“Conversation isn’t about proving a point; true conversation is about going on a journey with the people you are speaking with.” ~Ricky Maye I bet you are tired of small talk in English, starting with simple comments or questions such as: “What’s your name?” “Where are you from?” “The weather is really nice today.” Have…

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” ~Gandhi 2019 has arrived! It’s a new year with new opportunities to not just learn English, but to live it! If you are like most people, you spent the end of December reflecting on how the past year went. You thought about the lessons you…

[Note: this article is based off of a few academic studies. I’ve done my best to summarize the findings, but if you want to learn more, just click the appropriate links] We all know that learning English with TV shows is a fun and motivational way to develop our listening, pronunciation, and fluency. But many…

“Become like water my friend.” ~Bruce Lee As 2018 comes to an end I’ve been reflecting on the lessons that I’ve learned while living and teaching English in Brazil, and I have to say that 2018 was quite a journey. Looking back, I can see how I’ve made a lot of progress in different areas of my…

“The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on. It is never of any use to oneself.” ~Oscar Wilde My journey as an English teacher is closely connected to my journey to Portuguese fluency. It all started when I made the decision to come to Brazil for the first time as an…

This is a story about a hero and a journey that the hero went through to tame a dragon. You may become such a hero. Have you ever found yourself thinking that you have to improve your speaking skills? And you thought things like: “oh, it’s impossible! I am too shy and introverted.” “I have…

“Love the life you live. Live the life you love.” ~Bob Marley I heard this quote from the reggae legend, Bob Marley, 4 years ago when I first started my journey to master Portuguese, and it has stuck with me ever since. I know it’s not Portuguese, but these words have constantly been in my…

As you know, native speakers are not easy understand. And some, like myself, are far worse than others. I admit it, I speak way too fast, I cut my words, I eat them, and I even mumble them. It’s something I gotta improve for sure, but right or wrong, this is how A LOT of…

“There is no glory in practice, but without practice there is no glory.” ~Anonymous Do you know what Picasso, Mozart, and Kobe Bryant all have in common? They were all masters in their craft. Picasso is known for his creative masterpieces. While Mozart learned how to master the art of composing beautiful melodies, and Kobe…

It can be difficult to maintain motivation learning; especially when you are busy and have many commitments. Maybe it is just hard to find the time to study. And even when you do have the time, you are tired and the last thing you want to do is open a book!  That is why it is…