[east and west]

Russian and Portuguese are complete different. Other than sound similar tone. But for learning they have no similarities

[presidentcarter]

I chose Russian based on personal interest in the culture, history, and language itself (Cyrillic seemed exotic and interesting). I flip flopped from Portuguese to Spanish to Russian a few times before deciding.

[Brosemite]

(12-23-2012 05:27 PM)east and west Wrote:  

Don't think fgv has language courses, most are business ones eg, finance in portugese.,

Buy the textbook: 1) Ponto de Encontro and 2) Corresponding workbook in the Brazilian version off of Amazon.com. I used those in my Portuguese class as my professor and I are big advocates of that text.

Once you are done with that book, make the switch to Modern Brazilian Portuguese Grammar by John Whitlam for more advanced studies.

I think the FGV program is predominantly for students that have had classes in North America before arriving in Brazil.

For more formal institutionalized classes, you can maybe try the program Language Trainers Brazil as they have locations in each Brazilian city you want to be in. I'm not sure how good it is, but they do have record keeping of each student, their respective progresses, and give completion certificates for each program finished per student.

[east and west]

we used avenida brasil 1. (pretty basic stuff, abit too simple i think, although good for absolute beginners) i also bought, falar, ler, escriver, which is similar to avenida brasil.

Language Trainers Brazil

http://www.languagetrainersbrasil.com.br/

doesnt seem to offer portuguese para estrangerios.

There is a school called Cel lep idiomas in Sao Paulo, which offer unlimited lab sessions, (where you hear conversations), but they are charging 120 reais per lesson (120 min) , although i reallly like the labs.

[Brosemite]

(12-23-2012 09:28 PM)east and west Wrote:  

we used avenida brasil 1. (pretty basic stuff, abit too simple i think, although good for absolute beginners) i also bought, falar, ler, escriver, which is similar to avenida brasil.

Language Trainers Brazil

http://www.languagetrainersbrasil.com.br/

doesnt seem to offer portuguese para estrangerios.

There is a school called Cel lep idiomas in Sao Paulo, which offer unlimited lab sessions, (where you hear conversations), but they are charging 120 reais per lesson (120 min) , although i reallly like the labs.

They do indeed have Portuguese for estrangeiros:

http://www.languagetrainersbrasil.com.br...precos.php

I'm actually giving this program a shot when I move to Curitiba this upcoming May for more advanced level lessons along with the material I already have. I've been emailing the people quite a bit as they confirmed it over internet already.

I have to be down in Curitiba anyways for a graduate school project regarding City Planning & Sustainability. 30-50 hours.

[east and west]

ya got it. its 60 reais per lesson private, in sao paulo.

[CaptainChardonnay]

Cool guys thanks for the input. I'll be going with Spanish first.

[sportbilly]

got to second the guys who said that younger girls in EE countries (outside of Russia) may not even speak Russian. I have met many EE girls in the UK (Latvian, Estonian, Lithuanian etc), all under 25, and in all cases my Russian has been as good, if not better, than theirs!

However, nobody is going to turn me from a "Slavic Lover" so Russian all the way for me !