aula viva

When I was eight  I saw this TV series based upon a true story called Lampião e Maria Bonita. It took place in the dry lands of Brazilian Sertão, a bit similar to –and not far from- the region of Crisópolis, where grandpa Octavio had settled alone in a house, in the middle of nowhere, after leaving the big city once and for all. I remember having cherry tomato wars with my siblings, picking cotton from the trees in his backyard and eating his polenta. I also remember looking at the moon from the porch and feeling overwhelmed by its power, its mystery, and by the fact that it surely knew everything about my future (but it wouldn't tell me). In terms of landscapes, I am not sure where the memories of this TV series end and where those from my childhood at grandpa Octavio’s little ranch begin. READ MORE>

Aula Viva Get Together: save the date!!! November 17th, 6 - 10 pm, at Space Gallery (1141 Polk Street, San Francisco).

2010 was a great year for Aula Viva. Together with you, Street Smart Brazil and Taba Theater brought to life a whole new approach to Portuguese teaching and learning. We immersed ourselves in some of the best of Brazilian literature and dove deep in Brazilian culture. We saw theater. We discussed it. We re-created it... in Portuguese!

Now it’s time to celebrate. READ MORE>

I am extremely happy to be able to pass on a little of Fernando Sabino’s work through our next Aula Viva Workshop. He is a part of our formation as students, us, Brazilian children… what boy or girl in Brazil, at least from the 80’s generation, didn’t read O Menino no Espelho (The Boy in the Mirror)? READ MORE>

We are very excited to invite you to a creative, fun, and professional Workshop on Brazilian Portuguese Pronunciation, with Larissa Garcia, from Aula Viva. READ MORE>

Check out our Picture Gallery from Aula Viva!

We had our premier Aula Viva this past Saturday and to our delight it was a great success! The students were fully engaged in working hard and totally willing to learn and have fun. What a wonderful time Larissa and I had with the students. We worked long and hard to create this unique experience for students of Portuguese and we were rewarded by the outstanding feedback that we received. READ MORE>

Finalmente!!! Aula Viva is tomorrow, Saturday April 10!

We are excited about it! Tomorrow you will meet uma brasileira que é super bacana. Our character is originally from Salvador. Her adventurous spirit and curious nature has taken her around Brazil and off the beaten path. READ MORE>