Intermediate B1

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.

CEFR Scale

Learn more about the CEFR scale

My suggestion* for these two weeks is to focus on:

  • Perfeito vs. imperfeito / Subjunctive mood (intro)
  • Reading and listening comprehension
  • Conversation

*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?

Take this placement test

Any questions?

Inquiry

Clean Slate A0

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.

CEFR Scale

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.

Any questions?

Inquiry
Portuguese short story for beginners - de maos dadas - Portuguesepedia
Easy Reads for Portuguese Lanugage Learners - Entre a Felicidade e a Tristeza - by Portuguesepedia

Can't you attend any courses this season? Fill up this form and I will keep you posted on upcoming Intensive Courses.

Intensive Courses Upcoming
2

Beginners A2

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.

CEFR Scale

Learn more about the CEFR scale

My suggestion* for these two weeks is to focus on:

  • Prepositions
  • Past tense: perfeito vs. imperfeito
  • Listening comprehension and conversation

*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?

Take this placement test

Any questions?

Inquiry

Beginners A1

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).

CEFR Scale

Learn more about the CEFR scale

This is an all-round course, meaning that we’ll work on all aspects of language learning (at the A1 level):

  • Pronunciation
  • Listening comprehension
  • Reading comprehension
  • Conversation
  • Grammar

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?

Take this placement test

Any questions?

Inquiry

There are plenty of interesting options for our accommodation. It will most likely be a countryside house near Tavira.

I haven't booked it yet because I want to get a better idea of the group's composition (how many couples/singles) and your preferences before I do so. That will for instance help me understand how big a house we might need.

I look forward to soon talking to you about this and much more. Até breve, p

Surprise surprise!

Do you know what constipado means in Portuguese? Probably not what you are thinking...

Get a list of 50+ English-Portuguese False Friends and be surprised.

False Friends
3

Struggling with Pronunciation?

Try This
Online Courses in European Portuguese
Learn Portuguese through Short Stories

YouTube for Portuguese Language Learners

There are several media you can use to learn Portuguese and YouTube is one that’s definitely worth trying.

Below you’ll find a list of 10 YouTube channels specifically conceived for beginners and intermediate language learners of Portuguese.

Before jumping right into it, I want to leave you with a few thoughts that may help you figure out which YouTube channels might suit you best.  

I am a language learner myself and one thing that I look for when searching for a YouTube channel to help me with my target language is an affinity with the content creator (their presence on camera, voice pitch, communicational and pedagogical style, etc. All these things matter.)

See, when you click with the video creator you stay motivated to consume their content on a regular basis. That ties into the bare bones of any serious language learning approach – continuity and consistency.

Secondly, and connected with the previous point, I want to find a YouTuber who publishes content on a regular basis, for instance, once a week.

Last but not least, what’s most dear to me is not the video’s topic itself – be it grammar, pronunciation, or idiomatic usage – but the exposure to my target language in its spoken form. 

The latter, of course,  presupposes that the video content is mostly in my target language. 

It also requires that the creator is sufficiently skilled and knows how to speak to an audience of beginners and lower-intermediate language learners (curated subtitles in the target language are also something desirable). 

Now, it goes without saying that these are my preferences and language learners are not all created equal. I know many students who shy away from language immersion at the initial stages of their learning journeys. Fair enough.

In the suggestions below, you’ll surely find variability regarding the parameters that I’ve just mentioned. I encourage you to give each and every YouTube channel a try and pick those that work best for you.  

Here we go.

Create a rock-solid foundation in Portuguese
All-round Beginners

! The following YouTube channels specifically concern European Portuguese. Learn more about how the European and Brazilian standards compare: European vs. Brazilian Portuguese – How Different Are They Really?

1. Portuguese Dips

Portuguese Dips is a YouTube channel created for Portuguese language learners. Its topics straddle from idiomatic usage through grammar to pronunciation. 

2. Portuguese Lab

On Portuguese Lab you’ll find playlists ranging from short stories and dialogues to vocabulary and grammar. 

This is not a talking head YouTube channel – either you listen to short stories (only audio and no subtitles) or slideshow-based grammar lessons (the instruction language is English).

3. Talk the Streets

The YouTuber behind Talk the Streets is Liz. Her content covers Portuguese grammar and idiomatic usage, and there are a number of outdoor interview videos as well that highlight Portuguese popular culture. For the most part, Liz teaches in English. 

4 . Portuguese with Leo

If exposure to your target language is what you are looking for, then you will like Portuguese with Leo.

Leo speaks with clarity and at a forgiving pace. There are videos on Portugal’s history and popular culture, as well as on Portuguese grammar and idiomatic expressions.

Get Your Pronunciation Right
Portuguese Sounds

5. Portuguese with Carla

Many of the YouTube videos on Portuguese with Carla are repurposed episodes from a podcast with the same name. In general, the content is pedagogically sound. It is evenly bilingual. You’ll get a decent amount of exposure to Portuguese, though you’ll often hear English as well. 

Speaking of podcasts! They can be a great help to learn a language. Here’s a read for you:  16 Podcast Shows to Nurture Your Portuguese Language Skills (and Get to Know More About Portugal).

6. Practice Portuguese

On Practice Portuguese you will find a wide variety of content, from pedagogic podcast episodes to videos about grammar and idiomatic expressions. This channel gives you exposure to your target language along with Portuguese subtitles.

7. Learn European Portuguese 

Learn European Portuguese has a short video (under 1 minute) that comes out once a week and is entitled “Word of the Week ” – pretty self-explanatory, don’t you think? 

If you are an absolute beginner, you might want to spend some time browsing this channel. You’ll get image slides with simple phrases around the weekly word accompanied by a clearly spoken voice-over.

8. Mia Esmeriz Academy

Youtuber Mia Esmeriz explains the grammar and idiomatic usage of Portuguese in a pedagogically sound fashion. Mia normally speaks in English, though lately, she has been producing content entirely in Portuguese (with Portuguese subtitles).

9. Learn European Portuguese Online

Learn European Portuguese Online covers a wide variety of topics such as grammar, pronunciation, language learning tips, and Portuguese culture. 

Sandra is the YouTuber behind this channel and, for the most part, she uses English to convey her teachings.

10. Speak Portuguese Like a Native

In Speak Portuguese Like a Native, Tatiana explains different aspects of the Portuguese language, be it grammar or idiomatic usage. Her teachings are mostly in English.

Perfect vs. Imperfect

Break Free from the Tyranny of the Present Tense

Learn more

Portuguese Bad Words

Master Portuguese Strong Language and Swear Like a Native.

Learn more

Intensive Courses

Get right on track towards fluency 

Learn more

Stay tuned for upcoming courses, reads, and other novelties.

Stay tuned
3
Go ahead and share!