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1. Listen without the transcript

Start listening without the transcript (the auto-scroll window is hidden by default). Aim to listen a couple of times through. If the audio is far beyond your current level and you struggle to understand it, consider reading the English translation first (click/tap the bar below the player). This will give you the gist of the audio piece. Then, go back and listen to the audio again.

You can also use the audio to work on your pronunciation. Put meaning aside and concentrate solely on the sounds. Shadow the speaker, mimicking their sounds, rhythm, and intonation as closely as possible. If you encounter sounds that trip you up, pause and work on mastering them. As you try to replicate the sounds, pay close attention to how your lips, jaw, and tongue move. The more aware you become of these physicalities, the easier it will be to produce the sounds correctly.

2. Turn on the transcript auto-scroll

Now with the text in front of you, you can fill in the gaps. Don’t rush to look up new words in the dictionary or look inside the English translation. Instead, try to figure out their meaning from the context as this leads to better word retention. On the other hand, use the English translation to help you figure out idiomatic expressions.

Pro tip! In the transcript auto-scroll window, tap or click any line of text to skip the audio to that point.

3. Listen one last time without the transcript

Take a short break before this final step. Listen to the audio one final time. Everything should sound clearer now. Don’t forget to celebrate the progress you’ve just made. Parabéns!

Sharpen Your Ears and Expand Your Portuguese Across All Topics

From basic dialogues to popular Portuguese sayings, news excerpts, and podcast clips, Drills are diverse audio clips suited for all levels. Each Drill includes rolling captions you can turn on/off, adjustable playback speeds, and a full transcript with English translation.

To get the most out of Drills, try these steps:

  1. Listen Without the Transcript: Start by listening a couple of times without captions. If it feels too challenging, skim the English translation first, then listen again. Mimic the speaker’s sounds, rhythm, and intonation to practice pronunciation—paying attention to how your lips, jaw, and tongue move.
  2. Use Rolling Captions with Auto-Scroll: Turn on the rolling captions and use the text to fill in any gaps. Try deducing new words from context before looking them up. For idiomatic expressions, check the English translation.
  3. Listen Again Without the Transcript: Take a short break, then listen one last time without the transcript. You’ll notice it sounds clearer now. Celebrate your progress—Parabéns!

You don’t have to follow these steps exactly, but they’re a great way to get more from your practice.

New Drills are usually released twice a week, and there’s already a great selection waiting for you. So, ready to give Drills a go?

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The next “crazy” idea you encounter could hold the key to a future breakthrough.

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Transcript/Translation (Click to open)

PT

A busca de soluções para problemas é algo instintivo e inerente à natureza humana.

Inventamos, criamos e inovamos constantemente com o objetivo de superar desafios e melhorar as nossas vidas.

No entanto, existem momentos em que inventamos coisas e não sabemos o que fazercom elas, como aplicá-las. Por outras palavras, encontramos soluções antes mesmo de identificarmos os problemas que elas podem vir a resolver.

A isto eu chamo soluções à procura de problemas.

A história está repleta de exemplos. Quando Alexander Fleming descobriu a penicilina em 1928, inicialmente não percebeu o seu potencial e os problemas que viria a resolver. A sua aplicação para combater bactérias veio anos depois com o esenvolvimento
de antibióticos.

Da mesma forma, a internet, criada como uma rede de comunicação militar, só muito mais tarde se tornou numa ferramenta essencial para a comunicação, o comércio e acesso à informação em massa.

Portanto, da próxima vez que te deparares com uma ideia que te parece disparatada, sem um propósito claro, lembra-te que essa ideia pode ser a semente de uma solução para um desafio futuro.

Nunca se sabe.

EN

Finding solutions to problems is instinctive and inherent in human nature.

We constantly invent, create and innovate to overcome challenges and improve our lives.

However, there are times when we invent things and don’t know what to do with them, or how to apply them. In other words, we find solutions before we even identify the problems they might solve.

This is what I call problem-seeking solutions.

History is full of examples. When Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin
in 1928, he initially didn’t realize its potential and the problems it would solve. Its application to fight bacteria came years later with the development of antibiotics.

Similarly, the internet, created as a military communication network, only became an essential tool for mass communication, trade, and access to information much later.

So the next time you come across an idea that seems nonsensical, with no clear purpose, remember that it could be the seed of a solution to a future challenge.

You never know.

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