The LISBON LANGUAGE CAFÉ was founded in September 2014. It is located in the center of Lisbon (Santos, near cais do sodré) and it was created with the aim of teaching the Portuguese language. If you would like to learn European Portuguese in the capital of Portugal, we offer a wide range of courses WITH A MAXIMUM OF 5 PEOPLE PER CLASS and we require NO enrolment fees. We are now operating in Lisbon and Sintra.
METHODOLOGY
In the majority of language schools, students speak and listen only 25% of the lesson. The remaining 75% is spent copying what the teacher explains or writes.
However, at Lisbon Language Café we use a teaching methodology that allows students to hear and speak throughout the entire lesson (level A1.2 and above).
This is a very effective way to improve the learning-teaching process.
Click HERE to check your Portuguese level.
A1 Level – Group Courses [2019]
Intensive Course : 2 week course (30 hours)
Session 102: Sep 30, 2019 to Oct 11, 2019 | 10:00 – 13:00 (Mon – Fri)
103: Oct 14, 2019 to Oct 25, 2019 | 10:00 – 13:00 (Mond – Fri)
104: Oct 28, 2019 to Nov 8, 2019 | 10:00 – 13:00 (Mond – Frid)
105: Nov 11, 2019 to Nov 22, 2019 | 10:00 – 13:00 (Mond – Frid)
106: Nov 25, 2019 to Dec 6, 2019 | 10:00 – 13:00 (Mond – Frid)
Number of students: 1 to 5
Cost: 300€ (Includes Books, PODCASTS and Quizzes (E-learning Platform)
Address: rua do Instituto Industrial number 18, floor 3, right door – Santos
Intensive Course : 1 week course (15 hours)
Session 55: Sep 30, 2019 to Oct 4, 2019 | 10:00 – 13:00 (Mon – Fri)
56: Oct 14, 2019 to Oct 18, 2019 | 10:00 – 13:00 (Mond – Fri)
57: Oct 28, 2019 to Nov 1, 2019 | 10:00 – 13:00 (Mond – Frid)
58: Nov 11, 2019 to Nov 15, 2019 | 10:00 – 13:00 (Mond – Frid)
59: Nov 25, 2019 to Nov 29, 2019 | 10:00 – 13:00 (Mond – Frid)
Number of students: 1 to 5
Cost: 180€
Address: rua do instituto industrial number 18, floor 3, right door – Santos
Cancellation Policy (Intensive/Extensive courses)
A. More than 30 days prior notice – 60% refund
B. Less than 30 days – 30% refund
c. During the course – no refund
Extensive / Evening Course (30 hours)
Session 10: from Oct 28, 2019 to Dec 4, 2019 | 19:00 – 21:30 (Mon and Wed)
Number of students: 1 to 5
Cost: 300€ (it includes FREE ACCESS to our PODCASTS (E-learning Platform) and all the materials)
Address: Rua do Instituto Industrial number 18, floor 3, right door – Santos
Check our classrooms in Santos (7 min walk from Cais do Sodré metro station)
A2 Level – Group courses
Progressive Course
If you live in Lisbon and if you want to learn Portuguese gradually this option is perfect for you. This solution allows you to learn gradually and consolidate your learning as you go. Our classes are based on conversation and complemented by a growing knowledge of grammar.
Course Duration: 4 weeks with the possibility of continuing
When does it start? 23 September 2019
Schedule: Monday and Wednesday at 7 pm (you can join this group every Monday)
Cost: 100€ (2 lessons per week. Lesson duration: 90 minutes)
Number of Students: 2 to 5 students
Private Lessons
Your teacher will adapt the method and the topics to your goals and interests. Your lessons will be, to some extent, customized. We use a large element of questions-answer activities. Other interactive and dynamic tasks are also used (vídeos, podcasts, and games) and informal conversations to acquire vocabulary.
Pack of 15 hours: 299€ (19,99€ per hour) – INCLUDES book and E-learning platform
Pack of 10 hours: 210€ (21€ per hour) – INCLUDES book and E-learning platform
Pack of 5 hours: 125€ (25€ per hour) – INCLUDES book and E-learning platform
Address: Rua do Instituto industrial number 18, floor 3, right door – Santos
When does it start? Any time | Trial lesson: 14,99€
B1 LEVEL – Group Courses
Progressive Course
If you live in Lisbon and if you want to learn Portuguese gradually this option is perfect for you. This solution allows you to learn gradually and consolidate your learning as you go. Our classes are based on conversation and complemented by a growing knowledge of grammar.
Course Duration: 4 weeks with the possibility of continuing
Number of Students: 2 to 5 students
Cost: 100€ (2 lessons per week. Lesson duration: 90 minutes)
When does it start? 23 September 2019
Schedule: Monday and Wednesday at 7 pm (you can join this group every Monday)
Private Lessons
Pack of lessons (INCLUDES book and E-learning platform access):
15 hours: 299€ (19,90€ per hour)
10 hours: 215€ (21,5€ per hour)
5 hours: 115€ (23€ per hour)
Address: Rua do Instituto industrial number 18, floor 3, right door – Santos
When does it start? Any time | Individual trial lesson: 14,99€
About our Private Lessons
- Private lessons are aimed at individuals with specific learning goals or who require or want a more intense tutoring service;
2. These lessons can be taken by individuals alongside other courses to further intensify their study of Portuguese, or as stand-alone sessions;
3. These lessons are also suitable for couples or small groups who have a similar level of Portuguese;
4. Private lessons follow the same immersive style as our other group sessions
5-As with our other courses, all aspects of language skills (reading, speaking, writing and listening) are focused on within the class
FREE Portuguese (online) Courses
Learn Portuguese in Lisbon! We have hundreds of FREE quizzes, podcasts, and videos on this website! EVERYTHING FOR FREE! Courses are organized in 3 levels. (A1 and A2 and B1 courses)! Check this example!
Why you should study with us?
1- Established in 2014 giving you the guarantee of experience and quality
2- We make learning Portuguese fun!
3- Our teachers are professional, multilingual and work full-time
4- Our philosophy is to empower students to speak Portuguese and learn
more about our country
5- Our lessons are ALWAYS planned but our materials, teachers, and
resources are flexible to meet your needs
6- All our students have FREE access to our E-LEARNING platforms
7- All our teachers are native speakers and the class size is restricted
(maximum of 5 students)
8- We want our students to use their skills, not just study it. Our goal
is to empower and give you the tools to speak and interact, with confidence.
9- Our school is modern, accessible and is in a central location. We have
free Wi-fi! Our rooms are bright, comfortable and air-conditioned / heated!
Learn Portuguese in Lisbon – click HERE TO CHECK OUT OUR FACILITIES
Terms and conditions: A course is always guaranteed even if it doesn’t have a minimum number of students, however, the number of hours may be reduced. In the event that an intensive course runs with less than 2 students, Lisbon Language Café offers 2 daily hours (120 minutes) instead of three. The price will always remain the same.
Cancellation Policy (Intensive/Extensive courses) A. More than 30 days prior notice – 60% refund B. Less than 30 days – 30% refund c. During the course – no refund
COMPARING the COST of Portuguese Schools in Lisbon (2019)
Intensive Courses (2 weeks)
Lisbon Language café: 300€ for 30 hours (2 weeks). 2 to 5 students. Price per hour: 10€
Lisbon Language Café: Google Reviews: 61 ** Classification: 4.8/5 ** Experience: 5 years
Portuguese connection 500€ for 40 hours (2 weeks). 3 to 8 students. Price per hour: 12,5€
Portuguese connection: Google Reviews: 67 ** Classification 4.9/5 ** Experience: 6 years
Portuguesetcetera: 370€ for 30 hours (2 weeks). 3 to 8 students. Price per hour: 12,3€
Portuguesetcetera: Google Reviews: 28 *** Classification: 4.8/5 *** Experience: 8 years
Lusaschool: 560€ for 40 hours (2 weeks). 3 to 9 students. Price per hour: 14€
Lusaschool: Google Reviews: 60 *** Classification: 4.8/5 *** Experience: 2 years
TOP ARTICLES (2019)
Why you have to learn Portuguese in Lisbon
Why you have to learn Portuguese in Lisbon
Bilingual people are smarter! Did you know this? It is a fact! According to the New York Times, if you can speak more than one language, your cognitive skills will be enhanced.
Portuguese is beautiful!
Learning a language for pure pleasure is the best option! The Portuguese language that is spoken in Brazil sounds like music and it is a great pleasure to listen to. This is probably one of the reasons why Portugal and Brazil have such rich musical histories and are very distinct styles too. In Lisbon, you can listen to Fado and in Brazil, you can listen to Bossanova, Samba, and many other types of musical genres. It also should be mentioned that music is a perfect way to learn and consolidate a language. And if you try to sing in the language you will, without a doubt, improve your pronunciation as well.
More than 220 million people speak Portuguese worldwide.
Portuguese is the sixth most spoken language on the planet. Most speakers you will find in Brazil and Portugal but there are also native speakers in many countries, in Africa. Perhaps even more surprisingly, in the United States, there are over 1 million native speakers.
A secret language
More than 220 million people in the world that can speak Portuguese. It is also true that only a few people have decided to learn the language as a second (or third) language. Of course, this can be an advantage for those who decide to learn it. If you are able speak Portuguese fluently, you will have a skill that only a limited number of people will have, making yourself more employable; your CV will be more attractive to potential employers, ultimately improving your chances of getting a good job and more importantly one you truly would like.
BELÉM
Belém, in Lisbon, is one of the places that is a must-visit – you can’t afford to miss it!
Thanks to the maritime trade, Belém played a very important role in the history of Portugal. This area of the capital was critical for strategic and logistical reasons.
There are many monuments that you should visit here such as “Padrão dos descobrimentos”. This amazing landmark was built in 1940 when Portugal organised the Portuguese world exhibition that was organised in order to promote the colonies of Portugal.
This monument was later reconstructed to celebrate 500 years of the death of D. Henrique, the great Portuguese navigator.
In “Padrão dos descobrimentos”, one can also find the great poet Luis Vaz de Camões and Pedro Álvaro Cabral (navigator).
Another spot that you can’t miss is the “Torre de Belém” – “Belém Tower”. This monument was built in 1520. The tower was critical in defending the capital.
After this interesting and historic tour you don’t want to miss out on having a taste of the famous “pasteis de Belém”, you will love them!
Super tips to learn Portuguese in Lisbon
Tip 1: full immersion
Immerse yourself! This means, reading and speaking Portuguese as much as possible. If you don’t live in Portugal, the first tip is: change your mobile menus to Portuguese. Let your mother tongue go and welcome the Portuguese language! You should also find a way to have contact with someone that speaks only the language of Camões. If you don’t know any native speaker, there are apps that you can use such as our QUIZLET
The more you have the new language in your life, the more your brain will understand that Portuguese is useful and important to you. You have to be exposed to the Portuguese language. Another tip, write down (in Portuguese) on a piece of paper the name of all objects that you have at your house. You should also: read children books (to expand your vocabulary), watch vídeos with Portuguese subtitles and speak with yourself in front of a mirror (in Portuguese of course).
Tip 2: leave your comfort zone
What does it mean? It means that you have to change your routines, you have to put yourself in a position where you can only speak Portuguese. Will it be hard? Yes, indeed. But it will also improve your skills a lot. Buy things, ask for information and solve all your daily problems in Portuguese. You will see the outcome of this strategy on a long-term basis.
Tip 3: start with the essential key points
In the beginning, you can’t try to learn everything! It is useless trying to know every single rule, all exceptions or all irregular verbs. You have to stay focused on the main information: regular verbs and the big four irregular verbs (SER, ESTAR, IR, and TER).
Tip 4: Go abroad!
If you have the chance to go abroad, just do it! Stay at least 6 months. You will learn a new culture and this will help your Portuguese learning process. There are different options for your choice: Portugal, Brazil, Angola and Mozambique and the best options. If you have native speakers speaking Portuguese around you all the time, you will be very exposed.
Tip 5: Repeat repeat repeat!
Unless you’re a genius, you will have to read and re-read and re-read again. Your brain will need time and repetition to be able to memorize everything. The best method that I can recommend is: study every day for 30 minutes. Half an hour per day will make a huge difference after a few months. The keyword is consistency!
You need to find a way to integrate these 30 minutes per day in your daily routine. This strategy will make you move you forward and will keep you motivated.
Tip 7: Be realistic and patient!
Learning Portuguese (or any other language) takes time. If you keep yourself studying you will progress, no doubts about this. Everyone needs time to learn an idiom and you won’t be an exception. Plan your study in a realistic way. You will face many obstacles but you will overcome them if you persevere.
After one month you should be able to conjugate the main verbs (regular and irregular verbs) and you should also be able to buy things in restaurants or supermarkets.
After 6 months, you should be able to maintain a basic conversation in Portuguese.
In 12 month you should be able to have a conversation with a higher level of complexity.
Everything takes time in our life, learning Portuguese isn’t different.
Tip 8: expand your vocabulary!
The most important thing to know when arriving at a new country is the basic vocabulary! With this information, you will be able to understand the majority of the subjects if you’re reading a book or a guide. Focus on basic words.
Another advice: focus on those words that will be critical for you. If you’re going on a business trip, you have to learn those words that are related to your business field.
You should learn vocabulary related to your own life and personal history. If you do that you will be able to talk about your life and make new friends while you learn Portuguese.
Learn how to count in Portuguese. This is super useful for your daily life, especially to pay your daily bills. Start with cardinal numbers (1 to 1000) and ordinal number (1 to 10) and try to consolidate 10 new numbers every day.
On your first days, don’t put all your energy on your grammar. Start with vocabulary and then move on to the grammar. We believe that many schools spend too much time with grammar. Speaking is critical to learn and consolidate your grammar.
Tip 9: Listen Portuguese to learn Portuguese
Another important tip about how to learn Portuguese: before speaking you have to listen. You have to listen to be able to understand and reproduce those same sounds. The more you listen the more you will able to produce the Portuguese sounds.
Tip 10: practice your pronunciation
Pronunciation is a critical topic. Expanding your Portuguese vocabulary isn’t enough because you have also to be able to produce those words correctly.
Every time you learn a new Portuguese word you have to be sure that you know how to say it properly. The best strategy is asking a native speaker. If you don’t have the chance to ask it directly to a Portuguese native speaker, you can use online platforms.
Tip 11: write texts in Portuguese
Reading is very different from writing. Writing will help your brain to consolidate your grammar. Start with shorts texts (20 words per day) and then move on to 10 lines per day. After a few months, you will be surprised by the amount of information that you will have written. Moreover, writing will give you the chance to revise your grammar and, if you’re revising your Portuguese you are also consolidating the language.
Tip 12: learn online with apps (technology can help you)
Simple actions as using your menu in Portuguese will help you a lot to learn new words. Nowadays, there are several E-learning platforms that will help you much. The most famous one is called Duolingo (Brazilian Portuguese), and it is available for Android and IOS. This famous tool makes everything to help you with your goals, especially to learn and assimilate your vocabulary (however, you should be aware that duolingo in a Brazilian Portuguese platform). Anki is also a nice platform. You can use these apps every time you’re waiting for something.
Tip 13: Think in terms of opportunities and new experiences.
When I think about learning a new language (such as Portuguese), I always think about the new experiences that that language might provide me. It is true that speaking Portuguese will open many doors for you: make friends, watch Portuguese shows, learn newspapers and magazines. In other words, make sure that learning Portuguese will give the chance to have fun! So, do you like music? Search for Portuguese music on youtube. Do you like football? Check the names of the Portuguese players!
Tip 14: Have fun while you learn Portuguese!
Make sure you find the right materials for your case. You have different options:
- Listen to Portuguese music
- Watch films and series
- Watch vídeos on youtube
- Read newspapers and magazines
Tip 15: don’t worry about your mistakes!
One of the barriers to talk is being afraid of making mistakes. Don’t worry about that! Native speakers of Portuguese will appreciate your effort and will help you! Each mistake is an opportunity to improve your Portuguese. The more you speak the more you will improve your skills. Speaking a new language is hard. Shy people will face more problems to improve. Mistakes are normal, no one can learn and consolidate a new idiom without mistakes.
Tip 16: speak Portuguese with a dictionary.
You will learn many new words with this tip. Use an online dictionary, it is very quick and effective! You can use it anywhere. You will be also learning if you follow this tip!
Does Portuguese sound like Russian?
I am a Portuguese teacher and I was in Glasgow teaching Portuguese on a high school when a fellow teacher asked me (after listening to my dialogue on the phone with a (Portuguese) friend): “do you also speak Russian?”… And, as you can guess, I can’t speak Russian, but I have to say that my Portuguese is quite good! 🙂
Portuguese has many guttural tones and sliding vowels that make it sound Slavic.
Hearing Portuguese for the first time can be challenging and you only have sure that we are speaking Portuguese when we say “Obrigado!”. It sounds like a strange Russian, loads of [sh sh sh]… But it is not easy to find a formal connection between languages to explain their similarities.
But Portuguese to foreigners sounds like Russian (for native speakers of Portuguese and Russians, this similarity isn’t obvious at all). Russians and people from Ukrainian learn Portuguese very quickly and their accent is very clear. After 10 years in Portugal, it is hard for Portuguese people to find out if a Russian citizen is Portuguese or not (their accent is great after a long period of time in Portugal).
There are exceptions (there are always exceptions to the rules), but most Portuguese words are very different from Russian words. However, for a Portuguese student (someone who is starting from scratch), these two idioms can sound very similar.
Portuguese words (and sounds) that are hard to pronounce
1. Word EXCEÇÃO
The “X” has 5 different sounds in Portuguese and it represents a real challenge for foreign people who intend to learn Portuguese in Lisbon. There are different rules and many exceptions. Just go with the flow with it. With the word Exceção, X produces a [EIS] sound.
ç symbol – It is called “cedilha”. The C letter with cedilha transforms [K] sound into an [S] sound. If you have a C and after it an E or an I, the sound will be [C].
Nasal sound “ão” – The true nightmare for English speakers as they don’t have this sounds on their language. the symbol ~ is called Til. Every time you see a Til you should know that a nasal sound is coming!
2. Word “Cabeleireiro”
ei – you should pronounce it as “ay”.
r – In Portuguese, if you have only one “r” in the middle of the word, you should produce a soft sound. Try the following technique: Say as long as you can dadada…. Your “d” will become softer after a few repetitions and your “dadada” will become a dadarara…Try it!
3. word “Otorrinolaringologista”
It is a long Portuguese word and it has many funny sounds. Let’s see:
[rr] sound – The sound that we produce when we have an R at the beginning of a word is the same sound that we produce when we have two R in the middle of the word.
[go] – An a, o or u after a G produces a [gê] sound. If you have an e or i after a G, you will have a [gê] sound, such as the world “goal”
[gi] – The sound that you have to produce here is the same sound that you produce in the world: “GIgolo”.
Learn Portuguese in Lisbon
Which Portuguese verbs are the most important?
When you start learning Portuguese, firstly you will learn the PRESENT TENSE.
You have to consolidate, as soon as possible, the three categories of regular verbs: -AR, -ER and -IR.
In the Present tense, unfortunately, there are loads of irregular verbs.
However, you don’t have to go home and memorize that long lists of irregular verbs. In fact, there are only 4 irregular verbs that you should learn by heart and asap: TER (to have), IR (to have), SER (to be for permanent descriptions) and ESTAR (to be for temporary descriptions).
For all the other irregular verbs, you will need time (and you can also use our QUIZLET), it will be a process and you should not be too severe with yourself. Try to use an e-learning platform to keep in contact with the conjugation of these words. Then, you have to start speaking the language, you have to listen Portuguese and you have to speak the idiom and fail, and fail and fail and then, finally, succeed!
Once you reach the level A2 in Portuguese, you will learn the simple past in Portuguese. As a Portuguese teacher, i have to say that from this level on you have to start speaking Portuguese on a regular basis. There is no other way to consolidate the Portuguese idiom. The big four IRREGULAR verbs: SER, TER, ESTAR and IR) will be super important to start this second learning stage. Make sure you memorize them as soon as possible.
Should I watch TV to improve my Portuguese
Well, the answer depends on your level. If you are starting your Portuguese from scratch the answer is NO. If you are an advanced Portuguese student the answer is YES!
A1 and A2 students struggle to understand Portuguese native speakers. If you are (or if you were a Portuguese student), I am sure that you had the chance to watch Portuguese TV. And I am also sure that you didn’t understand much. On TV, people speak too fast for your Portuguese listening skills.
Portuguese students should be exposed to activities and challenges in accordance with their level of competences. If you are an A1 student you should be using A1 podcasts and not trying to watch Portuguese TV (spoken by native speakers – C2 level).
Watching Portuguese TV and listening to Portuguese radio should be an activity for B2 students (and higher). Before reaching this level (and if you want to reach this advanced level), you have to use your time wisely! Use always the materials that will make you consolidate what you are learning at that point. Don’t waste your limited time with activities that you just can’t do!
Portuguese television with subtitles
Watching Portuguese tv with subtitles is a great activity for B1 students. However, it is not easy to find TV programs with this option. However, if you find them, use them. It will be challenging but you will learn new words and new vocabulary. You can also try to find this resource on youtube. There are many Portuguese history TV programs with subtitles that will make you learn more about the history and culture of Portugal. At the same time, you will learn more about our language and you will improve your listening skills (which is, in my opinion as a Portuguese teacher, the most important skill for your learning process.
Take a look at this video related to the history of Guarda (a Portuguese city). Don’t forget to use the automatic subtitles provided by youtube (they are not great but they will help you).
X letter in Portuguese – Learn Portuguese in Lisbon
We have good news and bad news about this Portuguese grammar topic. The letter X in Portuguese has 5 different sounds.
The good news first: from these 5 sounds, there are 4 rules that are very easy to learn and apply.
Rules
1: Every time you see an X at the beginning of a word you know that the sound is [sh]. Examples: XAVIER, XERIFE.
2. If a word starts with EX and if it is followed by a vowel, the sound of the X is [Z]. Examples: exemplo, exótico.
3. When the Portuguese word ends with X, you know that the sound of that X is [ks]. Examples: Fax
4. A word that starts with EX but that is then followed by a consonant, the sound is [EIS]. Example: Excitante.
Now the bad news; sometimes there aren’t simple rules to apply. Sometimes the sound of a particular X is related to the etymology of the word. In that case, the best suggestion for your Portuguese learning process is, just go with the flow!
Private or Group Lessons? What’s the best option?
Learning a new language is an important decision. There are many reasons why people decide to learn languages.
The most common are:
1. Change of residence
2. Professional reasons
3. Personal reasons (often related to a partner of another nationality)
4. Learn new languages for pleasure (less common)
Whatever the reason, the process of learning and consolidating a language is (almost) always slow and progressive. It takes work, dedication, focus, energy, resilience, and willingness to succeed.
Because it is a decision and an important process, it is important to clearly define the best strategy for success.
The teacher and the type of classes that you will choose is a very important decision. For this reason, Portuguese students should ask the following question to themselves:
Private lessons or group lessons, what is the best solution for my case?
Well, the answer is: it depends on you! What is your preferred learning style? Are you timid? Are you an extrovert person?
Extrovert people tend to learn Portuguese faster then timid and introvert Portuguese students.
If you believe that you will need a bit more time than the average, you should pick individual lessons because your teacher will follow your rhythm without any pressure.
Learning in a small group of Portuguese students in Lisbon can be challenging as you can feel yourself under pressure (especially if you need a bit more time than the usual to understand the content).
If you are short of money or if you like to socialize, Portuguese group lessons are certainly the best option. In this case, you won’t have a Portuguese teacher always on top of you. But you have to adjust yourself to the needs of the group/class (that be a bit different from your own needs).
Learning Portuguese in a group can also be very funny because of the differences that students have among them. Also because Portuguese students tend to help other students. This attitude creates a bond between Portuguese students that, very often, will be maintained over time. In fact, learning Portuguese in Lisbon can be much more than just learning a new language.
Regardless of your choice, the most important thing is to maintain consistency and focus. Do not forget that learning Portuguese (or another language) is always a marathon (not a speed race).
Another important tip: make sure that your classes are good fun! No one can learn languages with boring lessons! Relax and have fun! If your Portuguese classes (individual or group) are boring you have a simple solution: try another teacher or another school!
You must feel a sense of well-being and fun when you’re getting to your Portuguese lessons!
How many hours per week should I study to improve my Portuguese?
Learning Portuguese in Lisbon involves organization and effort. Learning a new language isn’t a straightforward activity and there are no shortcuts!
This means that you have to find a way to integrate your study of Portuguese in your daily / weekly routine.
Our experience tells us that 4 or 5 hours per week would be a great job! No one can study for 20 or 30 hours per week on a long term basis.
You should also create a study plan that includes different activities of Portuguese: listening, writing, grammar, speaking.
Keep your agenda open. Study every time you can and don’t forget that you have to feel some pleasure in this Portuguese learning process.
How many hours of study per level (A1, A2, and B1)?
Once again, the right answer to these questions (that many Portuguese students do) is… it really depends on many different factors!
But let’s try to give you an idea about this topic.
A1 Level in Portuguese (no background in Spanish or Italian): 60 to 80 hours
- 30 to 40 hours of lessons (contact time)
- 40 to 50 hours of homework
A2 Level in Portuguese (same context): 80 to 100 hours
- 40 to 50 hours of lessons (contact time)
- 30 to 40 hours of homework
- 20 hours of conversation (with Portuguese friends) in Portuguese
B1 Level in Portuguese: 100 – 150 hours
- 50 hours of lessons (contact time) and
- 50 hours of homework
- 50 hours of conversation in Portuguese
Portuguese Grammar
What is the difference between “Indicativo” and “Conjuntivo”?
If you are learning Portuguese and if you have just reached level B1 you will now study the subjunctive (conjuntivo em português).
On level A1 and A2, the verb tenses that you will learn in Portuguese will be related to facts, real events. However, once you start the subjunctive, you will learn a tense that will give you the chance to talk about possibilities, about things that are not real, about wishes and fears.
To use Portuguese subjunctive well, you have to use the Portuguese language every day. There is no other way! The “conjuntivo” in Portuguese is all about connectors! We have so many connecters that you can’t go home and try to memorize everything. It doesn’t work!
To use subjunctive well you have to know the grammar rules and the guidelines that your teacher will teach you. However, sometimes grammar can be hard and very often it doesn’t help much (there are too many exceptions).
As we stated before, “conjuntivo” is about possibilities and wishes but sometimes we can express exactly the same idea with two different modes: indicative and subjunctive.
Check these examples:
- SE CALHAR amanhã vou à praia. Mode: Indicative
Translation: Maybe I will go to the beach tomorrow
- TALVEZ amanhã vá à praia. Mode: subjunctive
Translation: the same
The value of these two sentences is exactly the same.
- É bom ires com ele. Verb tense: infinitivo pessoal
Translation: It’s good that you go with him
- É bom que vás com ele. Mode: subjunctive
Translation: the same
The value of these two sentences is exactly the same.
If you live in Portugal and if you are consolidating your Portuguese, you need to find a friend or a partner to help you. In Portuguese, from level B1 on, you have to speak the language every single day. You have you be exposed and you have to have someone to correct you. Don’t get upset if a native speaker wants to correct you. That will help you a lot!
Are you a Portuguese Intermediate student (B1)? Check our tips.
If your level of Portuguese is already B1, this means that you can already communicate with Portuguese people in Portuguese (if they speak Portuguese with you in a slow and careful way).
Intermediate students of Portuguese in Lisbon (levels B1 and B2) face new challenges at this stage.
When you’re starting from level A1, you have to learn basic grammar, the sounds, and their rules and you have to spend some time memorizing the key rules of the language.
However, once you reach level B1 things change. At this point, you have to find a way to speak Portuguese on a daily basis. You won’t be able to consolidate B1 grammar content in Portuguese without speaking every day.
Check the grammar content at this stage of learning:
1. Preterito perfeito composto (Example: “Eu tenho lido muito” = I have been reading a lot)
2. Pretérito mais que perfeito composto (Example: “Ele tinha ido à praia com a Maria” = He had gone to the beach with Maria)
3. Subjunctive (Present). (Example: “Talvez ele vá ao cinema” = Maybe he will go to the cinema)
4. Subjunctive (future). Example: “Se fores a Lisboa, eu vou contigo” = If you go to Lisbon I will go with you.
Subjunctive in Portuguese can be challenging. We use these structures to talk and describe possibilities, things that are not real, wishes and fears that we have.
There are many connectors to learn and repeating plays a critical role at this point. Learning these connectors isn’t enough. You have to use them often. You have to hear people using it and hopefully, you will recognize them.
Another important tip! Find a teacher to converse in Portuguese. It must be an experienced teacher that will lead you towards those verb tenses and grammar structures that you have been learning and consolidating. Random talk is also useful but isn’t enough to improve your Portuguese consistently.
Watching television with Portuguese subtitles is also a great help at this point. You can also use youtube to support you on this challenge.
How to choose your language school in Lisbon
If you are about to start a Portuguese course at a language school in Lisbon, you have to read this article. Not all schools are the same. In our opinion you have to pay attention to the following topics:
Location
Choose a language school that isn’t far from your home or from a metro station.
Price
An expensive Portuguese course isn’t necessarily the best language course that you can attend! Be careful! Try to book a trial lesson and check carefully what the course includes and which material you will get access to.
Teachers
Make sure that your teacher is “a real Portuguese teacher” with experience. He (or she) will be super important for your Portuguese learning process. Once again, try to book a Portuguese lesson to evaluate him (or her) and then you can decide.
Material
Check the Portuguese book and online platforms that your school will give you access to. This kind of material will be very important for your Portuguese progression and consolidation. You can’t rely only on your Portuguese lessons to learn the idiom. You have to work a lot at home. To do your homework you have to have access to good Portuguese material.
Facilities
You don’t have to have the best classrooms in the city to learn Portuguese. You just have to make sure that your classrooms are clean, well equipped, comfortable and quiet.
Trial lesson
Choose a school that offers you the chance to do a trial lesson (free or not free, that doesn’t matter). It is an essential moment because it will give you a feeling about that particular Portuguese language school.
How to order a coffee in Portugal?
Introduction
Coffee in Portugal is a fundamental part of Portuguese culture. Drinking a coffee with someone is a reason to socialize. But drinking good coffee is also a pleasure for the Portuguese people.
But for a foreigner, ordering a coffee in Lisbon or in Portugal isn’t a simple task. In fact, the drink that is usually an “expresso” in other countries may have many different names in Portugal.
In this article, you will learn the different names used for coffee in Portugal. You’ll also get to know the different ingredients that beverages with coffee take.
INGREDIENTS AND RESPECTIVE NAMES
Bica, café or cimbalino (depends on the region of Portugal): it is a coffee that is usually called by “expresso” in other countries.
Abatanado: it is similar to the famous “Americano” but with less quantity. Two coffees with plenty of water. Some people call it “double”.
Carioca: It’s a weak coffee. The beans are placed in the machine and coffee is taken. Then coffee with the same grains is taken again.
Italiana: It’s a very short coffee. Express medium. One says it is stronger than the normal expresso.
Meia-de-leite: served in a larger cup. It’s a drink with coffee and milk. Take a coffee and then fill a large cup with milk.
Galão: equal to “meia de leite” but served in a glass. It takes more milk and more coffee.
Café duplo: two coffees or two expressos without adding water (so a bit different from “abatanado”).
Café pingado: it’s a coffee with a little bit of milk (a few drops of milk)
Garoto: It’s a coffee with milk foam. This term is more usual in the south of Portugal.
Descafeinado: it is a coffee without caffeine (actually it is a coffee with much less caffeine because this drink still contains some)
Café em chávena escaldada: It is a common expression but in this case the person who is going to drink it wants to have it as hot as possible.
Café em chávena fria. Exactly the opposite of the previous one. Who drinks it, wants the coffee colder. Often, the waitress spills the cup over cold water before taking the coffee.
Café com cheirinho. The famous “cheirinho” means a bit of bagasse in the cafe. Some believe that this drink works as a digestive …
Café sem ponta. We only start filling the cup after the first few drops of coffee.
Coffee with lemon drops. A normal coffee with a few drops of lemon. Some people believe it takes the headaches out.
Days of the week in Portuguese
The days of the week in Portuguese have rather bizarre names. However, they have an interesting history. Although ancient Latin established a relationship between the days of the week, the moon and the pagan gods, the Portuguese related the days of the week differently.
The names of the different days of the week are associated with the days of the old fairs. Exceptions are the days of Saturday and Sunday.
So the days of the week in Portuguese are:
“Segunda-feira = 2ª-feira” – Monday
“Terça-feira = 3ª-feira”– Tuesday
“Quarta-feira = 4ª-feira” – Wednesday
“Quinta-feira = 5ª-feira” – Thursday
“Sexta-feira = 6ª-feira” – Friday
“Sábado” – Saturday
“Domingo” – Sunday
“Segunda-feira” (or Monday) means “second fair”. “Terça-feira” (or Tuesday) means “third fair.” We can apply the same logic for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
So the question is: why does the week start with “second fair” and not “first fair”?
The answer is because the first day of the week is “Domingo” (Sunday), which is related to the word “Domini” that comes from Latin. “Domini” means the day of God.
According to Portuguese culture, the first day of the week should be dedicated to God, the creator of the world.
The days of the week in Portuguese reveal two interesting things about the Portuguese culture:
1. Portugal as a religious and monotheistic country
2. The relationship between the Portuguese and trade
On a day-to-day basis, the Portuguese often do not use the word “feira = fair” because when they say “Segunda = Monday”, the receiver will understand that it is Monday. The same logic applies for all other days of the week (except Saturday and Sunday).
Regarding Saturday, this word is related to “sabbath.” It is believed that there is a relationship between this word and Judaism.
It is very common to see the abbreviated days of the week. Examples:
2ª-f = Monday
3ª-f = Tuesday
…
Sáb = Saturday
Dom = Sunday
Example of use:
“Aberto de terça a sábado das 10:00 às 19:00” – Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10.00 to 19.00 Hrs.
We hope you have enjoyed this article!
Study or live in Lisbon
Are you planning a change in your life? Do you want to try something different? Lisbon might be what you’re looking for.
Sunny days in Lisbon
As you know, the weather in Lisbon is great! Even during winter Lisbon has many hours of sunshine. Your mood will improve on Monday morning.
Cost of living
Lisbon today is considerably more expensive than it has been in the past. Finding a cheap house in the center of Lisbon is difficult nowadays in the capital of Portugal. However, when compared to other European cities (like London, Paris, Rome), Lisbon remains reasonably cheap.
The cost of living is not just the price of the house. So it is important to know that the prices of transports, restaurants and, supermarkets are quite cheap.
Portuguese people are friendly and hospitable
People in Portugal like to get along well with tourists and with foreign residents. Although Lisbon has many tourists, the Portuguese continue to think that people from other countries are important to the local and national economy.
The Portuguese language
The Portuguese language is not difficult for people who speak a little bit of French, Italian and Spanish. It is also quite easy to learn Portuguese for those students who can already speak 2 languages. For people who speak only one language can be a bit more challenging.
Christmas wishes in Portuguese
If you take your Portuguese course at our school in November or December, you will learn how to wish for a good Christmas in the Camões language. This date is very important for the Portuguese people! Christmas in Portugal is the time of family reunion.
Christmas Eve (December 24) is the date when all the people in the family get together to fraternize. At midnight the Christmas presents are open and this is an especially important time for the children. The following day (December 25), is often the extension of the previous night. The lunch of the 25th of December is also an important moment in the Christmas of the Portuguese people. At this time of the year, the Portuguese feel closer to each other. People are nicer and more generous. Christmas is definitely a unique time.
If you are in Portugal on this date, and if you want to wish a good Christmas in Portuguese, you should learn and use the following expressions: ****
- “Bom Natal para si e para os seus!” – Merry Christmas to you and your family!
- “Festas felizes” – Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
- “Feliz Natal com muito amor e saúde” – Merry Christmas with a lot of love and good health
- “Boas festas com muita paz!” – Merry Christmas and a happy new year with peace
- “Feliz Natal e próspero ano novo” – Merry Christmas and a happy new year
- “Bom Natal e feliz ano novo!” – Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
The best places to visit in Portugal
Portugal is a small country in southern Europe. But in spite of being small, Portugal is a country of a great variety of landscapes. The south of the country is flat and warm. The north of the country is much colder, rainier and mountainous.
It is not easy to recommend places to visit in Portugal because there are many sites of great interest. We will start our suggestions in the south of Portugal.
Algarve – Ferragudo town
It is a small village near the important city of Portimão. It has a beautiful castle (São João de Arade) and its small center is of enormous size and beauty. And don´t forget to visit the beaches in the area.
Algarve – City of Faro
The city of Faro is almost always the gateway of foreign tourists since it is home to the Algarve airport. Many tourists go directly from the city of Faro to the seaside resorts. But this city has a beautiful historic center, a cathedral that must be visited and also a Formosa ria that deserves to be seen.
Alentejo
The Alentejo is a region of great contrasts. The upper Alentejo is mountainous, the lower Alentejo is dry and flat. In the interior of this region of Portugal, there are several places of interest (such as Évora, Belver, Portalegre, Estremoz). However, the coast of Alentejo is usually busier with many tourists looking for the beaches of the region.
Porto Covo
This Alentejo village belongs to the municipality of Sines. The center of Porto Covo is very beautiful and well worth being visited. The Island of the Pessegueiro is beautiful (as you can see on this photo).
Évora
The city of Évora is located in the interior of the Alentejo, just 1 hour and 15 minutes from Lisbon. It is the only place in Portugal where you will be able to find a Roman temple (called Temple of Diana). Its gastronomy is also well known and famous. Summers can be very hot (almost 50 degrees), and the temperature in the winter can be negative at night.
Lisbon
The city of Lisbon is nowadays the biggest Portuguese tourism attraction. A city that offers a lot with little money. Beaches, good and cheap food, cultural offerings, cheap accommodation, and fantastic weather. In the Portuguese capital you can not miss:
- The castle of São Jorge
- The downtown
- The seafront that connects the city center with Cascais
- The town of Sintra (25 minutes from downtown Lisbon)
Coimbra
The city of Coimbra is located in the center of Portugal and was the former capital of the country. There you will find a medieval historical center and the oldest university in Portugal. The University of Coimbra is famous for its baroque library and the bell tower. In Coimbra, you will also find a 12th-century Romanesque cathedral.
Porto
The city of Porto is one of the most beautiful in Europe! There you will find the river Douro, the most beautiful cold beaches, its bridges and of course, the Portuense gastronomy (try the “Francesinha” and the “tripas à Moda do Porto”. In Porto, you can not miss a walk through downtown, the Douro cellars (to taste Port wine) and the boat ride on the Douro River.
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