1
Listen to the episode
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Read the dialogue
Two Brazilian tourists in New York City look for their hotel entrance near the Empire State Building.
A: O Marco, em qual portaria a gente entra pro hotel?
Marco, which gate do we take to get to the hotel?
B: É na que fica em frente ao Madison Square Garden.
It's the one in front of Madison Square Garden.
A: Mas a escada rolante está estragada.
But the escalator isn't working.
B: É Marilene, mas vamos por aqui mesmo, não temos outra opção.
Yes Marilene, but there's where we go, there is no other way.
A: Nossa, que beleza! Pertinho do Empire State! Amei!
Wow, how gorgeous! Right next to the Empire State Building, I love it!
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Language focus
Focus 1
Em frente a — In front of
English: in front of (location)
Em frente a/ao/à describes something located directly in front of a landmark — essential for giving directions or describing locations.
Fica em frente ao Madison Square Garden.
It's in front of Madison Square Garden.O hotel é em frente à praça.
The hotel is in front of the square.
It's in front of Madison Square Garden.O hotel é em frente à praça.
The hotel is in front of the square.
Focus 2
Estar estragado/a — To be broken/not working
English: to be broken / out of order
Estar estragado (resultant state, estar + past participle) describes something currently not working — very useful for travel mishaps.
A escada rolante está estragada.
The escalator is broken/not working.O elevador está estragado.
The elevator is out of order.
The escalator is broken/not working.O elevador está estragado.
The elevator is out of order.
Focus 3
Vocabulário de viagem
English: travel vocabulary
Key words for navigating a new city on foot, especially around hotels and public buildings.
Portaria — entrance/lobby (of a building)
Escada rolante — escalator
Não temos outra opção — we have no other choice
Escada rolante — escalator
Não temos outra opção — we have no other choice
🗽 Brasileiros viajando
More and more Brazilians travel abroad for tourism each year, and New York City remains one of the most popular international destinations — this dialogue reflects a very common travel scenario.
🔊 Pertinho
The diminutive pertinho (from perto, near) adds warmth/enthusiasm — "right nearby!" — very common when expressing excitement about proximity.
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Exercises
Exercise 1 — Comprehension check
Choose the correct answer based on the dialogue.
Exercise 2 — Em frente a, estar estragado, ou portaria?
Fill in each gap to complete the sentence with the correct word(s).
1. 1. Em qual a gente entra pro hotel?
2. 2. É na que fica Madison Square Garden.
3. 3. A escada rolante .
4. 4. Não temos outra .
Exercise 3 — Vocabulário de viagem
Match each Portuguese word to its English meaning.
Exercise 4 — Your turn
Write 4–6 sentences about navigating a city or building. Use em frente a, estar estragado/a, and travel vocabulary.
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