🎙️ Inglês Rico: 100º episódio Behind the Language

Escrito por Paula Carnasciali

Inglês Rico é o conceito central do 100º episódio do podcast Behind the Language — e nós preparamos a transcrição completa para você aproveitar cada insight dessa edição histórica. 🎉

Neste episódio especial, o Teacher Rodrigo Honorato celebra o marco de 100 programas trazendo uma reflexão profunda sobre o que realmente torna um inglês “rico”: não apenas gramática, mas cultura, identidade, pronúncia e contexto.

Se você já acompanha o Behind the Language, sabe que o podcast vai muito além das regras tradicionais do idioma. E aqui, o conceito de Inglês Rico ganha protagonismo em uma discussão que conecta linguagem, comunicação e consciência cultural.

🎧 Ouça o episódio no Spotify

Você pode ouvir o episódio completo aqui:
👉 https://open.spotify.com/episode/3CUsrML8xGJtNNVqZiqrqZ

Agora, vamos mergulhar na ideia central que tornou este episódio tão marcante.

Quem é Rodrigo Honorato?

Rodrigo Honorato é professor de inglês, TEDx Speaker, mentor de professores (já atuou com a Oxford University Press), graduado em Letras pela PUC Minas e especialista em Fonética e Fonologia.

Ele é fundador da EBF Academy, cofundador da Teachers 4 Teachers, professor na English in Brazil e criador do canal no YouTube English Black Friday.

Ao longo da carreira, já esteve em mais de 20 países e ministra palestras sobre:

Pronúncia
African American Vernacular English (AAVE)
Identidade linguística
Música em sala de aula
Multiple Intelligences

O podcast Behind the Language é uma extensão natural desse trabalho: unir língua, cultura e reflexão.

🎙️ Transcrição Completa — Episódio 100

Introdução e Marco do Episódio 100

“Hey yo, what’s up everyone? How you doing? I hope you guys are doing great. Welcome to episode number 100. Man, can you believe that? Episode 100. That sounds crazy to say that out loud, right? You know, I’m really happy to be here recording this because it’s a real milestone. You know, it’s something that I’ve been waiting for. What started as an idea turned into consistency, discipline and a whole lot of passion.

If you’ve been rocking with me since the beginning, thank you so very much. If you just got here, you picked the perfect episode to start. This episode is going to be epic. And you know, I have prepared something for us in here that I’ve been thinking for a long time. And I was just like this, man, how can I put this into, you know, a podcast? I have to turn this into a podcast. So, keeping up with the two episodes per month hasn’t always been very easy for me. Okay, life gets busy. Creativity comes and goes and sometimes you just have to show up even when it’s tough.

Carnival has just finished, right? We just had carnival. I don’t know where you were. For this year, I decided not to participate. So, I stayed at home working, organizing a few things. But every time I open Instagram, I see pictures of people and I see, you know, people having fun in the streets and all that. So, I know Carnival was very intense for a lot of people, but also when I open my Instagram, I see your messages. I see your comments. I see your feedback. I know it’s all worth it.

Seeing how BTL is helping you level up your English and your mindset, oh my god, that’s the real reward. And believe it or not, I’ve been doing this because I really love this language and I want you to speak this language. I want you to understand English. And trust me, we’re not slowing down. I’ve got new plans, fresh ideas, and some cool twists coming your way. So, don’t miss the next episodes. I’m sure you’re going to have a great time.”

Expanda sua Jornada no Inglês

“If this is your first time here, welcome to BTL, the one and only behind the language. I’m teacher Honorato, and you should go check out the previous episodes. Follow me on Instagram and TikTok @teacher.rodrigohonorato. Subscribe to my YouTube channel, teacher Rodrigo Honorato. You have to go there, check it out. I’m sure you’re going to learn a whole lot. Let’s keep pushing, keep learning, and keep building this community together.

By the way, are you following me already? Yes, you are, right? Okay. So, these are ways to keep up with the posts on grammar, business, English, slang, culture, music, and so much more. And of course, make sure you follow us, the entire team at English in Brazil on Instagram. We’re always working on fresh content to help you learn, practice, and have fun with English. But now, let’s be real. You should also check the links in the description of this episode. You will find three different links so that you can take our courses.

They have been tailored according to your needs and likes. The first one you’re going to see there is the Pronunciation Masters. If you want to polish your pronunciation and sharpen your listening skills and speak English with confidence, this course is for you. You’ll be learning with me, Carina, and Laura. You’re going to have a great time and you’re going to take your English to the next level.

But let’s say that uh well, you want something more complete, not only speaking and listening skills, you should go for the English and Brazil complete course. If your goal is to go from zero, I don’t know, to where you’re standing right now to fluent with a structured all-in-one program, this course covers speaking, listening, grammar, reading, and writing from beginner all the way to advanced. But let’s say that you just want to travel. You just go like this, man, I don’t really have a lot of time to take like a full course.

So, I want to take something, you know, for my next trip, just to talk to the waiters. If I go to a store, I can ask for discounts, I can ask about the prices, the sizes, and everything. So, this is going to be your course: SOS Viagem. So, if you’re planning a trip abroad, but you don’t have time for a full course, the fast, practical crash course that we have prepared is essential for you. So, you’re going to enjoy your travels with confidence and you’re going to have a great time. But look, we got to get down to business, right? So, let’s get down to business.”

O Tema Central: “Inglês de Rico”

“This is episode 100 and I have separated a topic here for us to discuss and actually reflect upon. Okay, I want you guys to pay full attention to it and if you have the opportunity right now, go get your pencil or your pen, go get your little notebook ‘cuz you need to be taking some notes today. I’ve been reading a book. It’s an excellent book by the way. It’s called “Coisa de Rico” by an anthropologist, a Brazilian anthropologist named Michel Alcoforado.

This book has been fun. It has been engaging and rolling and I’m having a great time reading it. I haven’t finished that yet, okay? So if you ask me about what happens at the end, I don’t know. You know, I’m in the middle of the book right now, but let me tell you a little bit about this man. Michel Alcoforado is a Brazilian anthropologist, writer, podcaster, and cultural commentator from Rio de Janeiro. Best known for his research on wealth, consumption and elite behavior in Brazil. That sounds interesting. So, I’m sure this guy is not a specialist in me because I’m not part of the elite. Maybe the elite teachers. Okay. All right. Cuz you know, I’m here English in Brazil. So, I would say elite teacher. Yes.

Getting back to this man with a background in social sciences and a master’s degree in anthropology has spent over a decade studying how Brazilians, the Brazilian richest classes think, live and display status. That’s fantastic because he has been around, you know, the richest people in the country. This work that he has done led to his bestselling book, Coisa de Rico, the one that I just told you that I’ve been reading. Often called the anthropologist of luxury, Alcoforado is also a media presence hosting podcasts.

And by the way, I’ve been listening to his podcast: É Tudo Culpa da Cultura. You guys should go check it. He is also commenting on Rádio CBN and working as a consultant and speaker, translating complex cultural analysis into accessible insights about inequality, privilege, and contemporary Brazilian society. Well, in this episode of Behind the Language, we will talk about… “Coisa de Inglês Rico”. Yeah, you know, I’ve created it. I told you I’ve got some fresh ideas.

So, I was reading this book. And this book has inspired me to create this podcast show here, the 100. I told you that would be special, and I really hope you have a great time listening to this. What is this exactly? What is “Coisa de Inglês Rico”? What is “Inglês Rico”? Is there such a thing? Does rich English actually exist? What should we focus on to have that kind of English? What makes your English rich or poor? Well, that’s what you’re about to find out. So, I hope you guys have a great time listening to it. Do you agree or disagree with the comparisons? Let’s reflect together.”

As 9 Comparações

1. Luxury versus Grammar

“And the first one here is, as I told you before, I want you to take notes. Okay? So, this is going to be the comparison number one. I call that comparison number one. Luxury versus grammar. What really signals value? I have talked to a lot of students who are just telling me that they should not be learning English through grammar because this is so traditional, old-fashioned and all that. And people just want to have conversations. They want to sound cool and everything, you know, they want to have a lot of vocabulary and all that.

And you probably have heard about new money and old money. I think that a person that only focuses on conversations, they might be the new money. You know, they might show that they have fluency and all that. They just want to sound cool and be out there talking to people. But grammar to me sounds like old money. Well, in Coisa de Rico, luxury is not just about expensive objects, but about systems of meaning. Wealth is expressed through subtle codes. How people behave, how they speak, choose things, and position themselves socially.

Luxury in this sense is invisible to those outside the system. Alcoforado calls them ‘de fora ‘ but immediately recognizable to those inside it, and he calls them ‘de dentro’. Grammar in a ‘Inglês Rico’, you know this term that I’ve just invented, plays a very similar role.

A rich command of grammar is not about showing off rare or overly complex structures. It’s about knowing when, why, and how to use them to communicate clearly and effectively. Just like luxury brands rely on craftsmanship and consistency rather than logos alone, rich grammar relies on structure, coherence, and of course, precision.

It’s not about sounding posh or academic, but about building meaning smoothly. Verb tenses, connectors, conditionals, and discourse markers become tools, not ornaments. Rich English grammar allows a speaker to organize ideas, guide the listener, and avoid misunderstandings. In both cases, true value is not loud or exaggerated. It’s refined, functional, and intentional.

Grammar, like luxury, works best when it supports communication rather than stealing the spotlight. Look at how beautiful it is. I have tried using my best grammar here with you to talk about this and you know to make this comparison. So I personally think that grammar will play a very important role in your English. So study grammar. Know what you’re doing. Know what you’re talking about. Have a good structure when you speak the language.”

2. Access versus Pronunciation

“Sound good? Are you ready for the number two? All right. The number two is the access versus pronunciation. Being understood is the real privilege. And this is going to be interesting since I am comparing the book Coisa de Rico and my term here, Coisa de Inglês Rico. Let me go back to the book. In the book, access is more powerful than money itself. Okay? So, knowing the right people, entering the right spaces and understanding unspoken rules gives individuals social mobility. I would say they are socially accepted in different classes and of course it gives the individuals protection.

In Coisa de Inglês Rico, pronunciation plays this exact role. Pronunciation is not about erasing your accent or sounding like a native speaker. We have talked about this so many times and for a long time, right? But it’s about being understood, taken seriously, and included in conversations. So, you know, I’m Brazilian. You know, I sound Brazilian when I speak English. I sometimes sound American, but sometimes I tend to sound a little bit more British. It depends on my mood. And sometimes I kind of sound black. You know what I’m saying?

But, you know, I’m Brazilian. But, you know, one thing, I have clear pronunciation and I have realized that clear pronunciation gives access. It opens doors in meetings, interviews, academic spaces and international exchange. Mispronounced sounds, misplaced stress or unclear rhythm can block communication even when vocabulary and grammar are strong. So I’m telling you vocabulary is very important. Grammar is very important as well.

A rich English speaker focuses on intelligibility, vowel clarity, consonant precision, word stress, and sentence rhythm. This kind of pronunciation doesn’t hide identity. It supports communication. Just as access in elite circles depends on shared codes, access in English depends on shared sound patterns. Pronunciation then becomes a social bridge, not a badge of superiority and this is what I personally think is interesting. Ever since I started speaking English, I’ve focused on pronunciation. I wanted to sound as clearly as possible. I wanted people to understand exactly what I was trying to say. This has worked and this has taken me places and I want this to happen to you. A good pronunciation is a bridge for you to access places that you’ve never imagined before.”

3. Luxurious Items versus Accents and Prosody

“So, are you ready for the number three? All right, let’s go for the number three then. Luxurious items versus accents and prosody. Variety is not the enemy. Well, Michel Alcoforado shows that luxury items are not only expensive because of materials, but because of history, symbolism, and storytelling. Each item carries identity and meaning.

Accent and prosody work the same way in what I called Coisa de Inglês Rico. Different accents are not flaws. They are expressions of identity, background, and experience. A rich English is not accent-free. Well, it’s accent-aware. Plus, accent-free doesn’t exist. Okay? If you speak, you have an accent. If you think other people have an accent, that means that you have an accent that’s just different from theirs.

Prosody, when I say prosody I mean rhythm, intonation, melody and stress, is where English truly comes alive. You know two speakers can say the same sentence but prosody change meaning, emotion and intention just like luxury allows variety within shared standards. Rich English allows multiple accents within intelligible communicative speech.

The goal here is not, you know, uniformity. It’s not about this, but clarity and expressiveness. Understanding how intonation signals irony, emphasis, politeness, and certainty is far more valuable than copying a specific accent. Rich English celebrates diversity while maintaining mutual understanding. Talk to your British friends, to your American friends, to non-native speakers like me. You know, I’m Brazilian. So maybe you are going to learn something that you have never imagined before. You had never heard before. Variety is really really important in here.”

4. Cultural Capital versus Intercultural Communication

“Moving on to the fourth. You guys ready for the fourth? Are you guys enjoying it so far? How do you feel about the comparison? I personally like it. When I was thinking about this, I was just like this man. Okay, so how can I bring this book into a podcast, but I have to talk about my craft which is English language teaching. Okay. Well, this leads me to the number four. Cultural capital versus intercultural communication, meaning beyond words.

In Coisa de Rico cultural capital, knowing how to behave, speak, and interpret situations often matters more than money. In Coisa de Inglês Rico, intercultural knowledge plays the same role. Rich English is not only linguistic, it’s cultural. I always talk to my students about this. Man, it doesn’t matter if you know all the language structure, the grammar, if you have enough vocabulary, but you don’t understand the culture, you’re not going to get in.

So, English, you know, rich English is cultural. It involves understanding humor, politeness, strategies, turn taking, indirectness, and of course, context. I always tell my students, guys, pay attention to the context. A speaker with rich English knows that communication styles change across cultures. Directness may signal confidence in one context and rudeness in another. So sometimes you have to speak a little slower.

You know, silence may mean respect, discomfort or disagreement depending on the culture. Rich English focuses on communication, not perfection. Remember that: it adapts, negotiates meaning and prioritizes connection. Just like wealth without cultural understanding can lead to exclusion and you see that with the old money and new money that war that they have been at, English without intercultural awareness can lead to miscommunication.

Rich English is flexible. You have to be curious, human. That’s where its true value lies. Intercultural understanding, intercultural communication that is going to take you places. It doesn’t matter if you’re talking to a sheikh in Dubai or if you’re talking to a homeless guy in Kansas City, Missouri. You have to adapt yourself to that communication level now. And if you can do that, if you can code switch, you switch the linguistic code that you’re using. That’s rich English right there.”

5. Discretion versus Fluency

“You’re ready for the number five, aren’t you? So, let’s get to the number five. Discretion versus fluency. When less effort shows more power, being discreet is something that not a lot of people want to do when they start making money, right? And that’s exactly what happens to people when they start speaking English. They want to show off. Now, they speak a different language. So now they want to speak louder and all that.

But look at this. In the book Coisa de Rico, discretion is one of the strongest signals of status. True wealth doesn’t need to announce itself. It operates quietly, confidently, and without excess. The same idea applies to fluency. Okay? And Coisa de Inglês Rico that’s what I would say. Fluency is often misunderstood as speed. Speaking fast, non-stop or without pauses.

Rich fluency is actually about control. That’s exactly what I’m doing here. I’m not speaking fast. I’m not trying to use complicated words. I just dominate what I’m doing. I dominate the language I’m speaking right now. It’s about knowing when to pause, when to reformulate, and how to keep the conversation flowing naturally. You understand me? So that’s why it kind of sounds easy for me to do this job here. You know, I’m here behind this microphone and I’m talking to y’all about something that I really like talking about. And because I have this English level, I speak this language fluently. I can do that.

A rich English speaker doesn’t rush to fill silence. The silence is in the air. You don’t have to fill it. They use hesitation strategically, choose words carefully and guide the listener with clarity. And that’s exactly what I’m trying to do here with you. Just like discreet luxury avoids exaggeration, rich fluency avoids unnecessary fillers. But I say, you know, a lot, you know. I say, you know, and you know what I’m saying? I say that a lot. But that comes from the streets, you know, because I have talked to a lot of people in the streets and they use it. So you just start copying and shadowing and you do it well.

But that fluency avoids overcomplicated phrasing or forced expressions. It sounds calm, intentional and confident. Fluency then becomes a signal of mastery rather than anxiety. I know that anxiety has played a crucial role in the lives of many people around the world nowadays. But you have to cool down. You have to stay calm. It shows comfort. You know, fluency shows comfort with the language, not a need to prove something.

In both wealth and language, effortlessness is not accidental. It’s learned. I usually tell this to my students. If you are trying to pronounce a word and it sounds too complicated, it sounds like you’re forcing too much. Maybe that pronunciation is not okay. Maybe English is soft. You don’t have to open your mouth too much to speak it. All you have to do is to let those words come out as fluent as you can. Take control. Speak slowly but surely.”

6. Social Codes versus Pragmatics

“That takes me to the number six. Are you ready for number six? We’re going to go for social codes versus pragmatics. Knowing what to say and what not to say. One of the key ideas in Coisa de Rico is that elites master social codes. They know what is appropriate in each context. What can be said openly and what should remain implied.

In Coisa de Inglês Rico, this one that I’m creating right now here with you, this maps perfectly onto pragmatics. Have you ever heard of pragmatics before? The ability to use language appropriately according to situation, relationship and intention. That’s all about the use of English, the use of the language.

Rich English is not just about grammatical correctness. We’ve talked about this before, but about choosing the right level of directness, politeness, and tone. A request, a disagreement, or a joke can succeed or fail depending on how it’s framed. Saying, ‘Can you open the window?’ versus, ‘It’s a bit warm in here, isn’t it?’ It’s not about grammar. It’s about social awareness.

Just like social codes protect access and belonging in elite spaces, pragmatic competence protects communication. Rich English speakers understand that meaning lives between the lines. So you have to learn how to read between the lines. You know, you need to learn how to read the social codes and in language you need to learn pragmatics. You need to learn the ability to use language appropriately. If you’re ready for that, I’m sure you’re going to have a rich English experience.”

7. Inheritance versus Language Input

“That leads me to the number seven. Get ready for it. Inheritance versus language input. What you’re exposed to shapes you. In Coisa de Rico, inheritance is not just financial. It’s cultural. Books at home, conversations at the table, travel experiences, and early exposure to certain environments.

In Coisa de Inglês Rico, this idea translates into language input: what learners are exposed to over time. If you want to speak English and adapt your language to everyone you talk to, you need to have a lot of language input. And teacher, how am I going to choose what I’m going to read? Don’t choose. Read everything. Look at this. If I hadn’t read this book, Coisa de Rico, I wouldn’t be producing this podcast, right? Right now. So this is important. This is very important.

Rich English grows from diverse high-quality input: podcasts, films, interviews, real conversations, academic and informal text. Just like cultural inheritance creates familiarity and confidence, rich input builds intuition. Learners start to feel what sounds natural instead of translating words word by word. Translating word by word will actually doom you to failure. This doesn’t mean privilege. The privilege can be challenged too. It doesn’t mean. That just like wealth, language access can be expanded deliberately. You know what I’m saying?

So, it’s exactly what I try to do with my students. Choosing good input is an act of agency. So, I personally don’t choose good or bad. I just go like this: Hey, read this and this thing here. Well, it’s not to my satisfaction, but read it as well. Maybe you’re going to learn, you know, a new expression here and there. So, I personally don’t choose for them. I have my students read and listen to everything so they can choose what they consider to be good input. Rich English is cultivated through exposure, curiosity, and consistency. So, the more you’re exposed to the language, the better your English gets.’

8. Investment versus Practice

“That leads me to number eight, which is investment versus practice. Long-term vision beats shortcuts. Stop believing in people that will tell you that English is an easy language. Stop believing in people that tell you that you’re going to be a fluent English speaker in 6 months. Stop believing in that kind of people. You know, they are just telling you to use shortcuts, to take shortcuts, and you know what’s going to happen in the end? You’re going to be frustrated.

Wealth, as shown in Coisa de Rico, is often about long-term investment rather than quick gains. The same principle defines rich English. There are no real shortcuts to deep language competence. You know, I understand you can speak the language in 6 months. I understand it. You can have simple conversations, but you’re not going to be presenting your master’s dissertation. It’s not going to happen. Memorizing phrases without understanding, chasing accents, collocations, and obsessing over perfection rarely leads to real communication.

And I’m telling you, believe me, you know, I’ve been in this business for 21 years. I’ve seen a lot of people trying to take shortcuts. Rich English is built through sustained practice. You know, revisiting structures, refining pronunciation, reflecting on mistakes and engaging with real interaction. This kind of practice compounds over time.

Just like smart investment, smart investments in general, small consistent efforts will lead to big results. Sometimes you just want to invest a lot of money on something that’s just giving you a lot of money right now, but you know, you can just go broke later because you invested everything in here thinking that you would just get rich right now.

Same thing happens to people that just go like this: No, just going to focus on one thing in English and then this person just dedicates to watching things. And what about reading? What about grammar? What about the structure, pragmatics, semantics and all that that we have to understand so that we can speak rich English.

So small consistent efforts lead to big results. Learners who understand this stop asking ‘how fast can I become fluent’ and start asking ‘how well can I communicate’ and you get better. That shift in mindset is what makes English truly truly rich. You have to understand that. Don’t take shortcuts. And that’s why I’ll invite you once again to take our courses because they will lead you from beginning to the best or the highest level you can get in that language. Sound good?”

9. Status Symbols versus Vocabulary

“That takes me to the number nine. Status symbols versus vocabulary. Depth over display. In Coisa de Rico, status symbols, they lose value. Things that you consider right now to be very valuable, they lose value when they’re used only to impress. You know, just like, oh, I’m going to wear a Rolex just to impress people. Ah, it’s just not valuable anymore. Even though it’s very expensive, but it’s not valuable. It’s different.

True status lies in context, restraint, and relevance. Vocabulary works the same way in Coisa de Inglês Rico. A rich English speaker doesn’t aim for rare or overly sophisticated words just to sound intelligent. They aim for precision. What are you trying to communicate? Let me see if you have enough vocabulary to communicate your thoughts, to express your feelings.

Rich vocabulary is not about quantity but about control. Once again, it’s just like fluency. Fluency is how we control the language that is coming out of your mouth. Vocabulary is your control of the words. What are you gonna say right now? Do you have enough vocabulary to say it? It’s knowing the difference between say, tell, explain, point out, and imply. Do you know the difference between these words? It’s choosing words that fit the situation and the audience.

Overuse of big words can actually block communication. Sometimes I talk to people that they just use very complicated words and I don’t even know how to pronounce those words. I don’t even know what they mean. So why are they using those words with me? I’m not the one to impress. Actually, you’re just blocking communication with me because I can’t understand what you’re saying.

Just like luxury brands are powerful because of meaning, history, and fit, vocabulary becomes powerful when it serves clarity and intention. Rich English speakers aim to be understood, not admired. Remember that. Teachers, I’m talking to you. I know that sometimes you just use overcomplicated words just because you want students to look at you and say, ‘Look, that’s my teacher right there. I really look up to him. I admire this man to the utmost.’ Because look at how he speaks the language. Stop it. You need to be understood, not admired. Okay?

Of course, we want some admiration. Of course, man. I’m not a hypocrite. Okay? I’m not. But don’t focus on that. You know, admiration will come naturally. You know, people will automatically admire you when you are understood, when you make them feel that they understand this language.”

✨ Fechando um Ciclo, Abrindo Outro

“So, well, I hope you have enjoyed this episode. You know, I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. It’s the longest episode of Behind the Language. When I was thinking about it and reading and trying to make connections in here, I was just like this man, what am I going to do? This is going to be the episode number 100. So, it has to be special. It has to be, you know, a summary of everything that we have been doing here together.

Well, I hope that you really have enjoyed this episode as much as I have. And I highly recommend that you read the book Coisa de Rico by Michel Alcoforado. It’s been a pleasant reading experience. And it’s funny. You know, this man is very witty with the comments and everything. I haven’t finished reading the book. As I told you before, I haven’t finished reading the book yet, but you know, so far it has made me reflect upon a few things. And because of that, I decided to create this podcast episode here for you.

So, apparently, we’re coming to the end of another episode of Behind the Language, your dose of English and culture. We’re closing a cycle of 100 episodes, a story has been written here and I’m ready to start writing the next chapter of this podcast’s history. So, make sure you follow me on my Instagram at teacher.rodrigohonorato and also at English in Brazil. I’m teacher Rodrigo Honorato. I’ll catch you up later.”