Portuguese is widely spoken across the globe, with a significant presence in countries like Brazil, Portugal, Mozambique, Angola, and regions like Macau in China. Learning Portuguese offers numerous benefits, not only for language studies by providing a strong foundation for learning other Romance languages, but also for advancing a career in fields where Portuguese is valuable.
Speaking of the advantages of learning this new language, it is important to note that there is an enrichment that comes with the knowledge of a new language. When you travel to these countries it is possible to recognize that this gives a new perspective on the matters of the country.
Studies have shown that learning from online platforms offers several benefits. These advantages come from the easy access to information, the connections to people from anywhere in the world, and even financially, it can be cheaper than most of the other options in the market for language learning.
According to Ronaldo Magalhães, an educational expert, “Aprender português pode ser uma ótima oportunidade para quem tem interesse em escrever uma tese em um país estrangeiro, por exemplo. Saber como montar a estrutura de um trabalho acadêmico, já que os exemplos em inglês possuem partes e tipos similares. Acredito que seja uma língua de fácil compreensão e grandes retornos para o estudante.” – “Learning Portuguese can be a great opportunity for those interested in writing a thesis in a foreign country, for example. It helps in understanding how to structure an academic paper, as the examples in English have similar parts and types. I believe it is a language that is easy to understand and offers great benefits for the student.”
We have compiled a list of top-notch platforms for learning Portuguese:
Babbel: This platform is famous because of its structure in the language learning aspect, with plenty of material in the lessons and access to native speakers of the language for speaking practice.
FluentU: This platform offers an immersive learning experience using various media in the language being studied.
Pimsleur: Focused on speaking and oral communication, this platform is designed to help students become more fluent in a foreign language.
Udemy: With a wide range of features and courses, Udemy provides video-recorded lessons and access to instructors for questions and guidance.
Memrise: Ideal for beginners, this platform offers interactive lessons that help users navigate a new language for the first time.
There are a few language schools that are great for learning the Portuguese language. These schools are located in Brazil and in Portugal, so they are ideal for students that reside in the country and need to participate in physical classes to navigate the country:
Portugal:
CIAL Centro de Línguas: This school is set in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, and has many Portuguese courses from beginner to advanced.
Portuguese Connection: In Lisbon, this school is known for the personalized experience in the learning of the language.
Fast Forward Language Institute: This school is situated in Porto and has intensive courses.
Brazil:
Rio & Learn: This school is in the city of Rio de Janeiro, which offers an immersive experience in the language.
Fast Forward Language Institute: The school is located in São Paulo, and it has intensive courses that promise the students a better understanding of the Portuguese language.
Dialogo Language School: Stationed in Salvador, this language school has a language and cultural learning approach. For the foreign student, this is a great opportunity since it gives them the whole experience.
If you are enrolled in a university, you might know that many university programs are connected to Portuguese language courses. These programs are valuable for students already in an academic environment, as they provide an opportunity to learn a new language while enhancing their educational journey and deepening their understanding of their studies.
There are several programs at different universities that follow a Portuguese education program. Some of the universities that offer such programs are:
University of Coimbra: This college is located in Portugal and offers a comprehensive Portuguese program focused on different aspects, such as speaking, writing and learning.
University of Lisbon: This university is situated in Lisbon, Portugal and has a language learning program in the Portuguese course.
Federal University of Rio de Janeiro: The UFRJ is set in Brazil and welcomes international students to learn the Portuguese language.
It is important to note that these colleges are in Portuguese-speaking countries, but they provide a big experience to foreign students.
There are also tons of mobile apps that work as well as other online platforms. These mobile apps are good if you are new to the language and need to practice more than the user who has previous knowledge of the language.
Mobile apps enhance learning through gamification, using interactive quizzes and activities to engage students in the learning process. These apps offer a wide range of resources tailored to individual needs and experiences, making them ideal tools for serious students looking to deepen their knowledge.
We listed some of the mobile apps that are good for students, in their language studies:
Preply: This app connects you with a personal Brazilian Portuguese teacher, who will enhance your study experience and qualifications. This app is primarily designed for individuals who have some prior knowledge of Portuguese and are seeking to enhance their speaking skills. This application has a subscription value of $5 to $40 per hour, varying depending on your level.
Rosetta Stone: This app is good for beginners, from the alphabet sounds to speaking with a native speaker. This app is good because it provides the student with books, audio lessons, and even accent feedback. This app has a monthly subscription, which can vary based on the period you want, like $11.99 for 3 months, $7.99 for 12 months, and $179 for the lifetime.
Pimsleur: This application helps the student to learn vocabulary words, with the focus on vocabulary words and listening comprehension. In general, the lessons are 30 minutes, and the recommendation is one lesson per day. This app has the cost of $150 per level.
Mondly: This app takes a unique approach to learning, emphasizing key phrases, pronunciation, real-world conversation practice, and even a repetition system. This app has revolutionized the tutoring experience by facilitating the practice of tutoring skills with AI partners. It costs from $9.99 per month to $4 for a year.
Rocket Languages: And lastly, there is this app that uses audios and reading lessons that can improve your Portuguese knowledge. This application is good for Portuguese learners that are still beginners but want to go to intermediate levels to read and listen. The cost for this app is $99.95 for the whole course and $19.99 monthly.
In summary, there are plenty of benefits to learning Portuguese, not only for the improvement of foreign language studies but also because it helps people have richer and more meaningful experiences in their lives. This is important due to the alignment of cultural interests and the ability to connect with diverse communities globally.
