“Can” is a small English word with three different jobs. But in other languages, each job uses a different word. So in this lesson, we don’t teach the word “can” — we teach the meaning behind it.
Kids learn that “can” can mean:
Ability — what you are able to do (“I can swim” = I know how to swim)
Permission — what you’re allowed to do (“I can go outside” = I have permission)
Possibility — what is possible (“I can go tomorrow” = maybe it will happen)
Because other languages use different words for these meanings, we teach each meaning one at a time, with clear examples, gestures, and visuals. This helps American kids understand why the translations change and keeps them from getting confused.
The goal of the lesson is to help kids see that:
English uses one word (“can”)
Portuguese uses different verbs (sei, posso, consigo)
By learning the meaning first, kids can match the right verb in each language and build strong, accurate language patterns.
I can swim
Eu posso nadar
我可以游泳
wǒ kěyǐ yóuyǒng
Yo Puedo nadar
I can jump
Eu posso pular
我可以跳
wǒ kěyǐ tiào
Yo puedo saltar
I can draw
Eu posso desenhar
我可以画画
wǒ kěyǐ huàhuà
Yo puedo dibujar
I can sing
Eu posso cantar
我可以唱歌
wǒ kěyǐ chànggē
Yo puedo cantar
I can dance
Eu posso dançar
我可以跳舞
wǒ kěyǐ tiàowǔ
Yo puedo bailar
I can read
Eu posso ler
我可以读书
wǒ kěyǐ dúshū
Yo puedo leer
I can write
Eu posso escrever
我可以写字
wǒ kěyǐ xiězì
Yo puedo escribir
I can run fast
Eu posso correr rápido
我可以跑得很快
wǒ kěyǐ pǎo de hěn kuài
Yo puedo correr rápido
I can count
Eu posso contar
我可以数数
wǒ kěyǐ shǔshù
Yo puedo contar
I can ride a bike
Eu posso andar de bicicleta
我可以骑自行车
wǒ kěyǐ qí zìxíngchē
Yo puedo montar en bicicleta
