Melissa de Araujo Barbosa
Hi, I am an ESL and Portuguese teacher from Brazil.
Location Brazil
Achievements
Activity
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Just for fun!
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I usually check it on my phone, not any specific app, but it always shows the temperature and the weather forecast for the day.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Great course, thank you so much!
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Using objects is usually fun and helps to learn and remember words. The teacher could have a bag full of things such as balls, dolls, plastic food, etc., and use them to teach vocabulary. Students can manipulate the objects as they listen to the words and repeat.
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Great lecture!
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About the Weather exercise:
- the block structure is really nice, because you can really focus on just one task at a time. I still found it a bit too colorful, thou;
- the listening part was too long. Maybe it would be better to have more than one listening exercise, but shorter;
- some images were misleading and could lead to error. This should be... -
@MarceloAlvaradovollaire Yes, it happened to me too. Some images were not that clear and could be misleading.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I really enjoyed this course, thank you so much!
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Such a great video!
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
In Brazilian Portuguese, we've borrowed the word mouse (the animal is called rato). But I don't think we'd use the German term, Rollkugel, we'd probably call it something like rolador (something that rolls).
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I've found a beautiful version in Portuguese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUb8pg-vpYU
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In my work as a teacher, I find translations every day. I mostly try to make a bridge between English and the cultures that speak it and Portugueses and our Brazilian culture. For me, the idea of the bridge is a great one.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I haven't really left home recently due to covid (things are awful here in Brazil), but on a trip to NYC a few years ago I actually kept a diary of the bilingual (English and Spanish) signs I encountered there, especially in the Spanish Harlem, where we stayed. Spanish is actually my third language, but I used it a lot there. I guess many people even assumed...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
José de Anchieta (1534 – 1597) is a very famous name in Brazilian history. He was a Spanish Jesuit missionary that came to Brazil in the 16th century. He wrote poems, letters, and plays in different languages - Spanish, Portuguese, Tupi, and Latin. His plays were used as a teaching method among native populations. He was also the first person to write a...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Hello, I'm Melissa and I'm an English teacher from Brazil. I'm looking forward to learning more about translation!
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Reincarnation (noun) – The belief that souls exist, are independent of bodies, and can enter a different body after the previous body's death.
Tribe (noun) – A group of people that live together by their own rules; a group of people that have similar tastes, etc.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Colander (noun) – a kitchen tool like a pan with holes used to drain water from pasta, for example.
Embarrassment (noun) – a situation in which in or more people feel ashamed of something they have said or done.
Parachute (noun) – a tool, like a balloon, used to keep you alive when you jump from a flying airplane.
Imagine (verb) – to see things with...
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It happens to me a lot!
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Portuguese is a very prescriptive language, with people viewing some uses as right and others as wrong. Here in Brazil, the name Aurelio is mostly associated with dictionaries: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aur%C3%A9lio_Dictionary
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My first language is Portuguese and WordReference is also my first choice when I need a bilingual dictionary - it's such a great tool :)
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I usually use more than one each time, my favorite are: Oxford learners, Lexico (Oxford), Merrian Webster, Cambridge, Collins, Longman, and Wiktionary.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I'm an English teacher from Brazil. I use dictionaries on a daily basis for work, and I also teach my student how to use them. I hope to learn more about dictionaries in this course, and so improve my teaching.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Such a great activity!
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Hi, I'm an ESL and Portuguese teacher from Brazil and I'm really interested in this topic in order to improve my work.
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I really enjoyed this course. Thank you so much! I wish you all a healthy 2021.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I try to keep an open mind because there's always something to learn, of course, but I'm not a relativist. Many views were considered ethical because they were good for the people who held the power, such as slavery. However, slavery hurt people then as it would now, there was real suffering, and the fact that it was legal or that some people saw it as ethical...
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@AfraaGorashi I work at an online school. We teach people from all Brazilian states (and other Portuguese-speaking countries as well) and they study at their own pace, so it's not possible to have a hybrid class. Classes are recorded, much like the classes in this course we're taking. It's a choice, however, and it suits the needs of many people. On the other...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Really interesting, I enjoyed it a lot!
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@AfraaGorashi Oh, for sure, I agree with you, but sometimes it's not possible...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I made a plan for the fundraising event and it'd be great to have information about how much exactly they need to raise.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Message - Information about the fundraising event for a local pet charity
Target audience - People who live in the area and care about animal well-being
Objective - Make people attend the event
Metrics - Increase the number of followers on social media and interaction.
Tone/style - Serious but friendly
Content types - Posts on the main page (blog),... -
Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I think the plan is great, but I'd plan more posts on the main site. Maybe three times a week. If people enjoy it, they come back to read some more, and might be disappointed or don't come back if it takes to long to publish new content.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Great tips!
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@MonikaRoth Thank you for your kind words, I really appreciate it :)
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Hi! I'm also a teacher and I've been working with online education for a while. I try to be very, very clear, and also to anticipate the questions students might have. I incorporate the answers to my explanation. I also repeat the same information a couple of times using different words or examples. I try and use lots of body language to help my point, and...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Great example!
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
She can write content about possible destinations and activities. Lots of beautiful photos and information that you usually don't find in regular travel guides. She doesn't have to disclose information about her clients but can share a little about her research about different places. Her service is very focused on one's specific needs, so the tone has to be...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Great tips again! I really like the idea of naming specific industries, because sometimes sentences that are too general seem less serious. If there are specific examples, the text seems more trustworthy.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
While the main team is based in London, our marketing department counts on the expertise of professionals from Lima, Miami, Accra, and Bangkok. We are a group of 50 specialists with a range of industry experience, and our job is to oversee all marketing copy and materials, including websites.
*I'd add a photo of the team to this post.
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Great tips!
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I really enjoyed listening to this and yes, I also felt the Dove text was patronizing...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Example 1: Higgidy blog post about pies - Friendly, cozy
Example 2: Dove ‘Feeling beautiful’ campaign - A little too cold, despite the content
Example 3: Slack blog post about features - Friendly and playful
Example 4: Shelter - Serious, but in a good way
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I work from my computer (I'm a teacher at an online languages school) and also I love studying online, here on FutureLearn and similar websites. Then I check my social media to talk to friends. Many hours a day on the internet...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Hi, I'm Melissa from Brazil. I'm an ESL and Portuguese teacher, and I also write and draw in my free time. I'm looking forward to learning many interesting things in this course.
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@IngridGonzález Sad but true :(
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I really enjoyed this course, thank you so much!
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I really enjoyed this course. I learned a lot, especially that intercultural communication it's not always easy, but we have to do our best.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Verbal and non-verbal communication. I'll keep studying the target language and also reading about the culture. It's a long-term commitment, but I'm happy to engage in it.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I want to be able to communicate better in Japanese, and also learn about non-verbal communication in that country, because that's a place I really want to visit. I have to keep studying Japanese, watching TV programs in Japanese in order to observe people and also read about cultural practices there. Maybe buy a good travel guide too.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
CQ action or behavior - verbal and non-verbal action plus speech acts.
I really want to visit Japan, and I've been studying Japanese for a while now. However, I still have to improve when it comes to that language. I also have to learn a lot about non-verbal communication there, because it's certainly very different from Brazil. -
Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I'd say intrinsic interest, because I really love traveling and learning about different cultures.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
What are the intercultural or diversity challenges you are facing?
I have to improve my language skills, but I see it as a life-long goal... Other than that, I'm not facing it now because I'm not traveling due to covid, but I'm normally very cheerful and bubbly (that's my personality), and it can annoy people sometimes, so I have to remember to tone down,... -
Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
What is the email or text message wording that fits the cultural value that you prefer?
Here in Brazil, you have to be very specific when talking about a deadline, for example, or people will think it's not a deadline, but just a suggestion. In order to balance the harshness of a very direct message about a deadline, people usually say something nice in the...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa replied to trish mensah
Here in Brazil, it's very common to compliment people who work in your team, especially before you have to tell them to do something. An e-mail here would be something like "We really appreciate the effort you have put into your work etc., and we'd like to remind you that the deadline for the project in X". Of course, not all companies are the same, but where...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Here in Brazil, many people stand really close to you even when they do not know you, for example while waiting in line. I'm a Brazilian, but this gets on my nerves. However, it's so natural here that many people honestly don't understand why I feel annoyed...
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Both things are very common here in Brazil, and I find them very annoying...
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That link is very usefull. I'd love to visit Japan and Korea but I'll have to remember not to make eye contact. Here in Brazil, we tend to interpret lack of eye contact as lack of interest in what's being said. Many people say "Look at me while I'm speaking to you!".
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Both are common here in Brazil, and I think they very annoying too...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I'm not a lefty, but I tend to use my left hand a lot. That's something to remember when traveling. I'm also from a culture in which eye contact is important, so I have to keep in mind that it may be different in other places.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Once, in a meeting with my co-workers, I used a word that has a very distinct use in my state and in the other states. There was this very weird moment until I realized I had used a regionalism and explained myself. Since then, I try to think about the words and expressions I'm using even when I'm speaking with other Brazilian Portuguese native speakers,...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
As a non-native English speaker, I still have to improve my pronunciation, especially the vowels, but it's long-term work... Here in Brazil, there are many regional differences, and as I work with people from all around the country and also teach people from many different states, thinking about regional differences in my own language is something I have to do...
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Study Spanish with a Mexican accent and go to Spain on vacation... That's totally me studying Spanish! Well, I've been to other Spanish-speaking countries, such as Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, and Chile, besides Spain, but I still haven't been to Mexico. My Spanish, however, is very much influenced by the Mexican accent and culture, because I watch tons of...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I'd say CQ knowledge is my strength. However, we can always improve.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I really enjoyed this course and learned a lot.
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I love watching videos about daily life made by people from other countries. I can get a taste of a different place and learn a lot about other cultures. It helps to make the world smaller and foster a sense of global community. Here in Brazil, many people are xenophobic, and they use social media to spread hate against people from other countries.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa replied to [Learner left FutureLearn]
Me too!
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It's possible to study the world scientifically without thinking about a final cause, and that's how much of science is made anyway. You can dedicate your life to studying insects or plants or the stars and never bring God into the picture. On the other hand, it's only natural to wonder why things are as they are or why does the world exist in the first place....
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Do we need final causes (as Boyle suggests) to account for (at least some) natural phenomena?
No, scientists today usually don't engage in such debates.Does the consideration of final causes necessarily lead to engage with broader theological speculations about God’s design of the world?
No, I think that Darwin helped show that. -
Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Right now, the issue of vaccination of hot in Brazil. Unfortunately, many people "don't believe" in vaccination and are prey to ludicrous misinformation campaigns such as the one that assures that the Chinese vaccine makes a person change sex (if you're a woman, it will turn you into a man and vice-versa). The fact that many people take this kind of...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
This course is great, thank you so much for it.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I've learned so much, especially that we can do a lot with little financial resources - but that we need a whole community to make things better for children with disabilities. And for everybody, for that matter: we all need a strong community.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Social capital is living in a community that sees itself as a comunity, where everyone has a responsibility towards the wellbeing of its members, especially those members that need the most, such as children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. In other words, it's a community made of people who know that working together to make everyone's life better...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I really enjoying Week 2, thank you!
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
It's not the same, but it's a nice experience, and very valuable in many different situations, be it health restrictions or even living far away from where the artwork is being exposed.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I think virtual experiences - even if they don't replace the "real thing"- are great. Especially in times of covid, it's wonderful to be able to be in contact with museums and to see and learn about art. Those online opportunities can even enhance our experience when we do get to go to the museum, for example, because we have more information about what we are...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Here in Brazil we have the Book Biennial, for example.
I don't think it leads to a homogenization of culture. People like to see new and different things, and one of the attractions of this model is the variety of artists that can participate. Also, such events attract media attention, thus attracting new publics. -
Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I really appreciate the crowdfunding model. I love reading comic books and graphic novels, and here in Brazil many great artists publish their books using the pre-sales crowdfunding model. I've bought dozens of books this way. It has made it possible to publish and to read books that otherwise maybe wouldn't exist. And I feel it does create interesting "side...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I really appreciate the crowdfunding model. I love reading comic books and graphic novels, and here in Brazil many great artists publish their books using the pre-sales crowdfunding model. I've bought dozens of books this way. It has made it possible to publish and to read books that otherwise maybe wouldn't exist.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I'm from Brazil and I don't think we have any kind of institutional cultural diplomacy...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I think cultural policies should encourage the expression of plural identities and values.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I think one of the greatest problems when it comes to science is how to pay for it. The scientific method is very helpful and, when it comes to learning about how the world works, maybe our best tool. However, it takes money and will to do science. I believe many people who are skeptical of science nowadays actually distrust those who fund the experiments.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
- Experiment
- Falsifiability
- Replication -
Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
When I'm in Argentina, I usually can spot other Brazilians, because we are much louder than Argentinians. So I try to speak in a lower voice when I'm there.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I live in the south of Brazil, and people here are very proud of their heritage. It can be a nice thing, but sometimes it extends to prejudice against people from other states, especially in the north / northeastern parts of the country. Those prejudiced commentaries usually make me feel angry and sad, but I don't usually say anything unless I feel I can talk...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I had this idea that most Indians were vegetarians, but a few years ago I learned I was wrong. I felt bad actually for assuming it, considering that India is a huge country and there are many different cultures in that country. I learned that I have to be more aware of diversity and, of course, ask people about their preferences and not just assume anything.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
A few years ago, I spent two weeks in Cusco (Peru) to study Spanish. I stayed in an apartment owned by a very nice lady who served us breakfast and dinner. I'm very curious, so I had lots of questions about the city and the local culture, and I noticed our host was happy answering them. It was a great experience! So that was how I did it: I was frank about my...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Here in Brazil, sexism is, unfortunately, a very common problem. It's a cultural problem. As it's my culture, I feel I can try and change it. So, most times, I plainly challenge the sexist comment / joke / etc. Of course, it's something that maybe I wouldn't feel entitled to do if I were in another country, but I'd feel bad anyway. If I were abroad and faced a...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
If someone makes a racist / homophobic / sexist comment, nothing should be done at the moment, in order to not make the situation worse. The person who made the joke should be called to HR or another department and counseled privately on how to improve his/her behavior. If someone was directly offended by the comment, he/she should be told afterward that the...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Items for a checklist: clothing; greetings (kiss? handshake?); eating etiquette; accepted subjects for small talk; conversation etiquette (maybe laughing loudly is frowned upon, etc.); time-preferences (if it's a dinner party here in Brazil, you're NOT expected to arrive on time); the time you're expected to leave.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I do prefer female doctors. Many male doctors are great, surely, and usually I just try to overcome this bias and trust whoever I have an appointment with, male or female. However, and it comes to gynaecologists, I think I'll always choose the female doctor if I can - it's a bias I don't feel I have to overcome.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I did the test but I don't feel comfortable sharing the results here. It was a very interesting experience, however.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
A child with dyslexia will probably learn better when things are explained directly to him/her - because having to read explanations from textbooks makes everything harder. So the teacher must always present the content orally - or orally with the aid of images. The teacher should also pair this student with a classmate that can help him/her. There are also...
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Whan an amazing story! I'm happy his father decided to send him to his local school. His days at the university could have been easier if the faculty and staff took him into consideration. Just switching classrooms so he didn't have to use stairs would have improved his routine a lot.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Great interview! I really appreciate the tip of putting ourselves in the place of the students when reading our own notes.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
Songs can be a nice way of teaching a second language, for example, because they are easy to remember.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I totally agree. Here in Brazil, many classes are very big, and it's difficult for the teacher to give everyone the attention they need. Also, in order to really teach people with different needs, teachers must know about these needs, so they need specialized training. For example, a teacher might need to know sign language.
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I've read the Harry Potter books on paper and, after, on my Kindle. I've also watched the movies and the Broadway play. I enjoy listening to the soundtracks via the streaming service I use and, also, I play a HP game on my phone. Every experience was different. I especially enjoyed the play, because I believe it's grandeur cannot be reproduced in a different...
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I don't think they are obsolete, but they are certainly more difficult to distinguish sometimes. For example, I've recently watched a play in Argentina while being here in Brazil. Due to covid, the production moved online. So this experience really broadens the idea of theater. Also, when it comes to literature, many people publish short stories, poems, etc....
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Melissa de Araujo Barbosa made a comment
I listen to music on my computer and on my phone, and I've got to know many artists because of the internet. I still have a few CDs around the house and I haven't got a CD player...
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I've been accessing music, movies, etc. online for a while now, and especially this year due to covid. I really enjoy how watching TV has changed, when I was younger there were tons of commercial breaks and, also, we had to wait for a certain day and hour to watch the programs we enjoyed. I also enjoy discovering new music styles and artists. It's easier to...
