Language Express

Riviera Real Estate Newsletter

2011-11-28T19:28:00.001-02:00

Dear Madam, Dear Sir.

Our offices in Roquebrune-Cap Martin and Menton are pleased to present their selection of apartments and villas.

Find all the months, our best offer on the French Riviera. Our consultants are available to help you find the home of your dreams.

ROQUEBRUNE CAP MARTIN, VILLA DE STYLE CALIFORNIEN
2 500 000 €

EXCLUSIVITE ROQUEBRUNE CAP MARTIN, VILLA CONTEMPORAINE DE 300 M² DANS DOMAINE PRIVE
5 500 000 €

AU COEUR DU CAP MARTIN BELLE VILLA
3 300 000 €

PROCHE DE MONACO,BELLE VILLA
2 280 000 €

SOSPEL 25 MINUTES DE MONACO,PROPRIETE 6 PIECES
1 900 000 €

LA TURBIE, CHARMANTE VILLA EN PIERRES
2 310 000 €

CAP D'AIL, VILLA MODERNE TROIS NIVEAUX VUE MER PANORAMIQUE
3 500 000 €

ROQUEBRUNE VILLA DE CHARME VUE MONACO
3 000 000 €

ROQUEBRUNE ANCIENNE TOUR DU XVIII SIECLE 175 M²
3 400 000 €

VILLA ROQUEBRUNE CAP MARTIN VUE MER
3 800 000 €

MENTON VILLA CONTEMPORAINE 210 M² VUE PANORAMIQUE
2 350 000 €

CAP MARTIN VILLA PROVENCAL DE 150 M²
2 950 000 €

EXCLUSIVITE, ROQUEBRUNE LE HAMEAU, VILLA DE CARACTERE
3 000 000 €

VILLA BELLE EPOQUE FACE A MONACO
5 300 000 €

CAP MARTIN FRONT DE MER VILLA DE CHARME
7 900 000 €

PROCHE MONACO, VILLA DE CARACTERE
3 700 000 €

Cote Sun Immobilier

11 avenue de France

06190 Roquebrune Cap Martin

Tel: +33 (0)4 93 41 94 94 Fax: +33 (0)4 93 41 94 95

Contact : cote-sun-immo@wanadoo.fr

To visit our site, click here.

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Protecting Your Online Reputation: 4 Things You Need to Know [INFOGRAPHIC]

2011-11-03T10:53:00.000-02:00

Protecting Your Online Reputation: 4 Things You Need to Know [INFOGRAPHIC]

Membros da Família em Inglês

2011-10-23T14:56:00.001-02:00

Olá pessoal. Segue uma lista muito legal sobre os membros da família em inglês. Serve como complemento para o livro. Abs

Avós e netos
Great great grandfather: tataravô
Great great grandmother: tataravó
Great grandfather: bisavô
Great grandmother: bisavó
Grandparents: avós
Grandfather: avô
Grandmother: avó
Great grandson: bisneto
Great granddaughter: bisneta
Grandson: neto
Granddaughter: neta

__________________________

• Pais e filhos
Wife: esposa
Husband: esposo
Parents: pais
Father: pai
Mother: mãe
Son: filho
Daughter: filha
Brother: irmão
Sister: irmã

__________________________

• Tios, sobrinhos e primos
Uncle: tio
Aunt: tia
Cousin: primo e prima
Nephew: sobrinho
Niece: sobrinha

____________________________

• In-law
Father-in-law: sogro
Mother-in-law: sogra
Brother-in-law: cunhado
Sister-in-law: cunhada

• Padrinho e madrinha
Godfather: padrinho
Godmother: madrinha
• Step
Stepfather: padrasto
Stepmother: madrasta
• Half
Halfbrother: meio irmão
Halfsister: meia irmã

A good website

2011-10-13T18:32:00.000-03:00

A very interesting website. I friend of mine has sent it to me. It works well

http://www.wordhippo.com/

MUSIC - vocabulary

2011-10-07T16:58:00.001-03:00

ando accompaniment accompanist accompany accordion acid house acoustic adagio allegro andante anthem aria arpeggio arr. arrange arrangement atonal back backing bagpipes balalaika ballad band bandmaster bandsman bandstand banjo bar barbershop baritone barrel organ bass(n) bass(a) bass clef bass guitar bassist bassoon baton beat(v) beat(n) bebop blast blow bluegrass bolero bongos boogie bootleg bow(n) bow(v) brass band breve bridge bugle busk C cabaret cadence cadenza calypso canon cantata canticle cantor carillon carol(n) carol(v) castanets catchy cellist cello chamber music chamber orchestra chant(v) chant(n) choir choirboy choral chorale chord chorister chorus Christmas carol chromatic clapper clarinet clavichord clef coda coloratura combo compose composer concert concertgoer concertina concertmaster concerto conduct conductor consonant consort continuo contrabass contralto cor anglais cornet counterpoint countertenor country and western country music cover(v) cover(n)crescendo croon crotchet cut cymbal D damper dance dance band demo descant didgeridoo diminuendo dirge disc jockey discord discordant dissonance ditty Dixieland do doh dominant double bass downbeat drum(n) drum(v) drumbeat drum kit drum major drummer drumming drum-roll drumstick dub duet dulcimer duo ear easy listening eighth note elevator music encore ensemble expression f. fa falsetto fanfare fantasia fiddle fiddler fife finale fingering flat(a) flat(n) flat(a) flautist floor show flourish flute folk(n) folk(a) folk music forte(n) forte(a) fortissimo forty-five French horn fret fugue funk funky g gamelan gig(n) gig(v) glee club glide glockenspiel gong gospel grand grand opera grand piano Gregorian chant group guitar half note half step hammer hard rock harmonic harmonica harmonium harmonize harmony harp harpsichord heavy metal high high-pitched hip hop horn hot house music hurdy-gurdy hymn impressionism impressionist improvise incidental music instrument instrumental(a) instrumental(n) instrumentalist instrumentation interlude interval jam jam session jazz jazzy jig jingle jungle karaoke kazoo kettledrum key keyboard key signature la lament largo leader ledger line legato leitmotif lento librettist libretto lilt lullaby lute lyre lyric lyrical lyricism lyricist madrigal maestro major male-voice choir mandolin maracas march marching band mariachi marimba masterclass medley mellifluous melodic melodious melody metronome mezzo-soprano mi middle C minim minor minstrel minuet modal mode moderato modulate molto mood music motif mouth organ mouthpiece movement music musical(a) musical(n) musical instrument musically musician musicianship musicology music stand mute(v) mute(n) Muzak national anthem natural(a) natural(n)Negro spiritual nocturne note number number one nursery rhyme oboe octave octet off-key one-man band opera opera house operetta opus oratorio orchestra orchestral orchestra pit orchestrate organ organ grinder organist overtone overture p.panpipes part part-song pause peal pedal peg penny whistle percussion perfect pitch Philharmonic phrase(n) phrase(v)phrasing pianissimo pianist piano(n) piano(a) pianola piccolo pick(v)pick(n) pipe piped music piper pitch(n) pitch(v) pizzicato plainchant plainsong play player player piano plectrum pluck polyphony pop pop group pop music pop star prelude presto(a) presto(n)prima donna production number promenade concert psaltery punk quarter note quartet quaver quintet rag raga ragga ragtime range rap(n) rap(v) rapper recital recitative record recorder reed refrain reggae register remaster rendering rendition repeat request requiem resonator rest rhapsody rhythm rhythm and blues rhythm section riff roadie road manager rock rock and roll rock music rock 'n' roll rondo rostrum round rumba run salsa samba saxophone saxophonist scale scat scherzo score(n) score(v)semibreve semiquaver semitone septet serenade(n) serenade(v)set setting sextet shanty sharp(a) sharp(n) sheet music sight-read signature tune sing singer singer-songwriter single sitar sixteenth note ska skiffle slide slur(v) slur(n) snare drum so sol sol-fa solo(a) solo(n) soloist sonata song songbook songster songwriter soprano(n) soprano(a) soul soundtrack spiritual squeezebox staccato staff standard stave steel band steel guitar step string stringed instrument strum study suite swell swing symphony syncopated syncopation synthesis synthesize synthesizer tabla tabor tambourine techno tempo tenor(n) tenor(a)Tex-Mex theme thrash threnody throb ti timbrel time time signature timpani toccata tom-tom tonal tonality tone tone-deaf tone poem tonic tootle track transcribe transpose treble(n) treble(a)treble clef tremolo triangle trill trombone trumpet tuba tune(n)tune(v) tuneful tuneless tuning fork tuning peg ukulele unaccompanied upright piano valve variation verse vibes vibraphone vibrato viola violin violinist virginals virtuoso vivace vocal(a) vocal(n) vocalist voice voluntary waltz warble warbler whole note wind instrument woodwind xylophone yodel(v) yodel(n) zither zydeco

EDUCATION - VOCABULARY

2011-10-03T10:56:00.001-03:00

cademic academy assessment AV CALL case study certificate class coach college comprehensive credit cross D do education educational examination exercise external F fail field globe grade history letter(n) letter(v) library moderator module open house oral pass(v) pass(n) politics principal problem quick reference reference library requirement research(n) research(v)resource result resume reunion review revision scholar school science script set standard study sub teacher teaching term text unit X

idiom of the day : come in from the cold

2011-10-01T19:01:00.001-03:00

come in from the 'cold -

to become accepted or included in a group, etc. after a period of being outside it

idiom of the day : easy gome easy go

2011-10-01T18:40:00.002-03:00

used to mean that sb does not care very much about money or possessions especially if they spend it or lose sth

Clothes and Fashion

2011-09-29T17:42:00.002-03:00

accessory alter appliqué armband armhole bag bejewelled billfold boater bow bowler bow tie braid(n) braid(v) breast-pocket brim bum bag bust button button-down buttonhole cape checked civvies clasp cleat clingy clothes brush clothes hanger clutch bag coat check coat hanger coatroom cobbler cockade cocktail dress codpiece collar collar stud colour-coordinated colourfast corsage costume coveralls cravat crinkly cut dark glasses darn(v) darn(n) dart décolletage detailing diadem diaphanous dishevelled dowdy down-at-heel dress(n) dress(v) dressed dressmaker dress sense dressy epaulette facing fancy dress fashion finery fleecy fop garb gather gingham gold-rimmed granny groom habit handbag herringbone knit knitwear line lined liner lingerie lining livery locker room made-to-measure made-to-order makeover model(n) model(v) modelling mohair name tag natty neckline out pack parasol pinstripe plaid pleat pleated plume plumed plunging neckline pocket pocketbook pocket handkerchief polka dot pompom popper pouch power dressing press proof purse raffish ragged rail retro salon sensible sequin set shoeshine shoulder bag shoulder pad shoulder strap single-breasted size sleeve sleeveless sling smocking soigné spangle sportswear starch stitch stud studded tack tail tailor tailored tailoring tapered tartan tatters thread(n) thread(v) tie-dye tie-pin toe toecap toggle tongue toupée trainer trimmings trouser press turn-up tweedy unbecoming undress unmentionables valet wallet wear wearer weatherproof well-dressed well-groomed wristband zip zipper

VNO - merges and acquisitions

2011-09-29T17:39:00.002-03:00

Business Vocabulary

2011-09-29T17:24:00.004-03:00

commpany secretary consortium contractual costing denationalize director directorate directorship flow chart front office hatchet man human resources line management line manager maladministration management management consultant manager manageress managerial middle management non-executive director position paper president pyramid quality assurance quality control silent partner venture white knight

furniture - vocabulary

2011-09-29T16:48:00.001-03:00

antique arm armchair back bed bookcase bookshelf buffet bunk bureau canopy cart chair chesterfield coffee table commode cot couch counter cupboard desk dining table divan double bed drawer dresser fitment fitted folding furniture futon Georgian gramophone grate hot tub hutch Jacuzzi lamp leg looking glass mattress ottoman padded pedestal rocker rococo seat shelf shelving sofa sofa bed sprung stand stool stuffing suite table throne unit upholstery veneer wardrobe

Clothes - Vocabulary

2011-09-29T16:47:00.002-03:00

arm belt bikini boa body boot bottom bra cap cape casual coat cut dress ensemble fashion fashion show fez fitting flat fly formal fox full gathering gear hat hem(n) hem(v) iron(n) iron(v)jacket jeans jersey leg long low mac mini neck one-piece open overall oxford panel pants patch(n) patch(v)peak run(v) run(n) shirt shoe shoulder slip snap sole(n) sole(v)stay strip suit thermal top train T-shirt uniform upper wear wrap

word of the day

2011-09-29T16:34:00.002-03:00

mockery / noun

1[U] comments or actions that are intended to make sb/sth seem ridiculous SYN ridicule, scorn:She couldn’t stand any more of their mockery.
2[sing.] (disapproving) an action, a decision, etc. that is a failure and that is not as it is supposed to be SYN travesty:It was a mockery of a trial.

IDIOMS
make a 'mockery of sth
to make sth seem ridiculous or useless:The trial made a mockery of justice.

Emma Donoghue - Room

2011-09-28T22:17:00.000-03:00

Emma Donoghue - Room

Melinda Gates about Coca Cola

2011-09-26T19:40:00.001-03:00

British English Idioms - UsingEnglish.com

2011-09-21T15:25:00.000-03:00

British English Idioms - UsingEnglish.com

More words about weather

2011-09-21T15:24:00.000-03:00

Dull and Damp
Mild, Muggy, Windy and Damp
Dreary
Sunny with Showers
Significado

Dull – dia escuro;
Damp – dia um pouco úmido;
Showers – pequenas precipitações de chuva;
Dreary – sinônimo de dull;
Mild Climate – referindo-se a um clima não muito severo;
Muggy – abafado e nublado.

Nigel Marsh: How to make work-life balance work

2011-09-20T17:50:00.002-03:00

Interesting Words

2011-09-16T17:51:00.001-03:00

red tape noun
[U] (disapproving) official rules that seem more complicated than necessary and prevent things from being done quickly.

e .g There also were complaints of too much bureaucratic red tape.

beyond be'lief (in a way that is) too great, difficult, etc. to be believed:

Dissatisfaction with the government has grown beyond belief.

To Adriana Bernardes - Good tips for small apartments

2011-09-13T15:15:00.000-03:00

Six friends living together in 40 square metres might seem like a recipe for disaster, but a home like this proves that when everything - and everyone - works together almost anything is possible.

To Adriana Bernardes - Good tips for small apartments

2011-09-13T14:50:00.012-03:00

Moving in together means combining two homes into one. How do you fit everything in without having to compromise? Try using two chaise longues in the middle of the room instead of a sofa along the wall. It’s one simple way to free up space for more storage and it creates a cosy little nest where the two of you can relax and do your own thing, together.

A good video about Success

2011-09-05T11:09:00.000-03:00

2011-09-01T13:35:00.001-03:00

A good video about Hapiness

2011-08-22T10:16:00.002-03:00

TED

2011-08-15T11:43:00.002-03:00

TED

2011-08-15T11:22:00.000-03:00

Good morning people.

Uma ótima ferramenta para o estudo do idioma é este fantástico website chamado www.ted.com. Nele o internauta pode assistir diversas palestras sobre os mais variados temas aliando conhecimento e estudo. Também é possível assistir aos vídeos com legendas em inglês e outros idiomas.

Não deixem de checar.
abraços
alexandre

Going to X Will - Quando usar ?

2011-07-20T15:32:00.006-03:00

Muitas vezes as pessoas confundem o uso de ambos. Sendo assim vamos esclarecer de forma clara como utilizá-los.

going to - I am going to do something - você já decidiu que irá fazer algo. Você pretende fazer algo.

I am going to see a doctor

I am going to buy a new car

going to - I am going to do something - você já decidiu que irá fazer (mas talvez ainda não planejou)

Your shoes are dirty. Yes, I know. I am going to clean them. (você já decidiu que irá limpá-los, porém não sabe quando, ainda não planejou)

você também pode dizer que "algo irá acontecer " - something is going to happen" , in the future.

It is very cloudy today. I think it is going to rain.

Will - Usamos o will em 3 situações :
nos oferecemos a fazer algo (offering to do something)

The bags are heavy. Ok. I will help you .

My head hurts. I will bring you some medicine .

quando concordamos em fazer algo (agree to do something)

Can you give this document to Javier ?

Sure. I will give it to him when I see him this evening.

promessa de se fazer algo (promising to do something)

Thanks for lending me the m oney. I will pay you on friday .

I will give you an answer as soon as possible.

I will not tell anyone. I promise

perguntando a alguém para fazer algo (Will you ..........?)

Will you be available this afternoon ?

Will you please help me with this lesson ?

Espero ter ajudado.

Abraços

See you soon .

Noticias do Brasil no Exterior

2011-07-11T16:28:00.002-03:00

Brazil's Amazon settlers 'scratching out a living

Noticias do Brasil no Exterior

2011-07-11T16:07:00.000-03:00

Brazil is the second-largest producer of ethanol behind the US. But it is a more efficient one as it generates the biofuel from sugar rather than corn, making the Latin American country an attractive target for companies looking to get into the market.

One of these is Shell, which kicked off its joint venture with Brazil’s Cosan last month.

“Shell got involved because it believes the amount of energy needed by the world is not going to be possible just by [relying on] fossil fuels...and the motivation for Cosan was to transform sugarcane ethanol into an international commodity,” said Vasco Dias, Raízen’s chief executive.

Notícias do Brasil no Exterior

2011-07-09T11:01:00.001-03:00

Good morning Folks,
Irei publicar notícias sobre o nosso país no exterior. Algumas boas outras nem tanto rss, porém, de extrema importância para a prática do reading.

I hope you like it.

Brazil's transport minister resigned amid allegations that employees in his department had skimmed money from infrastructure projects. He is the second member of Dilma Rousseff's cabinet to quit within a month over corruption claims.

Skype Classes

2011-06-30T18:24:00.002-03:00

Hi folks :
Are you interested in having classes via skype ?

Please do not hesitate to call me on the phone number : 11 9390 5540 or e-mail me as soon as possible

best

We are alive.

2011-06-30T13:16:00.003-03:00

Entrepreneurs Series

2010-07-15T15:46:00.003-03:00

Watch this video - Just relax and laugh

2009-04-15T21:18:00.003-03:00

Vocabulary - Group SW - wednesday

2009-01-28T16:17:00.005-02:00

Hi people ,

Here you are :

keen on - interested in or by attracted by

keen - eager, enthusiasti..

keep up - maintain a continuous action, persist

Oscar Movies

2009-01-26T12:00:00.000-02:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

2009-01-14T21:25:00.002-02:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Posted using ShareThis

Campus Party

2009-01-14T17:18:00.003-02:00

Hi everyone. Don´t forget to take a look at campus party official website. A door to digital knowledge

http://www.campus-party.com.br/index.php/oevento.html

TIP TRIP - MISTI CHILL HOSTEL & POUSADA

2009-01-04T17:53:00.002-02:00

Happy new year for everyone. I would like to give you a nice tip for short holidays and escapes: misti chill. This wonderful hostel in paraty is a very good place to relax and also know people from different countries. For more information go to www.mistichill.com.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-19T17:55:00.002-02:00

I whish a merry christmas to all my friends, colleagues, students and relatives who indirectly or directly helped me during the year. Thanks a lot.

alexandre melo

Movies - Will Smith

2008-12-10T23:16:00.001-02:00

Trip Tips

2008-12-03T12:35:00.004-02:00

Bad News

2008-11-26T22:06:00.009-02:00

Unfortunately, Santa Catarina, one the most beautiful states in our country is facing one of the worst tragedies of all times. Let´s help giving any kind of clothes, food or medicine in order to bring some relief to the families. For information, please call 9390-5540.

Trip Tip

2008-11-25T10:58:00.001-02:00

Entertainment - Movies

2008-11-24T11:11:00.001-02:00

Writing Skills - Linking Words

2008-11-24T09:58:00.007-02:00

Linking words help you to connect ideas and sentences, so that people can follow your ideas.

- Linking words list

- Sequence
First, Firstly, Second (ly), In addition, Moreover, Furthermore, Another

- Addition

In addition, Also, As well as,

- Comparison

Similarly , Likewise, Also, Too, As, Just as , just like, not only .........but also
to compare to / with

- Cause

For, because, since, as , because of, to cause

- Effect

So, as a result, as a consequence, therefore, thus, consequently, due to, to affect

- Summarizing

In short , In brief, In summary, To summarise, In a nutshell, To conclude, In conclusion

- Contrasting ideas

But , However , Although / even though, Despite / despite the fact that, In spite of / in spite of the fact that, Nevertheless, Nonetheless, While, Whereas, Unlike, In theory… in practice,

2008-11-14T19:20:00.002-02:00

Think about it

2008-11-13T21:55:00.001-02:00

"Choose a job you love, and you never have to work in your life" - Confucius

News - Brazil

2008-11-12T20:07:00.001-02:00

Brazil pushes emerging nations’ role

By Jonathan Wheatley in São Paulo

Published: November 8 2008 02:00 | Last updated: November 8 2008 02:00

Finance ministers and central bank presidents from the G20 group of developed and developing nations are meeting in São Paulo this weekend to try to agree proposals for the summit in Washington next Saturday.

Brazil is expected to underscore its demand for greater influence over bodies such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, which will also be also represented at the meeting.

Guido Mantega, the finance minister, said: “Global economic and financial governance needs urgent changes ... It is now more clear than ever that developing countries must have a stronger voice in global decisions. We are determined and ready.”

The European Union, represented at the São Paulo meeting by Christine Lagarde, the French finance minister, is expected to propose increased and more co-ordinated regulation of the world’s financial markets, including greater controls over credit rating agencies and more rigid accounting rules for banks and insurance companies. But the French proposals met resistance this week from other members of the EU reluctant to see a surge in regulation. Ms Lagarde, speaking to Brazilian journalists before leaving Paris for São Paulo, suggested Brazil’s demands for a stronger voice for emerging nations might also be challenged at the meeting.

“There has already been a reform of the IMF’s management,” she said. “There is a saying in English, ‘He who pays the piper calls the tune.’ More influence without more funds? That doesn’t exist.”

Mr Mantega insisted reform was needed, saying the multilateral agencies “have become more and more disconnected from the facts and needs of the world we live in”.

Rubens Barbosa, a trade consultant and former Brazilian ambassador to London and Washington, said Brazil had already increased its contribution to the IMF but the consequent increase in its power of decision had made little difference.

“The governments of the emerging nations are part of a new distribution of power in the world,” he said. “They want more power in the multilateral decision-making process.”

Mr Mantega called for reform of the Financial Stability Forum, set up along with the G20 in 1999. He said FSF membership, which is currently limited to the world’s seven biggest economies plus Australia, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Singapore and Switzerland, should be expanded.

“Why should FSF policy recommendations be accepted if emerging economies, responsible for a rising share of global economic growth, do not take part in their elaboration?” Mr Mantega added.

Some useful words

2008-11-12T17:24:00.003-02:00

Some words which might be useful for you, suggested by Jack Scholes.

Abacaxi - pineaple (literal translation) / a hot potato (correct translation) .
Encher o saco - to fill the bag (literal translation) / to bore, annoy (correct translation)
Cara de pau - face of wood (literal translation) / shameless, brazen (correct translation)

Other expressions

Mão de vaca - hand of cow (literal translation) / tight-fisted person
Vá plantar batata !!! - go plant potatoes (literal translation) / take a hike
Mormaço - Hot , Sultry Weather

English Phrasal Verb Dictionary

2008-11-10T23:41:00.006-02:00

A useful website for a complex subject

www.usingenglish.com/reference/phrasal-verbs

Obama´s Speech

2008-11-10T15:35:00.004-02:00

See, listen and read Obama´s Speech now.

Written versio in in /www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/convention2008/barackobamavictoryspeech.htm

New Hot Link

2008-11-06T16:41:00.002-02:00

http://www.4hb.com/letters/index.html

Vocabulary - The presidential election

2008-11-06T12:38:00.004-02:00

bitterly - extremely
handful - something hard to manage
decrying - criticizing , depreciate
tumbling - drapping, descending
rack up - to gain , score
padded - travelled on foot
onslaughts - assaults, invasion

Update - The presidential election

2008-11-05T16:20:00.001-02:00

Obama's historic victory

Nov 4th 2008 | CHICAGO
From Economist.com

Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States

AFP

AMERICA has been painfully conditioned by its past two presidential elections. It was bitterly divided into red and blue states with only a handful in the middle, decided by a handful of votes. On the night of Tuesday November 4th Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential candidate, scrambled the assumptions that have governed American politics for half a generation. An intriguing and—to many—inspiring politician, he will take office in January from the most unpopular president in modern time.

When Mr Obama gave a speech that made him famous, in 2004, decrying “blue states” and “red states”, it seemed unlikely that he would be the one to bridge the divide. But the scale of his victory in this election is substantial: he won at least 333 electoral-college votes and will probably do well in the popular vote, too.

New Hampshire, beloved of John McCain for his primary victories there in 2000 and 2008, went for Mr Obama. Then fell Pennsylvania, a big state where Mr McCain had tried his last strategy. He had hoped to raise economic and personal worries about Mr Obama, then to snatch the state from the Democrats and hold down losses elsewhere. It did not work. Ohio has voted with every Republican candidate to win the White House since Lincoln. When that state went for Mr Obama, the election was, in effect, over. Other formerly Republican states such as Iowa and New Mexico went tumbling Mr Obama’s way. Eventually Florida fell for Mr Obama, too, giving him a substantial victory.

The economy seems to have been crucial to his win. George Bush won re-election in 2004 by emphasising “God, gays and guns”. Hillary Clinton racked up big wins against Mr Obama among the economically distressed but socially conservative “Reagan Democrats”, including many in Ohio and Pennsylvania, painting Mr Obama as an out-of-touch elitist. On election day this week, however, Mr Obama was able to attract such supporters. However much Republicans tried to scare voters about Mr Obama’s old relationship with his anti-American preacher and a passing association with a 1960s terrorist, voters were more concerned about their wallets. They also punished the incumbent party heavily, despite the self-styled “maverick” status of its standard-bearer, Mr McCain.

Mr Obama will have a friendly Congress. The Democrats have padded their majority in the House of Representatives. More symbolically, many Republican brand names were defeated in the Senate: Elizabeth Dole in North Carolina, John Sununu in New Hampshire and Jim Gilmore in Virginia. It seems most unlikely, however, that the Democrats will manage to get 60 seats in the Senate, the number needed to break Republican filibusters. Mitch McConnell, the Senate’s Republican minority leader, just held on to his seat in a tough race in Kentucky.

Mr Obama survived a myriad of onslaughts, notably on his lack of experience and on his elitist and “celebrity” status. But he ran a calm and disciplined campaign, and most importantly managed to assure voters that he would be a safer leader in a time of financial and economic anxieties. Mr McCain, in contrast, fumbled when he mishandled his response to the economic turmoil of the past few weeks. Mr Obama also succeeded in persuading young people and black people to vote. Along with those sceptical working-class whites, and the traditional Democratic bases on the east and west coasts, Mr Obama constructed a comfortable winning coalition.

America has not shifted greatly to the left. Mr Obama, especially with his big Democratic majority in Congress, will have to manage expectations carefully. Democrats will want big pushes to the left. But Mr Obama knows that Bill Clinton lost his congressional majority after two years because he overreached in that direction.

But all that is to come. On Tuesday night celebrations were expected in Chicago, and elsewhere, as America prepared to welcome the first black president-elect of a country born with the ugly birthmark of slavery. It is a remarkable, and historic, achievement.

Numbers of Native Speakers

2008-11-03T14:06:00.003-02:00

Language

Mandarin - 1 billion
Spanish - 350 million
English - 340 million
Arabic - 300 million
Portuguese - 250 million

Politics this week

2008-10-30T23:01:00.001-02:00

Oct 30th 2008
From The Economist print edition

Barack Obama and John McCain made one last frantic round of campaign appearances ahead of America’s presidential electionon November 4th. Flush with funds, Mr Obama appeared on prime-time television in a glossy 30-minute campaign ad. National opinion polls narrowed somewhat, but still pointed to a big win for the Democrat. Mr McCain insisted he would prove the pundits wrong and eke out a victory. See article

Those states that allow early voting reported a brisk turnout. Gallup suggested that, as of October 27th, 18% of voters had cast their ballots already, and that Mr Obama held a ten-point lead over Mr McCain in that group.

The Democrats were expected to increase their majority inCongress on election day. Their chances of securing a 60-seat filibuster-proof majority in the Senate improved with the conviction of Ted Stevens on all charges of corruption relating to repairs on his home. The Alaskan senator is contesting his seat in a tight race. Senior Republicans, including Mr McCain, said he should resign. See article

Vocabulary - Tips

2008-10-29T23:19:00.005-02:00

summertime in Brasil

songs

summertime - janis joplin
cruel summer - bananarama

summer synonyms

summer

summertime, summer season, full summer, dog days, sunny season, harvest, haying time, vacation, picnic days, fly time*; see also season.

2008-10-28T22:48:00.003-02:00

Alexandre
oil on canvas, ass. dat. 1960
81 x 48 cm
Last Shot: R$ 220.000,00 - U$ 110.000,00
Milton DaCosta

Auction , April 2007

Availability - Classes

2008-10-28T22:34:00.004-02:00

Mondays - mornings / lunch hour

Tuesdays - / lunch hour

Wednesday -

Thursday - mornings / lunch hour

Friday - afternoons

Hand Design - Today´s Artist : Marcela Melo

2008-10-26T19:29:00.003-02:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/felizesparasempre/

vocabulary

2008-10-26T19:28:00.001-02:00

scribble definition
scrib·ble (skrib′əl)
transitive verb, intransitive verb scribbled -·bled, scribbling -·bling
to write carelessly or illegibly
to make or cover with meaningless or illegible marks
to compose hastily, without regard to style

NEWS - FRIDAY

2008-10-24T17:29:00.001-02:00

Brazil

Licensed to scribble

Oct 23rd 2008 | SÃO PAULO
From The Economist print edition

An end to journalism’s closed shop?

ONE of the many things that remained the same in Brazil when military rule went in 1985 was the need for journalists to obtain a diploma and register with the labour ministry. When the law stipulating this was introduced in 1967, it provided a useful way to prevent troublemakers from voicing their opinions. It has survived because Brazil is often slow to undo such anachronisms, but also because it suits the journalists’ union to keep a closed shop.

Now the Supreme Court is considering whether to strike out the law. At the same time, the ministry of education is pondering whether any Brazilian with a university degree should be granted a diploma that would permit them to scribble (a requirement that would still exclude the president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, for a start).

“The quality of journalism in Brazil would suffer if the rules are changed,” asserts Celso Schröder of the National Federation of Journalists. That is questionable. Much of Brazil’s journalism is good and robustly independent, particularly when compared with the media in Mexico or Argentina. But this has less to do with the diplomas that hacks wield than with the competitiveness of the newspaper and magazine market. Though there are only a few widely-available television channels, they too do a fairly good job of reporting what is going on to those who watch the news rather than read it.

The biggest flaw in the Brazilian media concerns the ownership of radio stations and provincial newspapers. According to Donos da Mídia, a monitoring group, 271 politicians (defined as state or federal legislators or mayors) are either directors or partners in media companies. Surprisingly, the two states with the highest incidence of politician-proprietors are Minas Gerais and São Paulo in the developed south-east. No diploma can guarantee reporting that is independent of these mini-Berlusconis.

New Courses

2008-10-24T14:57:00.000-02:00

English in fashion - General English Course designed for fashion people

New Companies

2008-10-21T23:58:00.001-02:00

Teaching at Asserth, JP Morgan, Billabong, Master Kitchens and Cab Environmental

Experience

2008-06-16T13:46:00.004-03:00

Since 2005
IPE - Inglês para Executivos/ Curso Apoio – Sistema de Aulas
BICS - at present

One to one teaching. Preparation of worksheets and correction of lessons providing feedback and understanding to individuals.
Lesson planning, to capture children’s imagination such as play time activities Tutorial of children after school aiming at improving conversation and writing. Business English Teaching in companies for executives (Johnson & Johnson , IAMS, Sony and Procter & Gamble, Gusmão& Labrunie, Lazarinni – Environmental Engineering Consultancy, Master – Industrial Kitchens, Galvão Engineering and Cab Environmental, JP MOrgan, FM Global, Cid Vieira Lawyers, Billabong GSM, Asserth).

I have spent one year in Australia to brush up my English and improve my fluency, besides gaining cultural grounds.

Good Afternoon

2008-06-16T13:45:00.002-03:00

My name is Alexandre. I am an English Teacher focused on Business English and also oral communication. In this blog I will be posting some tips and links in order to help you with the language.

Language Express - Hot Links

2007-05-13T13:00:00.008-03:00

http://www.speakup.com.br/
http://www.ft.com/
http://www.english2go.com.br
http://www.yourdictionary.com

http://www.economist.com

http://www.englishpage.com

Language Express - Contact

2007-05-13T12:51:00.004-03:00

If you have any doubt about lessons and tips please send an e-mail to the following addresses :

alexandremeloster@gmail.com
alexandre_melo@hotmail.com
http://www.curriculum.com.br/ucn/VIBE