros. English Michelle: Wating in line is tough, isn't it? Valdo: How about if we go towards the middle and wait at the other cashier? Michelle: That other side over there? OK. Valdo: You know, some times I get confused with the change in these supermarkets. Why don't they ever put the change in your hands? Michelle: Because the coins come out of the little machines that are next to the cashier. Valdo: Ah, I get it, it's just that in the Brazilian supermarkets you get your change directly from the cashiers.

For anyone who speaks Spanish and wants to learn the distinct sounds of Brazilian Portuguese, Tá Falado is a focused and practical resource. This podcast comes from the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin, and it’s built on a simple, effective idea: your existing knowledge of Spanish is a powerful starting point. Each episode deliberately contrasts the two languages, breaking down specific pronunciation challenges like vowel sounds, nasal consonants, and intonation patterns that often trip up Spanish speakers. You’ll hear clear comparisons and practice examples that highlight these differences directly. Beyond the mechanics of speech, the podcast naturally weaves in cultural notes and real-life scenarios, offering glimpses into daily life and social interactions in Brazil compared to common experiences in the United States. It’s this combination of linguistic precision and cultural context that makes the lessons stick. As part of the broader Brazilpod project, Tá Falado is academically informed but entirely approachable, turning a potentially difficult learning curve into a series of manageable, insightful steps. The goal isn’t just to be understood, but to sound more authentic and confident when speaking.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 46

Tá Falado: Brazilian Portuguese Pronunciation for Speakers of Spanish
Podcast Episodes
Grammar Lesson 10: Word Order of Negative Phrases, Paying for Parties [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:25
asset title: Grammar Lesson 10: Word Order of Negative Phrases, Paying for Parties filename: tafalado_gra_10.mp3 track number: 36/46 time: 11:25 size: 8.02 MB bitrate: 96 kbps 'Não, não sei não.' This is the pattern for…
Grammar Lesson 9: Possessive Pronouns, How to Dress Like an American [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:29
asset title: Grammar Lesson 9: Possessive Pronouns, How to Dress Like an American filename: tafalado_gra_09.mp3 track number: 35/46 time: 12:29 size: 8.78 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Who would have ever guessed that Valdo and Mi…
Grammar Lesson 8: Plural of words that end in 'ão', Car Insurance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:22
asset title: Grammar Lesson 8: Plural of words that end in 'ão', Car Insurance filename: tafalado_gra_08.mp3 track number: 34/46 time: 13:22 size: 9.40 MB bitrate: 96 kbps So why is the plural of alemão alemães, but he p…
Grammar Lesson 6: The Verb 'Ficar', Studying in Cafés [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:11
asset title: Grammar Lesson 6: The Verb 'Ficar', Studying in Cafés filename: tafalado_gra_06.mp3 track number: 32/46 time: 11:11 size: 7.87 MB bitrate: 96 kbps In this lesson Orlando dreams about being able to use the ve…
Grammar Lesson 5: Disappearing Reflexive Verbs, Use of Coupons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:39
asset title: Grammar Lesson 5: Disappearing Reflexive Verbs, Use of Coupons filename: tafalado_gra_05.mp3 track number: 31/46 time: 9:39 size: 6.79 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Here's a trick question for Spanish speakers: Would…
Grammar Lesson 4: Future Subjunctive, Soda Refills at Restaurants [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:55
asset title: Grammar Lesson 4: Future Subjunctive, Soda Refills at Restaurants filename: tafalado_gra_04.mp3 track number: 30/46 time: 13:55 size: 9.78 MB bitrate: 96 kbps When you go, you will buy a soda. If you buy a s…
Grammar Lesson 3: Plurals with 'l', Gas Stations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:15
asset title: Grammar Lesson 3: Plurals with 'l', Gas Stations filename: tafalado_gra_03.mp3 track number: 29/46 time: 13:15 size: 9.31 MB bitrate: 96 kbps The plural of Brazil, if there were two of them, would be 'Brasis…
Grammar Lesson 1: Gostar vs. Gustar,  Sitting on the Grass [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:49
asset title: Grammar Lesson 1: Gostar vs. Gustar, Sitting on the Grass filename: tafalado_gra_01.mp3 track number: 27/46 time: 10:49 size: 7.61 MB bitrate: 96 kbps We've made a switch. Welcome back to all who have previo…
Supplementary Lesson 2: Portuguese Consonant Sounds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:33
asset title: Supplementary Lesson 2: Portuguese Consonant Sounds filename: tafalado_suppl_02.mp3 track number: 26/46 time: 5:33 size: 3.90 MB bitrate: 96 kbps Unlike the regular podcast lessons, we've included some other…