Like this:

If you’re coming to Portugal on holiday – or to live – then it is worthwhile getting to grips with some of the language. Almost everyone on the Algarve you’re likely to encounter will speak English but travel just five minutes inland and it can be a very different story. Equally, if you want to converse with the local utilities (if you live here) or local tradesmen then at least an understanding of the language will help you get along better – and potentially reduce your bill.

So, if you’re thinking of learning the lingo, where to start? There are a plethora of language programmes available on dvd, cd, mp3 on sites such as Amazon but you do need to ensure that you choose European Portuguese and not Brazilian (there is a big difference). Most of the US produced programmes are the latter – so beware!

I’ve tried most of the programmes available from Oxford, Berlitz and the like and by far the best is Michel Thomas’ Portuguese course, available as a two CD starter set (great for getting started prior to a holiday), an eight CD foundation set that will take you through to lower intermediate and a supplementary four cd advanced course. Also worth looking at to start with is Elisabeth Smith’s one day Portuguese – a corny language learning programme if ever there was one, but at the end of 75 minutes you can confidently find your way around a town, ask for directions, order a meal and the such like. Highly recommended for the total beginner!

Going back to Michel Thomas though, this in my view is the absolute best. I have to admit I have a real liking for Thomas’ language approach – I learned both the rudiments of German and Spanish using these programmes, before going straight into the intermediate classes at language school in the respective countries. His methodology is simple. No books, no writing, just listen and repeat – and for no more than 20 minutes at a time. Equally, he doesn’t go through long grammar lists or verb conjugations. Rather, he starts with the phrase ‘I want’, then moves on to ‘I want to …’, through to ‘I want that now’, ‘tomorrow, next week, with this, with that and so on. In a very short space of time therefore you’re able to make simple requests of people, book hotel rooms, order meals and tell the telephone company that your internet isn’t working.

I can’t recommend the course enough – it’s taken me to an advanced level (along with help from the staff at Boavista who are great ‘informal’ language teachers to me.

But what if you want to do more? Well, there are a number of options. You could try going to the language school in Lagos (some people think they’re great but as an ex language teacher myself, I don’t personally rate theml). The local Camara – or council – offer free language classes once a week (although wrap up warm as they’re held during the winter nights in freezing school halls) and I know a lot of people have benefited from these. There are some other self study programmes that I would also recommend, such as Linkword (basic pc interface but a very good way of learning vocabulary (although the first vocabulary list is based around fish and I was never sure that the word ‘polvo’ for octopus would be at the top of my priority list). However, it is a good way of extending vocabulary and at £35 or so a pop for all three levels, worth every penny.

Finally, if you’re looking for private tuition, either on an individual or small group basis, you won’t go wrong with Alice who is based in Burgau (00 351) 966878043. She is the best teacher of language I have ever come across (and I’ve been through a few with the various languages I’ve learned) and her methodology is very similar to that of Michel Thomas. (Alice also does holiday courses for my rental guests who want to keep their brain active during their hols – so if you’re interested in spending an hour or two a day or week etc with her, let me know)

So, if you’re thinking of learning the language, do ensure that which ever programme you go for, it is European Portuguese that you’re going to be learning – and do give Michel Thomas’ course a go as you certainly won’t regret it!

Advertisement