Learn new languages can be very exciting. It enables you to communicate with the native speakers of that language. However, it is not easy to become fluent in a foreign language. There are different methods of learning a new language, but more often than not, people don’t follow a set pattern and end up feeling discouraged. The best course of action would be to get in touch with those who have learned a foreign language and ask for their advice. For instance, you can search how to learn Portuguese on the internet and get useful tips from people.
The Portuguese Language:
Portuguese is a Romance language that originated from Latin in the Iberian Peninsula. It is recognized as the sole official language in Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe. It is also a co-official language in East Timor, Macau, and Equatorial Guinea. There are more than 270 million Portuguese speakers in the world. The Portuguese language shares a few similarities with other Romance languages. However, it is not mutually intelligible with any of them. In Latin America, Portuguese is the most spoken language after Spanish. It is also one of the most spoken languages in Africa.
How to Learn Portuguese?
If you are planning to move to Portugal or Brazil, you will have to learn the native language first. Knowing a foreign language can also improve your chances of getting a good job in a multinational company. However, languages are very complex and cannot be learned overnight. Before you begin taking lessons, it is important to accept that learning a language takes time. You won’t be able to take part in the conversations of the native speakers anytime soon. However, if you are patient and committed, you will get there ultimately. Portuguese is not as difficult as Mandarin or Arabic for an English speaker. But you will still have to put in the effort and study for hours every week if you want to become fluent in the Portuguese language.
Here are some tips that can help you learn Portuguese:
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Native Tutors:
If you want to take classes online, hire a native Portuguese teacher. Only a native speaker can teach you all about a language and the associated culture. Many universities offer online language courses for those who can’t study on campus. Such courses are ideal for people who have a day job. If you enroll in a course offered by a good university, you will get access to useful reading materials and study guides. Your progress will be measured on a regular basis so you would know how much more effort you need to make.
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Online Resources:
If you have enrolled in online courses, having extra study material won’t hurt. But if you are studying Portuguese on your own, you will need all the reading materials you can get your hands on. Fortunately, the internet is a place where you can find information related to anything. You can find Portuguese grammar books, common Portuguese phrases, and detailed Portuguese lessons. It won’t be easy to develop your language skills when you are studying on your own, but you can make it possible with practice.
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Download Apps:
Language learning apps can be very useful when used in combination with other resources. You can use different language apps to see which one matches your learning style and then get its subscription. Some apps provide an audio pronunciation guide along with reading help, so you can learn a language in an efficient manner. A good way to master Portuguese pronunciation is by watching movies and TV shows made in Portugal. You can also watch YouTube videos in Portuguese to improve your listening skills.
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Find an Exchange Partner:
Language exchange partners can make it easier for each other to learn foreign languages. You also end up with a new friend. There are different forums for language learners where you can find people who would be willing to become your exchange partners. Portuguese speakers and English speakers can partner up and learn each other’s languages. Learners also organize language exchange meet-ups where speakers of different languages can get together and practice their accents. When you communicate with a native directly, you will be able to learn everyday phrases and sentences.
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Follow a Routine:
Fix your hours of study in advance so you can stay motivated. Learning the grammar and sentence structure of a foreign language is not going to be easy. You should be aware of the fact that it can take months, and sometimes years, to master a language. You will only learn the basics in the first few weeks. But if you give up after that, you will never become an advanced speaker. You should set up a study routine and make space in it for everything from learning grammar to developing your writing skills.
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Listening Practice:
You cannot have a real conversation with the natives only by learning the common phrases. You will have to develop your listening skills too. You can listen to Portuguese songs to improve your listening skills. You can also lookup lyrics so you can learn Portuguese words with meanings. But the best option is to listen to podcasts. You can learn to differentiate between European and Brazilian accents by listening to different podcasts. You can listen to the audio while driving or while jogging in the park. This way, you can practice your listening skills while on the move.
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Adopt Useful Learning Techniques:
Thanks to the internet, you can make your learning experience fun. If you are learning on an app, you will feel accomplished every time you reach higher levels. Flashcards are helpful to a lot of people. Nowadays, you don’t need to make flashcards yourself; you can easily get them from language learning websites. The better your language learning techniques are, the quicker you will be able to develop your Portuguese skills. Experiment with different learning techniques and stick to the ones that suit you best.
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Write in Portuguese:
Language experts will tell you to start writing in a journal to improve your linguistic skills. You can write about your daily life or note down important pieces of news. Whatever you write will help you learn about the basic structures of sentences. It will also help you think in Portuguese. It does not matter if you make mistakes at the start. You will learn the rules with time. Making notes while studying will also improve your writing ability and your language skills.
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Remember Your Reasons:
Some people want to learn Portuguese because they plan to move to Brazil, while some just want to improve their resume. Whatever the case may be, stay focused on your reasons. Many features of the language you are trying to learn will annoy you. You will feel stress when learning conjugation and grammatical structures. But your brain can get motivation from the reasons that got you to start studying a foreign language. Learning Portuguese will feel like a challenge on most days, but you can take comfort in the thought that you are working on your goals. Once you have gained complete knowledge of Portuguese and won’t have any trouble in understanding spoken Portuguese, you will realize that all of your efforts were worth it.
Now that you have read the tips mentioned above, you know how you can start learning Portuguese with confidence.
