Do you know how to learn, how to learn Portuguese? Sounds like a strange question but it actually isn’t if you think about it.
So many students stay at beginners level when Learning Portuguese why is that? Read until the end of this article to find out how to overcome this obstacle.
It would be great if we could magically learn a language, just by sticking a memory stick in our ear and – voilá- we know Portuguese. Sadly that isn’t how it works and it takes time and effort. No teacher can teach you all you need to know, unless, you know what you need to know.
Why do you want to learn Portuguese?
This is a question you should ask yourself.
Is it just for fun?
Do you need a certificate for residency reasons?
Do you just want to impress your friends when they come on holiday or do you just want to ‘get by’?
Whatever the reason, you should make sure that you put your heart and soul into it. You need to become obsessed to a degree, live, breath and eat – Portuguese.
I remember when I took my driving lessons in Portugal and I was so afraid of making mistakes that I practically learned the expressions off by heart! The other learners found it amusing when I answered the questions, just like it was written in the text book. Some were taking the ‘Codigo’ exame for the 3rd time they were amazed when I passed first try. I really wanted my driving licence.
Therefore, whatever your reason, you need to want to learn Portuguese.
How are you learning?
Apps
Maybe you have signed up to a bunch of online apps to learn Portuguese – but I can tell you now, they just want to get you hooked. You will not make much progress (even with some of the paid versions). Sure it will improve your pronunciation but your ability to construct phrases will be limited.
Text books?
Text books are great and in the olden days we used to learn a lot from books. My brother used to say, that you can learn anything from books – kind of like the internet today. However, if you strictly stick to books you won’t know if you are pronouncing words correctly.
AI Portuguese teacher
AI is popular at the moment and is improving all the time. Many people are starting to use apps like Chat GPT among others, as their ‘language tutors’. These apps have everything from speech and listening exercises to making personalised lessons and quizzes – But! And it’s a big but…The portuguese language is very special and the portuguese spoken in Portugal is different to the Portuguese spoken in Brazil. AI gets this mixed up continuously even when corrected. Testing your pronunciation in these apps is not guaranteed either.
Private Tutor
Nothing can replace a private tutor. Learning a language is a personal journey, and while a teacher provides guidance, real progress comes from consistent, independent effort.
Learning Portuguese is more than just attending classes—it’s about making it part of your daily life. A teacher will help build the foundation, but the real growth happens through consistent practice and personal effort. Here’s how you can take control of your learning:”
Set Clear Goals
Decide what success looks like for you. Do you want to be conversational in six months? Master Portuguese idioms? Be able to watch Portuguese movies without subtitles? Define your short-term and long-term goals so you know what to work towards.
Create a Daily Habit
Consistency is key! Even 15-30 minutes a day makes a difference. If you have a follow a plan like this, you will be amazed how much you can learn. Discipline is the key here. Beware of self-paced courses – people often start off with good intentions and then start putting it off.
Daily study!!
Speak Every Day
Don’t wait until you feel “ready”—start using Portuguese right away! Talk to yourself even as you go through your day. Practice shadowing. Shadowing is repeating phrases after you hear them. It is a very effective way of learning.
Listen and repeat!
Use Resources
Your textbook is useful, but real-world exposure matters too.
Read news articles, blogs, or books in Portuguese. Listen to audiobooks or radio programs. Change your social media or GPS language settings to Portuguese.
But with the GPS, make sure you know where you are going first – you don’t want to get lost.
Make Mistakes & Keep Going
You’ll mess up—and that’s normal! The best learners embrace mistakes as learning opportunities. Instead of avoiding challenges, seek out situations that push you. Learn how to say sill jokes to break the ice.
Write as much as you can!
Writing is another good way of consolidating what you learn. Write down you lessons. Phrases you might find useful. Keep a diary and write down what you did the day before and what you are doing the next day – like a check list. But do it in Portuguese.
They say it takes about 21 days to form a habit. Make learning Portuguese your habit. Follow the study plans and start learning today.
If you are serious about learning portuguese and time is of the essence – click on the button!
There is no better time to learn than now!