Musical Monday - Amy Winehouse

Like everyone else, I was saddened when I heard the news of Amy Winehouse's passing, but I was also not shocked. I almost expected it, unfortunately. In fact, I had just been talking about her drug addiction the night before she died. I mentioned that she was killing herself with drugs and that she was not going to live long (if she kept it up); the following day I heard the news from my friend's manicurist here in Brasilia that Amy had died that morning in London. 


I loved her music. Her soul. Even her wacky hairdo (well, maybe not the bees nest since I could only imagine what was inside. Ew). It really is our loss that she is gone. We won't be able to sit back, relax, and really listen and feel what it is she has to say anymore. I'm sorry that her family and close friends have to suffer because she lost her battle with drugs and alcohol. Not many people do win the war with crack. I'm sad to say that Amy didn't. 


Amy will be missed. Greatly. Many brazilians are huge fans of her and the notice of her death was on the local and national news every few minutes. Everyone who'd been around her, worked with her, or was a fan was interviewed, and images of her skinny-as-can-be self were plastered all over the television. I guess it's not a big surprise because she was on the news even before her death, especially because she was just in Brazil in January. People loved her. I loved her music, too. Fans in this country and around the world will sense the void she will surely leave behind.


I'd like to, then, post a few of my favorite videos from the late Amy Winehouse here to pay homage to a very talented woman, and to say again that she'll be missed and that I'm sorry she had to leave the Earth so soon. 


Tears Dry on their Own...




Rehab...




Back to Black...

Jazz and Blues in BSB

I just wrote (see yesterday's post) about the Bourbon Street Fest here in Brazil. This was the 9th year that the festival took place in Brazil, and the first in Brasilia. It really was an amazing show and the crowd was really jumping, dancing, singing, and (to my surprise) smoking reefer everything you turned  your nose could smell and of course drinking. A good time was had by all. The music could be heard from afar and as we approached the stage the singers' voices rose and the music vibrated invitingly.

I have been wanting to go to New Orleans for years, but have yet to make it. Therefore, this concert was exactly what I needed to bring the music of New Orleans to me, to hear English spoken by the musicians from Louisiana, and to bring me to my feet to dance to jazz and blues and sing along with the songs that I know surrounded by a crowd of people really enjoying themselves. 

Translation # 2: Brotar

Today's translation is not a noun phrase like the one I learned last week, but a verb instead; it's the verb brotar that I learned today. It means "to sprout", "to bud", or "to spring [up]". 


I was reading a children's book to my co-worker this morning, as we were browsing through the used books at the school's library, those that were for sale. I recommended that she buy a children's textbook to improve her Portuguese (like I do to everyone) and I picked up one that had poems. 


One of the poems I found was a metaphor about love sprouting, such as a flower does in the spring. I realized that I had never seen the word brota (as it was written) and I asked my new (Brazilian) co-worker for the translation. The poem made more sense to me once I knew what the word meant.


Now I have another word to add to my dictionary of new Portuguese words. Thanks, Marta!

Translation # 1: Hydrogen Peroxide

The translation for hydrogen peroxide in Portuguese is just what one would imagine: peróxido de hidrogênio

I figured that it was so, but I didn't know how to pronounce it or even write it; so when I went to the drug store this evening I had to try another tactic. I asked if anyone speaks English and when I was told no, then I told them I wanted to buy something that is often used to heal cuts but that I didn't know the name in Portuguese. However, I said, I thought the name of it in English looked similar to that of Portuguese. I asked for a piece of paper, I wrote it down and wala, I got what I wanted. AND the price was comparable to that of the US. Well done, Meredith.

Dave Matthews Band & Ivete Sangalo

"You and Me" - English & Portuguese version

Wordless Wednesday: High School Books

As I prepare to move to Brazil to teach high school English, I'm spending some of my time (re)reading books that I'll be teaching starting next month.

Remember these from high school English class?

Vet Visit #2

Today we took Sebastian to his second, and final, veterinarian visit before moving to Brazil. For more information regarding taking a cat to Brazil ,read on here and then about my first vet visit just click here. This morning's trip to the doctor's was at the ungodly hour of 7:30 a.m. Apparently I thought when I made the appointment that since I was a high school teacher my body would be accustomed to waking up when it's still dark, regardless of the fact that the appointment was on a Saturday during the summer. Not the best idea, especially after a late night. E went along, but he was sleeping until the vet started including him into our conversations - she was good like that.

Note: If you're taking a pet with you to Brazil I suggest reading the consulate's website and calling the USDA for more specifics, as well as your airline. 

This final exam was to get the International Health Certificate, make sure Sebastian is still in good health, check his weight (gain?), and ask the doctor some questions about his imminent trip abroad. Sebastian IS in good health; the vet said that his teeth are beautiful and his lymph nodes are healthy. He IS 15.5 lbs (only .1 lb more than his May visit), but he is a big boy - tall and long from head to toe. However, this vet said that she'd like to see him lose a bit of his belly...maybe just a pound. 

The vet today was excellent. She was friendly and informative and knew how to talk to pet owners. She gave us the certificate, which I verified and signed, and then she even filled out a health certificate in Portuguese/English. I don't know if that's standard procedure or if she just did it to be kind, but I'm glad I have all of the forms completed and signed, and that she is an accredited veterinarian (otherwise the USDA won't accept her signature). Nice touch that there is a bilingual form, if you ask me. She also noticed that the rabies certificates that we showed her were not signed by the first vet, Dr. Hart. Hence, my trip back there to see that doctor later in the afternoon. I had noticed he didn't sign it either but didn't think much of it since it does have his name written on it, but it's better to be safe than sorry, especially with Brazil so I stopped by his office. It's too hot for that. With that being said, it wasn't so bad stopping by his office because it was nice to see a pet owner so grateful for all that that he has done for her pet. A lady there was thanking him and his secretaries a million times. He was also a good vet and Sebastian really seemed to like him.

Dr. Krampotich (from today) took her time to talk to us and answer our questions, despite the fact that it was before 8 a.m. on a Saturday, and to be honest, that is what I appreciated the most. Oh yeah, and that she called Sebastian "munchkin" - so cute :). My first question was about Sebastian's behavior on the plane. Turns out we have an 8 and a half-hour flight from Orlando to Sao Paulo and then another 1 and a half-hour flight from SP to Brasilia (and that doesn't include our layover which can be up to 5 hours, if not more). I was thinking about buying a spray that is made to calm cats. The only issue with that is that each cat is different. What if it didn't work on Sebastian? What if he went crazy(ier)? So what did the doctor suggest? Sedatives. Sure, I'll take them. She gave us a bottle (of 5) and told us to try one out today. Which we did. Sebastian is sleeping like a baby now; he looks and acts like he's all drugged up and I think it'll be best to travel with him like this. I only gave him 1/2 a pill which I mixed in with his wet food. We'll do this again next week before we leave for the Orlando airport.

By the way, the vet told me that she likes male cats to eat wet food because it's good for their urinary tract. And I know that males are more susceptible to getting said infections and that it's very painful for them. I'm happy then to make my little guy happy since he loves to eat wet, canned food.

My other major question to the vet was regarding how much/when Sebastian should eat and drink before traveling. I really don't want him to use the bathroom on the plane, nor do I want him to have to but then not go because he's uncomfortable. (Cats tend to do that). The vet suggested since our flight is at night to give him breakfast that morning and then not feed him until we're on the flight, only giving him very very small portions at a time. She said that as he is a big cat and has fat in his body, his body would attack his fatty liver if he didn't eat food and we don't want that. 

We left the vet's office with the health certificate in hand (in English and Portuguese :), Sebastian's pills, a healthy cat who had one more car trip under his belt, and a number of questions answered in a professional manner. Sebastian came home and is now sleeping soundly. In three more days we'll go to Gainesville to make a visit to the USDA, sans the cat, and he'll be ready for the following week and his first international flight.

The boys

Crazy cat

Nosy

Sleeping beauty

If you're looking for a veterinarian in the Orlando area, I'd highly recommend the following doctors. I hope that someone does find this information useful because I know when I was looking for a vet to help with this process it was difficult for me to find any information on-line. 

Dr. Roger Hart, DVM

8219 S John Young Parkway

Orlando, FL 32819

(located in PetSmart)

Dr. Eva Diana Krampotich, DVM

7424 E Colonial Drive

Orlando, FL 32807

(VCA Animal Hospital)

Why I speak to my cat in Portuguese

I speak predominantly to my cat in Portuguese. Anyone out there who owns or loves cats knows that it's not strange at all to have conversations with them, so it shouldn't be weird that I speak to mine (as often as I do) in a foreign language. 

E and I speak predominantly Portuguese at home, on a daily basis. It's rare that he speaks, or responds to me, in English. I don't know if it's because that's the language that we used when we first met each other and started dating, because after all, we were in Brazil and he didn't know any English at the time. I mean, why change things up?

Even after all of these years, and the fact that he has since learned and been immersed in English, we still speak Portuguese. Maybe it's because I speak Portuguese better than he speaks English, maybe it's out of habit, or maybe it's because I'm an annoying English teacher (which I don't think so; I do help him and he appreciates and learns from me, but still....). 

How does the cat fit into this equation? Since I speak Portuguese at home, it only makes sense that I'd talk to my cat in the same language. I speak English at work, with friends, every time I leave the house, etc., but at home it's Portuguese all the way (unless I'm on the phone or on Skype). We watch TV and movies solely in English but that's about it. 

E talks to his friends on the phone in English, uses Facebook (never Orkut) and is otherwise surrounded by English, but I'm the exception (and the few Brazilian friends he has here). Even if we're out with Americans, speaking English, he'll almost always address me in Portuguese. We won't do this to be rude, I just see E and think "Portuguese" so it makes sense. I even discussed this once how I dreamt in English until he appeared in my dream, then I spoke Portuguese since I was talking to him. Must be habit then, correct? I think so. He hasn't given me any other explanation.

I do, however, believe that each time we're in New York with my family and childhood friends he speaks more English to me. Our goal is rarely to alienate someone (we can use our knowledge of a foreign language when we're out in public and want to have a private conversation). We therefore usually speak English around my family unless we want to say something to each other in private - then we shift to Portuguese.

All of this Portuguese speaking leads to the fact that I address my cat, Sebastian, in Portuguese as well. I mean, why would I speak to him in English if I don't speak to his "father" in English? Plus, it's more fun to call him gatinho, bebezinho, Sebastiaozinho, chatinho :). 

Wordless Wednesday: I'll miss my favorite English teacher

So what am I watching on TV?

I just wrote a post about cancelling my cable TV in preparation for our move to Brazil and it reminds me that I'll miss not only English language TV, but I'll also miss the regular TV programs that I habitually watch. (I feel like I should add that I've only been watching more TV recently for some reason; I wasn't always this into television. I do love to read. Remember?)

The question then is, what am I watching on TV?

Meet the Browns

Sex and the City reruns

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations <3

with Steve Harvey



These are my guilty pleasures....

Musical May Madness: Bossa Nova

I've mentioned it before - I love Brazilian music (and yes, I'm aware that there is a variety of genres). I like samba, pagode, axe, funk, and even some forro. In fact, it was the music that sparked my interest in wanting to learn the Portuguese language and that's probably what eventually lead me to Brazil. I especially like Bossa Nova; it's so romantic and makes you want to dance slowly with a partner or listen to a musician play music live while relaxing at a bar or restaurant in Brazil.


Therefore, for my final Musical May Madness, I present you with a few videos of Bossa Nova music. They may be old, but they're classics. I hope you can appreciate the music as much as I do. 


Turn up your speakers, sit back, relax, and just listen and enjoy....

What language do you dream in?

I remember being told by someone long ago that when you dream in your second (same could go for third or fourth) language that you have made it. Meaning you are fluent. I loved hearing that. I actually thought it was fascinating since I've been obsessed with languages for years, and that includes sign language. I've known since I was in high school that I'd be involved with foreign languages somehow in my life because I can say for sure that that and culture have long been interests of mine, hence my double major in college - Anthropology and Spanish. For years I'd wanted to know more about exchange students and when I was in 11th grade I jumped on the chance to apply to be one and adventure off to the unknown once I had graduated from high school.


I can't recall the first dream that I had in Spanish, but I know it was after I'd been living in Bolivia for some time. I imagine that it was after at least 6 months of being there. It makes sense. I spoke a lot of Spanish throughout the day - to my host families, friends, boyfriend, taxi drivers, store owners, etc. I don't remember that first dream being completely in Spanish, but I know that I was speaking Spanish as I dreamt. Once I woke up and realized what I'd done, I felt exhilarated. I had accomplished what only bilingual people do. Correct? At least I felt I could brag to people that I had dreamt in a foreign language.


Fast forward a number of years and I can say with assurance that I have dreamt in Portuguese as well. I know that I dreamt in the language while I was in Brazil and that I don't do so regularly. I mean, English is my native language and I didn't dream in a second language until I was 18 years old (while in Bolivia) so it's not a daily occurrence or anything, but it happens. Additionally, I often think and talk to myself in Portuguese. I catch myself doing this when I'm thinking about something that I want to say to my husband and I talk to my cat in both languages; I believe that comes from the fact that I'm constantly speaking Portuguese to E, so why not to the cat or to myself? It's a habit.


I remember once having a bad dream, not too long ago, that was in English. In this dream, someone was either going to hurt or kill me and I was scared, but all of a sudden E appeared and saved me. Once he entered into my dream I looked at him and spoke to him in Portuguese, thanking him of course. Once I was finished addressing him I reverted back to speaking/thinking/dreaming in English. Interesting, isn't it? It's like since I normally speak Portuguese with E on a daily basis, that transferred over to my dream and I interrupted my English language dreaming in order to respond to E's saving me, at which time I spoke Portuguese. When I turned back to speak to the other person in my dream, I must have assumed that he was an English language speaker like myself. 


For a multilingual, pseudo Anthropologist as myself this is all so interesting. I like to "study" my own language acquisition and learn from myself. I believe that it helps make me a better language teacher. I also observe my husband and those around me.


My questions now are....what language do you dream in? Do you have bilingual dreams? Does the language you're speaking in your dream change depending on who you're "talking" to (like me)? Do you speak your second/third/fourth language fluently when you dream?

Accents, Languages, and Confusion

Me (answering the phone): Hello?


Man: ochkochbogoshvendochkoshcarbogsh


Me: Excuse me?


Man: something along the line of, are you selling your car? (but this time I understood the language of the man to be Portuguese) how many miles does it have? is the price negotiable?


So I mumbled a response along the lines of, talk to my husband because he's the Brazilian, I gave him the price and answered that yes the price is negotiable. Really I didn't want to talk to the potential buyer because E knows how to negotiate, I had company over, and because my company are Spanish speakers and I had just spent who-knows-how-long speaking Spanish. I can't then be forced to switch languages, can I? And plus, he had a strange Brazilian Portuguese accent. Maybe he's from the Northeast? I know I always need to get used to the accent of a Brazilian who is from a region that I am unfamiliar with.


Have you ever tried speaking Spanish and then need to switch like a light being turned on to speak Portuguese? It's not easy. 


I started studying Spanish as an exchange student Bolivia, right out of high school. I had studied Spanish in high school, but we all know that you don't learn to say much more than "Me llamo...."  and "Tengo xx anhos [I don't have the accent mark so I cannot write this correctly]". I became quite fluent after returning from Bolivia as I majored in the language and studied and worked abroad. But then I went to Brazil after college. That's when my language skills got all messed up. I initially used Spanish in Brazil when I wasn't supposed to; but hey, it was an easier language to fall back on because people generally understood me. My neighbor once told me that I sounded like a Hispanic; that was a better compliment that being told I sounded like a gringa when I spoke Portuguese.


Now that I'm fluent in Portuguese and speak it on a daily basis, my Spanish has really suffered. In fact, I have difficulty creating a sentence in Spanish without mixing in Portuguese words. Or should I say throwing in? Either way, I speak portunhol very well. And yet I still try to speak Spanish Monday - Friday as I have a few students from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic who either don't speak English almost at all, or at least don't with me. This has forced me to be more confident and try to separate the two languages in my mind, but it's not been a walk in the park. I have to think before I speak and try to slow - that's the part I dislike the most. I want to speak quickly like I do in English and Portuguese.


That brings me back to my conversation today. I tried so hard to speak Spanish to my visitors this afternoon that stopped by because I know that my friend feels more confident speaking Spanish. Plus, her mother-in-law is visiting from Venezuela and I know she understands a great deal of what I say in English, but does not speak it. They're so patient, kind, and understanding, but I feel like a mumbling fool sometimes as I try to get my brain to transfer from English to Portuguese to Spanish. 


God knows I spoke espaporinglish (a word a Colombian student of mine created as we used to speak a mixture of the 3 languages when we had get togethers with her family and Brazilians) to the my guests today and then spoke portunhol to the Brazilian on the phone. But I guess that's all part of being a trilingual. At least I can have fun with it sometimes. You gotta laugh at yourself once in awhile :).

Musical May Madness: Damian Marley

With brother Stephen Marley...

With Nas (and Amandou et Mariam)...

Meredith, the Master

I am proud to say that I have now graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Master's degree in TESOL. It was hard work, but it definitely paid off in the end. Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me throughout the years as I pursued my degree in higher education, especially to my patient husband E.



Is Brazil a Racial Paradise?

The concept of race in Brazil is quite different from that in the United States. Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explains this all very thoroughly and effectively in his latest PBS program as he explores the "rainbow nation" that is Brazil. Here is a clip of the show that aired last night. A link to the entire show can be found at the bottom of this post.

Watch the full episode. See more Black in Latin America.

Source: PBS - Black in Latin America

Musical March Madness - Adele

For my last session of Musical March Madness I wanted to post music from my favorite singer/performer, the one and only, ADELE. She is from England and is only 22 years old. Her albums are extraordinary and her performances are stunning.

My favorite song from her latest album "21" is called Someone like you. Adele may sing better live than she does in video and for this reason I'm posting one her live performances.

Disclaimer: You may experience goosebumps regardless of how many times you listen to the song.




Each song is unique and outstanding in its own way. That of course makes it difficult to choose my favorite songs, so I'll just showcase the songs that I listen to the most. The first is probably the most well known song by Adele; it's called Rolling in the deep. The album was written about one man, with whom Adele had a relationship that went bad. This song is about that man, but it gives completely different feelings about the relationship than does Someone like you. The final video is called Set fire to the rain and is another of my absolute favorites. The best version of this song is from the album; I couldn't find a video of high quality.

Citizenship Questions - English

For anyone who needs to study the (new) U.S. citizenship test, here are the 100 questions and answers that you need to know. You will be asked 10 questions and you need to get at least 6 correct to pass (along with the reading and writing portions of the test).

Principles of American Democracy

1. What is the supreme law of the land?
A: The Constitution
2. What does the Constitution do?
A: sets up the government
A: defines the government
A: protects basic rights of Americans
3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
A: We the People
4. What is an amendment?
A: a change (to the Constitution)
A: an addition (to the Constitution)
5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
A: The Bill of Rights
6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?*
A: speech
A: religion
A: assembly
A: press
A: petition the government
7. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
A: twenty-seven (27)
8. What did the Declaration of Independence do?
A: announced our independence (from Great Britain)
A: declared our independence (from Great Britain)
A: said that the United States is free (from Great Britain)
9. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?
A: life
A: liberty
A: pursuit of happiness
10. What is freedom of religion?
A: You can practice any religion, or not practice a religion.
11. What is the economic system in the United States?*
A: capitalist economy
A: market economy
12. What is the "rule of law"?
A: Everyone must follow the law.
A: Leaders must obey the law.
A: Government must obey the law.
A: No one is above the law.

System of Government

13. Name one branch or part of the government.*
A: Congress
A: Legislative
A: President
A: Executive
A: The courts
A: Judicial
14. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
A: checks and balances
A: separation of powers
15. Who is in charge of the executive branch?
A: the President
16. Who makes federal laws?
A: Congress
A: Senate and House (of Representatives)
A: (U.S. or national) legislature
17. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?*
A: the Senate and House (of Representatives)
18. How many U.S. Senators are there?
A: one hundred (100)
19. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
A: six (6)
20. Who is one of your state's U.S. Senators?*
A: Answers will vary. [For District of Columbia residents and residents of U.S. territories, the answer is that D.C. (or the territory where the applicant lives) has no U.S. Senators.]
* If you are 65 years old or older and have been a legal permanent resident of the United States for 20 or more years, you may study just the questions that have been marked with an asterisk.
21. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
A: four hundred thirty-five (435)
22. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?
A: two (2)
23. Name your U.S. Representative.
A: Answers will vary. [Residents of territories with nonvoting Delegates or resident Commissioners may provide the name of that Delegate or Commissioner. Also acceptable is any statement that the territory has no (voting) Representatives in Congress.]
24. Who does a U.S. Senator represent?
A: all people of the state
25. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
A: (because of) the state's population
A: (because) they have more people
A: (because) some states have more people
26. We elect a President for how many years?
A: four (4)
27. In what month do we vote for President?*
A: November
28. What is the name of the President of the United States now?*
A: Barack Obama
A: Barack
A: Obama
29. What is the name of the Vice President of the United States now?
A: Joe Biden
A: Biden
30. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
A: the Vice President
31. If both the President and the Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?
A: the Speaker of the House
32. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?
A: the President
33. Who signs bills to become laws?
A: the President
34. Who vetoes bills?
A: the President
35. What does the President's Cabinet do? A: advises the President
36. What are two Cabinet-level positions?
A: Secretary of Agriculture
A: Secretary of Commerce
A: Secretary of Defense
A: Secretary of Education
A: Secretary of Energy
A: Secretary of Health and Human Services
A: Secretary of Homeland Security
A: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
A: Secretary of Interior
A: Secretary of State
A: Secretary of Transportation
A: Secretary of Treasury
A: Secretary of Veterans' Affairs
A: Secretary of Labor
A: Attorney General
37. does the judicial branch do?
A: reviews laws
A: explains laws
A: resolves disputes (disagreements)
A: decides if a law goes against the Constitution
38. What is the highest court in the United States?A: the Supreme Court
39. How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
A: nine (9)
40. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States?
A: John Roberts (John G. Roberts, Jr.)
41. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the federal government?
A: to print money
A: to declare war
A: to create an army
A: to make treaties
42. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?
A: provide schooling and education
A: provide protection (police)
A: provide safety (fire departments)
A: give a driver's license
A: approve zoning and land use
43. Who is the Governor of your state?
A: Answers will vary. [Residents of the District of Columbia and U.S. territories without a Governor should say "we don't have a Governor."]
44. What is the capital of your state?*
A: Answers will vary. [District of Columbia residents should answer that D.C. is not a state and does not have a capital. Residents of U.S. territories should name the capital of the territory.]
45. What are the two major political parties in the United States?*
A: Democratic and Republican
46. What is the political party of the President now?
A: Democrat (Party)
47. What is the name of the Speaker of the House of Representatives now?
A: John Boehner

Rights and Responsibilities

48. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
A: Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).
A: You don't have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.
A: Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)
A: A male citizen of any race (can vote).
49. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*
A: serve on a jury
A: vote
50. What are two rights only for United States citizens?
A: apply for a federal job
A: vote
A: run for office
A: carry a U.S. passport
51. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
A: freedom of expression
A: freedom of speech
A: freedom of assembly
A: freedom to petition the government
A: freedom of worship
A: the right to bear arms
52. What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance?
A: the United States
A: the flag
53. What is one promise you make when you become a United States citizen?
A: give up loyalty to other countries
A: defend the Constitution and laws of the United States
A: obey the laws of the United States
A: serve in the U.S. military (if needed)
A: serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)
A: be loyal to the United States
54. How old do citizens have to be to vote for President?*
A: eighteen (18) and older
55. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
A: vote
A: join a political party
A: help with a campaign
A: join a civic group
A: join a community group
A: give an elected official your opinion on an issue
A: call Senators and Representatives
A: publicly support or oppose an issue or policy
A: run for office
A: write to a newspaper
56. When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms?*
A: April 15
57. When must all men register for the Selective Service?
A: at age eighteen (18)
A: between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)

Colonial Period and Independence

58. What is one reason colonists came to America?
A: freedom
A: political liberty
A: religious freedom
A: economic opportunity
A: practice their religion
A: escape persecution
59. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?
A: Native Americans
A: American Indians
60. What group of people was taken to America and sold as slaves?
A: Africans
A: people from Africa
61. Why did the colonists fight the British?
A: because of high taxes (taxation without representation)
A: because the British army stayed in their houses (boarding, quartering)
A: because they didn't have self-government
62. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
A: (Thomas) Jefferson
63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
A: July 4, 1776
64. There were 13 original states. Name three.
A: New Hampshire
A: Massachusetts
A: Rhode Island
A: Connecticut
A: New York
A: New Jersey
A: Pennsylvania
A: Delaware
A: Maryland
A: Virginia
A: North Carolina
A: South Carolina
A: Georgia
65. What happened at the Constitutional Convention?
A: The Constitution was written.
A: The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution.
66. When was the Constitution written?A: 1787
67. The Federalist Papers supported the passage of the U.S. Constitution. Name one of the writers.
A: (James) Madison
A: (Alexander) Hamilton
A: (John) Jay
A: Publius
68. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?
A: U.S. diplomat
A: oldest member of the Constitutional Convention
A: first Postmaster General of the United States
A: writer of "Poor Richard's Almanac"
A: started the first free libraries
69. Who is the "Father of Our Country"?
A: (George) Washington
70. Who was the first President?*
A:(George) Washington
B: 1800s71. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?
A: the Louisiana Territory
A: Louisiana
72. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s.
A: War of 1812
A: Mexican-American War
A: Civil War
A: Spanish-American War
73. Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.
A: the Civil War
A: the War between the States
74. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.
A: slavery
A: economic reasons
A: states' rights
75. What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did?*
A: freed the slaves (Emancipation Proclamation)
A: saved (or preserved) the Union
A: led the United States during the Civil War
76. What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?
A: freed the slaves
A: freed slaves in the Confederacy
A: freed slaves in the Confederate states
A: freed slaves in most Southern states
77. What did Susan B. Anthony do?
A: fought for women's rights
A: fought for civil rights

Recent American History and Other Important Historical Information

78. Name one war fought by the United States in the 1900s.*
A: World War I
A: World War II
A: Korean War
A: Vietnam War
A: (Persian) Gulf War
79. Who was President during World War I?
A: (Woodrow) Wilson
80. Who was President during the Great Depression and World War II?
A: (Franklin) Roosevelt
81. Who did the United States fight in World War II?
A: Japan, Germany and Italy
82. Before he was President, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
A: World War II
83. During the Cold War, what was the main concern of the United States?
A: Communism
84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?
A: civil rights (movement)
85. What did Martin Luther King, Jr. do?*
A: fought for civil rights
A: worked for equality for all Americans
86. What major event happened on September 11, 2001 in the United States?
A: Terrorists attacked the United States.
87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States.[Adjudicators will be supplied with a complete list.]
A: Cherokee
A: Navajo
A: Sioux
A: Chippewa
A: Choctaw
A: Pueblo
A: Apache
A: Iroquois
A: Creek
A: Blackfeet
A: Seminole
A: Cheyenne
A: Arawak
A: Shawnee
A: Mohegan
A: Huron
A: Oneida
A: Lakota
A: Crow
A: Teton
A: Hopi
A: Inuit

Geography

88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States.
A: Missouri (River)
A: Mississippi (River)
89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States?
A: Pacific (Ocean)
90. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?
A: Atlantic (Ocean)
91. Name one U.S. territory.
A: Puerto Rico
A: U.S. Virgin Islands
A: American Samoa
A: Northern Mariana Islands
A: Guam
92. Name one state that borders Canada.
A: Maine
A: New Hampshire
A: Vermont
A: New York
A: Pennsylvania
A: Ohio
A: Michigan
A: Minnesota
A: North Dakota
A: Montana
A: Idaho
A: Washington
A: Alaska
93. Name one state that borders Mexico.
A: California
A: Arizona
A: New Mexico
A: Texas
94. What is the capital of the United States?*
A: Washington, D.C.
95. Where is the Statue of Liberty?*
A: New York (Harbor)
A: Liberty Island
[Also acceptable are New Jersey, near New York City, and on the Hudson (River).]

Symbols

96. Why does the flag have 13 stripes?
A: because there were 13 original colonies
A: because the stripes represent the original colonies
97. Why does the flag have 50 stars?*
A: because there is one star for each state
A: because each star represents a state
A: because there are 50 states
98. What is the name of the national anthem?
A: The Star-Spangled Banner

Holidays

99. When do we celebrate Independence Day?*A: July 4
100. Name two national U.S. holidays.
A: New Year's Day
A: Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
A: Presidents' Day
A: Memorial Day
A: Independence Day
A: Labor Day
A: Columbus Day
A: Veterans Day
A: Thanksgiving
A: Christmas

Bilingual education is where it's at

As a multilingual individual, I am an advocate and strong believer in bilingual education. My interest peaked even more after reading an article assigned in one of my graduate classes by Claude Goldenberg that CREDE (the Center for Research on Education, Diversity, and Excellence) researchers "concluded that the longer ELLs [English Language Learners] received instruction in a mix of their first language and English, the better their achievement in English[i]”.

Due to this interest in bilingualism and my obvious love for education, I was thrilled to be offered a job at a bilingual school in Brazil. Turns out that this school, located in the capital, is the country's fifth largest, accredited, international, bilingual and co-ed K-12 day school! Awesome, huh? Needless to say, I think that I will feel "in my element" at such a school, one where the instruction is in both English and Portuguese.  

In order to kind of celebrate bilingualism and bilingual education, I wanted to share a little bit of information from my research on bilingual educational programs. This exert is from a paper that I wrote two years ago.

"....Educators have studied bilingual research for years and have come to the conclusion that students who develop and learn reading skills in their L1 can transfer this knowledge to their L2 to help them become better readers in English (Goldenberg 2008). Therefore, if teachers have the ability to educate their students in their L1 at the same time they instruct them in English, ELLs will be offered primary language support as needed. Goldenberg notes that students can be taught the skills to succeed academically in a bilingual or dual language education program (2008). In fact, a group of researchers have found that of all of the models created to educate ELLs, “bilingual education is consistently superior to program models that follow English-only approaches” (Honigsfeld 2009).  In educating students in both languages, educators work on scaffolding students, teaching them in their L1 in order as to not fall behind their American peers.....
In bilingual education, the students are taught their academic subjects in both languages as a means of maintaining academic achievement in all subjects. Sanchez explains that "bilingual education has been shown by sound research to be the best means for promoting the academic success of English language learners" (2008). This is ultimately the goal of all educators, to promote academic success of all students, not only those who speak English as their first language."

The question, then, that we are left with is... 

Research tells us that yes, it does.

[1] Goldenberg, Claude, (2008). Teaching English Language Learners, American Educator, p. 11

Sanchez, H, & Sanchez, M. (2008). The politics of illegal immigration, bilingual education, and the commodity of the post-technological society. The Educational Forum, 72(4) 329-338. 

A snapshot of Brasilia - DF

O DF em números [DF in numbers]

População [Population]:	2.455.903 habitantes[inhabitants]
Densidade Demográfica [Population Density]:	354,3 hab/Km²
Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano (IDH) [Human Development Index]:	0,844 (0-1)
Analfabetismo [Illiteracy]:	4,35% [4.35%]
Altitude:	1.172 m²
Temperatura média anual [Average annual temperature]:	21ºC [70ºF]
Umidade relativa do ar [Humidity]:	40 a 70%

Source: http://www.brasilia.df.gov.br/