It is the sixth most spoken language in the world. Portuguese has speakers on almost every continent, from Mozambique to Sao Tome to Cape Verde in Africa to the Brazilian beaches of Sao Paulo or Rio de Janeiro in Brazil to Macao or East Timor in Asisa.
However, the Portuguese language remains unspoken in America as Americans generally prefer Spanish (another Latin language), which is taught in schools.
However, the Portuguese language can allow Americans to work in Portugal or even live there. Keep in mind that it is also a new eldorado for retirees.
Before starting to take private lessons or engaging in other learning methods that can often be expensive, why not try and become familiar with the language, just to see if it learning corresponds to us?
If you choose it over another language, you will always be able to resort to paying methods like Mosalingua or Superprof to perfect your learning!
Meanwhile, if you want to discover the basics of the Portuguese language and learn Portuguese without paying a dime, here are our tips!
Learning Portuguese Via Study Worksheets
You can learn a Latin language for free with just a paper and a pen. Just borrow some textbooks or dictionaries from a library and jot down the important elements.
How can you make a good worksheet?
The answer is simple: it's all about organization!
To memorize Portuguese vocabulary, you might want to classify the words into thematic worksheets:
- Portuguese verbs,
- Portuguese adverbs,
- Portuguese names (animals, work, travel...),
- Presentations in Portuguese,
- Frequently asked questions in Portuguese,
- Portuguese adjectives,
- Portuguese pronouns, etc.
Organizing words thematically makes it easier to assimilate vocabulary quickly and efficiently. The ideal is using a color code: especially if you have a visual memory, which has proven very effective for many learners when learning a foreign language.
Clio Dellomonaco, high school teacher, explains her techniques for worksheet studying: "The goal is not to go into the details, but to understand what will be important later." Summarizing is key! A flashcard should not contain a course in itself but is very useful for remembering vocabulary correctly.
If your friends are also learning Portuguese or want to help you with your experience, work together! "Two or three people making flashcards is a smart idea... It's better than doing it all alone at home," according to Clio Dellomonaco. It's more motivating that way too.
Moreover, it is particularly useful to learn the basics of Latin phonetics. The student will have to write down each pronunciation in Portuguese next to the words, then repeat them out loud.
Working on vocabulary but also on your Portuguese accent!
Study worksheets are a major asset when preparing a trip to Portugal or a trip to Brazil. Mastering basic vocabulary is indeed necessary if you would like to avoid the wrong words during a discussion with locals.
When he or she is learning the language, a Portuguese student can always refer to his or her worksheets! It is also a question of rereading flashcards regularly in order not to forget certain essential elements of language learning.
Learning Portuguese Thanks to Apps
In this digital world, everyone can learn the Portuguese language for free and without ever leaving home!
There are many free educational applications available today. Many have been validated by linguistic professionals. Whether your level is a beginner, intermediate, or advanced level, as a Portuguese pupil you have the possibility to study on your phone.
Portuguese applications are above all attractive for young students. Familiar with new technologies, young students can learn a foreign language in a way that seems fun to them and much more exciting than a traditional Portuguese class.
Fun but also educational! The educational software makes it possible to revise irregular verbs or Portuguese idiomatic expressions in order to prepare a linguistic journey to Portugal or simply in order to discover a new language!
Among the most popular Portuguese applications, there are:
- Anki: To learn Portuguese or Brazilian Portuguese for free, this application is ideal. Very visual design-wise, it is great for learning some Portuguese vocabulary,
- Babbel: Babbel is a popular application, a true beacon in the ocean of language learning methods. Just like Anki, there is a paid premium version but the basic version is free and great,
- 100% Portuguese is a very practical application for those who are visiting a Portuguese-speaking country. Indeed, the application lists many useful phrases, which are useable in many situations. It is also visually interesting, since it is based on images for vocabulary learning. A pronunciation module is also available,
- Learn Portuguese 6K words focuses on learning Portuguese vocabulary. 6000 different words are available, which corresponds to an advanced level where you can have real conversations with the locals. The application includes 15 vocabulary themes, divided into 140 different sub-sections,
- Italk Portuguese is an application that puts the learner in situations of everyday life. Here, it is not a question of simply learning vocabulary but of integrating the words into complete sentences. The application is very developed as far as the audio goes, which is a real asset when one seeks to improve Portuguese pronunciation. Quizzes are also very good.
- Let's learn and play: Portuguese vocabulary learning according to thematic sheets (fruits, vegetables, home...) and via images.
We recommend pairing applications and not just using one. Indeed, some of them are more effective for vocabulary while others also are better for grammar or conjugation. Using two at a time will maintain the quality and efficiency of the learning.
These apps are available on the Apple Store and the Play Store for free. However, some paid packages will provide complementary activities or the removal of advertisements.
Warning: the free application does not replace a real Portuguese course provided by a professional. The goal here is not to become bilingual but to discover the language or to revise between two courses of Brazilian Portuguese!
Learning Portuguese Thanks to Tutorials
Video tutorials are another interactive method of learning Portuguese. On Youtube, there are many channels to learn Portuguese and other foreign languages.
But first, let's not forget the great advice of TED Translators when faced with learning a new language:
- Let technology help you out. Dmitrochenkova has a great idea: “A funny thing like resetting the language on your phone can help you learn new words right away,” she says. Ditto for changing the language on your browser. Or you can seek out more structured learning opportunities online. Dutch translator Els De Keyser recommends Duolinguo for its gamified approach to grammar, and Anki for memorizing vocabulary with its “intelligent” flashcards.
- Think about language-learning as a gateway to new experiences. To Spanish translator Sebastián Betti, learning a language has always been about focusing on the experiences that the new language would open up, from “visiting theme parks, attending air shows, enjoying cowboy poetry and folk-rock festivals, to learning about photo-essay techniques.” In other words, he thinks of fun things that he wanted to do anyway, and makes them into a language-learning opportunity. Many of our translators shared this advice. Italian and French translator Anna Minoli learned English by watching undubbed versions of her favorite movies, while Croatian translator Ivan Stamenković suddenly realized he could speak English in fifth grade, after years of watching the Cartoon Network without subtitles. So the next time you need a vegan carrot cake recipe, find one in the language you’re trying to learn.
- Make new friends. Interacting in the new language is key — it will teach you to intuitively express your thoughts, instead of mentally translating each sentence before you say it. Find native speakers near you. Or search for foreign penpals or set up a language tandem online, where two volunteers help one another practice their respective languages.
Keeping that in mind, one YouTube channel that really helps us to learn the Portuguese language fast and efficiently is Buxilala. Of Portuguese origin, Buxilala allows her hundreds of subscribers to learn to speak Portuguese and pronounce Portuguese words correctly. Moreover, her videos regarding pronunciation are extremely popular with English-speaking users who are seeking to master the Portuguese accent while having fun.
With videos exceeding 500,000 views, The Travel Linguist allows Internet users to learn the Portuguese language in a no-stress environment and very quickly. Indeed, in less than 15 minutes, the channel introduces you to all the words you should learn before traveling to Brazil or Portugal. This is a great way to study on the go!
Thanks to "Polyglot Pablo," a channel devoted exclusively to language learning, one can improve in Portuguese. For example, a compilation of 500 useful sentences for beginners are translated into English for your usage.
Finally, it is also possible to refine your vocabulary with the Youtube channel "Education World." This one has a video where you can learn 500 words of Portuguese vocabulary. This may be useful if you are looking to travel to Lisbon or Brazil in the near future.
Also be aware that most sites specializing in language learning offer their own video content.
Learning Portuguese on Specialized Learning Websites
In order to memorize Portuguese conjugation and everyday vocabulary, some learners are turning to free Portuguese courses online.
Open to all, online courses accompany students in their studies at a regular or intensive pace, depending on the student's ultimate goal.
Some sites even teach you Portuguese with a voice recognition system!
As the name suggests, Easy Portuguese is for beginners who would like to know the basics of the Portuguese language. The courses focus on specific themes such as personal pronouns, Portuguese interjections, or daily situations. The site also has sections on Brazilian and Portuguese culture. For example if you are looking to learn the Portuguese anthem, you should head to this site.
But you can also learn Portuguese on Duolingo. The site (which also has a smartphone and tablet application) offers several learning modalities that one can choose from according to the time they wish to devote to Portuguese learning.
Students can choose a program that will last anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes per day. A test to see assess the student's level will be taken at registration in order to determine the learner's needs. This is a very positive and effective way to target ideal learning. Depending on the student's level, he or she will have access to beginner classes or lessons that are more specific to a topic.
The fun side of the application is the rewards system as we progress to different levels and master certain concepts. This makes the user experience even more interesting. A study has proven that 34 hours of Duolingo corresponds to 1 semester of a language course at university. The method is therefore very effective.
The Portuguese Loecsen website also offers Portuguese tutorials. It is an excellent guide to learn situations of everyday life in Portuguese (expressions, ordering at the restaurant, or booking a hotel with the famil ...). Although the interface is aesthetically less pleasing than Duolingo, it can be effective with certain aspects of language learning. Use it without hesitation while on a language course in Portugal!
To learn Portuguese online, several other platforms are available:
- MOOC Portuguese courses,
- Portugal Mania,
- World Languages,
- Goethe-Verlag (30 first lessons out of 100 for free),
- iLanguages, etc.
However, online Portuguese classes do not replace a real tutoring module. The courses listed above help students who are curious to discover the basics of the language without getting to the advanced stage.
Learners of Portuguese who want to push their learning will be able to take private lessons on platforms like Superprof to implement what they have already learned! On our platform, over 93% of our teachers offer their first class for free.
This is a great way to test out your interest in Portuguese culture before considering a serious Portuguese learning module!
Finding a Portuguese Penpal
To get acquainted with the language of Camões, why not chat with a real Portuguese local?
Today, there is nothing simpler than getting in touch with a foreign student. Whereas, for years, chatting was done exclusively via the computer, it is now possible to chat with people via your smartphone or tablet.
What's the goal of all this chatting?
To improve your knowledge of the Portuguese language while discovering Portuguese or Brazilian culture!
To do this, you should vary the discussions. Portuguese students can work on their writing by checking their translations with natives and receiving constructive criticism from their interlocutor, but also work on their oral pronunciation by "chatting" via webcam or voicenotes on iPhone.
According to Lexcelera (2014), Portuguese is in second place (24%) when it comes to the most requested languages on online penpal platforms. English is the most popular language on the platform (coming in at 31%).
The penpal platforms in order to get in touch with Portuguese speakers are:
- Speak-lab, which connects natives of many languages. The principle of exchange is a win-win here. When it comes to Portuguese, you have to find a native who wants to learn English. Each progresses little by little in the language of the other. For the more shy or those who wonder what they are going to be able to talk about, the site can even suggest conversation topics to follow. Finally, a collaborative forum is available to submit language questions to other members,
- Swapasap offers the same type of exchange with some variants. First of all, it is possible to register at the age of 12 and the accounts are not individual but with one's family (with the possibility of having multiple users, obviously). For parents, it's a safe way to monitor their children's learning experience. The site also focuses on real exchanges at the end of the chatting. Why not discover Portugal after a few months of conversing with a family from Porto?
- Students of the world works according to the same methods and principles. It puts students from around the world in touch. The site does not focus exclusively on linguistic practice but on the exchange in general with all that it entails. Here, more than just a penpal, you will grow to become a friend.
Other platforms exist like Linguoo or My language exchange. We advise those who are interested in the penpal method to visit each site and use the one or those on which they feel most comfortable. Also note that depending on the platform, the network of registrants varies significantly.
The advantage of being put in touch with a Portuguese or Brazilian (depending on cultural affinities or learning objectives) is the possibility of arriving at a place where one will organize an immersive language exchange.
The learner can organize to be hosted by a native family. The idea being that he or she would progress until he or she would be ready to manage in a Portuguese-speaking country!
Finally, correspondence with a Portuguese person allows the learner to assimilate daily Portuguese vocabulary and the words that are not that taught during traditional Portuguese lessons. Portuguese slang allows a student to obtain a fluent and modern level and enrich his or her Portuguese vocabulary to the maximum.
Through a simple conversation, the learner can improve his or her Portuguese without having the impression of studying
Watching Portuguese Films and TV Shows in Order to Develop Your Portuguese
All the greatest linguistic specialists will tell you the same thing: to master the official language of Portugal, nothing beats watching a Portuguese TV show in the original version!
Attention: Portuguese entertainment is only beneficial if the learner already knows the basics of the language (spelling, grammar, alphabet, etc.).
This is explained by John Marry, Vice-President of the Association of Modern Languages in NYC: "If you don't already have a certain level in the language, it won't do much for you. For some, it is better to start with English subtitles."
Entertainment will sharpen a student's knowledge and not serve as an intro to the foreign language in question. To perform effective language learning, the learner must partake in active listening but also seriously read the subtitles in order to work on his or her Portuguese pronunciation and his or her Portuguese writing.
The best movies and TV shows for those wanting to learn Portuguese are:
- Mysteries of Lisbon,
- Taboo,
- The Golden Cage,
- Bones Beach,
- Cidade de Deus,
- Cidade dos homens,
- Love of Perdition,
- Conta-me como faith,
- Mistura Fina,
- Mundo Meu,
- Queridas Feras, etc.
Always favor entertainment coming directly from Portugal or Brazil: the translated versions of English series do not allow learners to study how the lips move, which is crucial to retaining pronunciation.
If you are looking to learn Brazilian Portuguese, discover Brazilian or Portuguese culture, and improve your Portuguese accent, there is nothing like a series or a film in its original language!
Taking Free Portuguese Lessons
For free Portuguese lessons, one of the best solutions is to take classes through a language association. In American, they are numerous - though mostly in the big cities in the NYC region, where the Portuguese community is present in higher numbers.
Every year, dozens of non-profit organizations work to bring linguistic knowledge to students, regardless of their social background or level of education.
American speakers can become bilingual in Portuguese thanks to native teachers offering serious Portuguese private lessons.
Language associations are an opportunity to combine linguistic and cultural learning. Associations often encourage Anglo-Portuguese friendships by offering trips abroad, for example.
Portuguese language associations offer language courses in all the major cities of the United States.
You will be able to feel like you are having an immersive Portuguese learning experience thanks to teachers who perfectly master their mother tongue!
In short:
- The methods are not lacking when it comes to learning Portuguese for free. You can learn the language through applications, websites that offer thematic lessons, or through more visual media such as video tutorials. As a student, we also advise you to read books in Portuguese or Brazilian Portuguese, listen to music to better adapt to the sounds of the language, and watch movies in Portuguese (original version or subtitled).
- However, these methods should not be used on their own. You can combine them together for best results. For example, taking a Portuguese course for free can be paired with studying with a private Portuguese tutor. The important thing is to be able to make learning a long-term experience and find the methods that work best on your memory (visual, auditory, etc.).
- Do not hesitate to find a native penpal with whom you can develop your oral and writing skills. It is a great tool to progress quickly and sometimes better in order to understand spoken Portuguese faster.
- Finally, these free courses will allow you to learn the language and can be supplemented by other paying methods later on (such as private tutoring lessons or paid applications).
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