English Unlimited
Either the site itself or each ‘conversant’ could/should have readily available the following:
•
•
Taboo List:
o Talking about things of a sexual nature must meet specific rules – if ever.
o Both conversant should be properly dressed
o Never chat where OTHERs might be compromised (ie, naked?) or on the toilet...
o Never discuss criminal intent or unresolved matters of an ongoing investigation
o Avoid promises that can not be kept!
o Do not reveal details of confidentiality – to them or others
o Turn off environmental distractions when possible: TV / Radio / Video games / street noise
o Be respectful of each other’s time and resources, convictions and philosophy
(These items help to maintain a higher level of program integrity)
Google Translate and/or translation dictionary AND Oxford Dictionary.
A list of suggested topics for discussion (sports, politics, weather, school, travel, business..) and possibly a
series of properly worded ‘lead-in’ questions for each topic.
Techniques:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Each ‘teacher’ conversant must learn how to speak with the foreigner.
The goal is that EVENTUALLY the ‘student’ can communicate as freely and clearly as the ‘teacher’.
If the audience didn’t hear or clearly understand what was said, the thought was not communicated.
Say complete sentences. Speak loud and clearly. Articulate your words properly. Finish each word.
Situate yourself so that your partner can watch your mouth form the words.
When possible, type certain words as you say them so your partner can relate the two – especially when
clarifying BRAZIL-ONYMS.
Be patient. You learned to speak English over a lifetime. Repeat often as necessary.
Learn how/when to correct a partner’s speech tactfully:
o Too often / too soon will discourage them and make conversations awkward
o Strive to learn the sounds they have difficulty pronouncing – see Fred’s starter list.
o Avoid laughing at their mispronunciations – be sensitive to the process of learning
Be sure about your corrections. Make notes and research before responding.
Whenever possible, log your discussion topics and highlight areas of specific concern.
Internet connections will often be intermittent or delayed during a conversation. Learn to say a complete
thought or sentence then wait a few seconds for the other to receive it and then allow them more time to
comprehend and respond. Failing to have this form of dialogue will create a confusing atmosphere.
A one-hour conversation between strangers in different languages and cultures may be unlikely. Be prepared
to finish sessions in varying time frames.
Enjoyable conversation typically involves sharing equal time to respond to one another’s questions.
Evaluation of the student, teacher, program, conversations, etc will help the developers to continually improve.
Fred’s Starter list of common Brazilian difficulties in pronunciation:
1. Vowels – in Portuguese, commonly ALL vowels are pronounced – rarely do they have ‘silent’ letters
as we do in English.
2. It’s a challenge for them to grasp the rules concerning, for example, the silent ‘e’ of OFFICE
3. Y – this letter ( ‘ipsolo’ in Portuguese) is rarely used; typically only in English-origin words. They will
be hesitant to pronounce Y of STUDY VERY FUNNY HAPPY SUNNY CITY MUNICIPALITY. This
becomes more complicated when the word is pluralized, as in CITIES / STUDIES / VARIES
4. Possibly the most common errors between English and Portuguese grammar involve the tense, plurality and
gender of words. For instance: IS WAS WERE / BE BEEN / HIS HERS HIM THEM THEIRS / DO DID
5. TH – In Brazilian speech, the tongue typically does not leave the mouth. They must learn to exercise sticking
the tongue between the teeth and simply blowing air in pronouncing the number 333,333:
“THREE HUNDRED THIRTY THREE THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED THIRTY THREE THANKFUL THESPIANS
THINK THOUGHTS THOROUGHLY THROUGHOUT THURSDAY” Initially, this will be impossible for Brazilians
to say and will take weeks of practice – be patient.
6. Th – Different than the TH of Thursday, they must then learn to add vocals to the blowing air of TH and
similarly pronounce THIS THAT THE THEM THEY THESE THOSE
7. SYNONYMS, HOMoNYMS, and ANTONYMS
Help to recognize the differences using spoken and
written words:
a. Synonyms are different words which can have a similar meaning; BIG / HUGE / LARGE / GRAND
b. Antonyms are words with opposite meanings: COME / GO THERE / HERE YES / NO
c. Homonyms and similar words with different meanings; AFFECT / EFFECT ALOUD / ALLOWED
HOLY / HOLEY / WHOLLY
d. BRAZIL-ONYMS are delicate words we have the most fun with in each language which when
pronounced by Brazilians mean something completely different. It’s particularly important to help
them learn the correct pronunciation:
i. BEACH (it’s a fun place, so smile when you say it) ...not BITCH
ii. SHEET (paper is white like your teeth so smile when you say it) ...not SHIT
iii. CURSE / COURSE / COARSE
8. Brazilians will pronounce things differently:
a. ‘il’ at the end of their word is ‘eew’
...therefore Brazil is ‘Braseew’
b. ‘im’ or ‘em’ or ‘en’ at the end of their words trail off. So their YES = SIM sounds like ‘sing’
c. ‘H’ is commonly silent like our HONOUR HOUR HONEST
d. C K S ç each have their variations
e. Portuguese use á è ç â ã trills to denote variations where we use consonant rules
f. ‘D’ is pronounced ‘G’
...therefore, I am Fredgie
g. ‘R’ is pronounced ‘H’
...therefore, Rob and Robyn become ‘Hob e Hoby’
h. ‘J’ is pronounced vocally: ‘ZJ’ (see my note 6 on ‘Th’)
i. ‘X’ is pronounced ‘Shee’
...Pineapple is ‘Abacaxi’ and pronounced ‘Abaka-shee’
j. Their alphabetic sounds [Ah, Beh, Ceh, Deh, Ehh...] are soft compared to ours [Aye, Bee, See, Dee..]
k. Their vowel sounds are Ah, Ehh, Eee, Uh, Ooo.
9. ED – Because they pronounce each vowel, Brazilians are tempted to say Look-ED, Walk-ED, Talk-ED. Check
out: www.5minuteenglish.com/apr18.htm some words sound like they end in -T or -id or -ed or -d such
as in KISSED / HOPED / LEARNED / PLAYED / WANTED / SOUNDED