There’s a new site out there looking to teach the real deal, the way it is spoken by natives. Personally, I’ve always looked to native speakers when I’m learning a new language and very rarely, big companies. My theory is that pronunciation is as important as vocab and grammar and all that jazz. Anyways, go and check out StreetSmartBrazil and say hi to Luciana, a native of Recife. Here’s a little snippet from her site,

“I bring to you the Portuguese that you do not learn in textbooks, using software, or in your traditional language school. Along with proper grammar and vocabulary, you will learn idiomatic expressions, proverbs, popular sayings, and slang that cannot be found in traditional learning vehicles. Here you will learn the Portuguese that we speak in Brazil.”

Together with her site, you can find a blog, with helpful hints on improving your Portuguese in the written and video form, plus a bookstore to buy the books you’ll need. If you read this now and forget the name of the site, just come back here and check my links page(s)…StreetSmartBrazil will be there!