This intensive course is for language learners striving toward the B1 level. The language of instruction is Portuguese. I will speak in English only if needed.
My suggestion* for these two weeks is to focus on:
*There's always room to adjust the course according to the group's preferences:
After this course, you'll have come closer to the B1 level and have the tools and strategies to get there and beyond.
Not sure if you should enroll in the A2 or B1 course?
Geared toward Absolute Beginners, this course gives you a solid start and foundation to build upon. The language of instruction is almost entirely in English.
This is an introductory course to the Portuguese language as spoken in Portugal. Throughout the course, we will focus on the Portuguese sound system and basic Portuguese grammar.
You will also learn how to introduce yourself and day-to-day, useful phrases. Finally, we will discuss learning resources and strategies to support your learning journey.
After the course, you will have a basic understanding of European Portuguese pronunciation and grammar. You will also be capable of engaging in simple, short oral interactions. Last but not least, you will be aware of a variety of learning resources and strategies to help you succeed at learning the language.
Can't you attend any courses this season? Fill up this form and I will keep you posted on upcoming Intensive Courses.
This intensive course is for language learners striving toward the A2 level. The language of instruction is English/Portuguese, typically in a 35/65 ratio.
My suggestion* for these two weeks is to focus on:
*There's always room to adjust the course according to the group's preferences:
After this course, you'll have come closer to the A2 level and have the tools and strategies to get there and beyond.
Not sure if you should enroll in the A2 or B1 course?
This intensive course is for language learners striving toward the A1 level. The language of instruction is English/Portuguese, typically in a 70/30 ratio.
If you've just started your learning journey, it may be that you will find this course a bit challenging. Nothing wrong with that.
However, if you think you'd have trouble coping with a challenging learning environment, consider enrolling for the Clean Slate A0 instead (if available).
This is an all-round course, meaning that we’ll work on all aspects of language learning (at the A1 level):
After this course, you'll have come closer to the A1 level and have the tools and strategies to get there and beyond.
Not sure if you should enroll in the A1 or A2 course?
Looking for a Portuguese textbook? Access to quality learning resources from day one will help you start your learning journey on the right foot!
While having a good textbook by your side (or a few of them) is highly recommendable, it is becoming increasingly difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff with so many options in the market.
In this short article, I will point out a few things to keep in mind when choosing a Portuguese textbook. By considering key factors such as your proficiency level, learning style or the variant of Portuguese you are learning, you can make an informed decision that will better suit your needs.
European Portuguese refers to Portuguese as it is spoken in Portugal, whereas Brazilian Portuguese, as you guess, pertains to Portuguese as it is spoken in Brazil.
*Note that this is a simplification. Portuguese is spoken in several other countries (such as Angola or Mozambique) and, as a result, there are several other dialects of Portuguese. Having said that, for most people learning Portuguese as a foreign language, the choice falls between Brazilian and European Portuguese.
When you buy a textbook, the first thing you want to make sure is that it concerns the standard of Portuguese you are focusing on.
There are textbooks out there covering both standards and that might be an option if you really want to learn either. However, that will make things harder for you – trust me, you’ll get confused – especially if you are at the beginning of your learning journey.
Learning a language from scratch is in and of itself a big challenge. Why make it even more difficult? My advice is to only pick one standard and stick to it.
Down the road, when you have already developed a good foundation, you might want to cross over to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean to give the other variant of Portuguese a go. Why not?
If you are curious about the differences between European and Brazilian Portuguese, read this one: الأوروبية مقابل البرتغالية البرازيلية - ما مدى اختلافهما حقًا؟
Everyone has their own learning style and it’s important to choose learning materials that align with yours.
Let’s consider two cases. Alfred loves grammar drills and enjoys learning languages the traditional way. Alfred is therefore likely to rely on classic textbooks and grammar workbooks.
Julie, on the other hand, wouldn’t bother spending time with a textbook. She is more of an extrovert and would rather learn a new language by interacting with people in real life. She might also enjoy reading simple short stories for beginners or watching TV Portuguese shows with subtitles. In other words, Julie has an inclination to a more “organic” take on learning a language.
In reality, though, we all are somewhere along that continuum (textbook vs. real-life approach). And btw, we change our learning approach as we go on, usually in the textbook-to-organic-approach direction.
Anyway, if you feel more like Julie, you may have a textbook or two lying around for occasional browsing, but you might prefer the following resources:
It’s crucial to know where you stand with respect to your current language skills. In other words, what is your Portuguese proficiency level at the moment?
Concerning language proficiency, the CEFR scale is one of the most widely used standards internationally – it starts at the A1 beginner level and goes all the way up to the C2 mastery level. Learn more about CEFR.
You probably have a rough idea of where you are at, at least in terms of broader categories such as Beginner, Intermediate, و Advanced levels.
Most textbooks in the market are CEFR-graded, which prevents you from purchasing a textbook that is either too easy or too challenging.
For example, if you are at the intermediate level, pick a book geared toward the B1 or B2 level. If, on the other hand, you have just started, pick something catered for the A1 level.
I would actually recommend you filter out any textbook that is not CEFR-graded – it could be an indicator of low quality and amateurism.
Typically, a sound textbook is a well-rounded manual (usually divided into topical units) that includes audio and tackles several dimensions of language learning, namely
However, you might as well be interested in books that are more specific in their scope, for instance, grammar workbooks to drill grammar or visual dictionaries to help you grow your vocab.
Here are a few worthy books in different categories for the beginner level (European standard specific):
If you want to look into other options – both for the beginner and intermediate levels and also for Brazilian Portuguese – take a peek at this article: Portuguese Textbooks Worth Buying.
Stay tuned for upcoming courses, reads, and other novelties.
