Learn How to Speak Portuguese

Tudo bem? Sim! If you’re looking to learn to speak Portuguese fluently, you’ve found a great resource. But first off, let’s consider why you might want to learn Portuguese. Obviously it’s one of the most vibrant languages in the world. And this is true both from its original European roots to the vast Portuguese-speaking population in Brazil.  Whether it’s for your own personal interest in the language and culture, as a business traveler, or simply to learn something new and take advantage of the cognitive benefits of being bilingual, learning Portuguese will help you on so many levels.

So what’s the best approach? As you’ll find throughout this page, we strongly recommend immersive learning. But if moving to Portugal or Brazil isn’t an option, what can start you on the path to fluency right now? The good news is that you’ve found Rype, where the ultimate tools and team for learning Portuguese are right at your fingertips. Vai!

Common Obstacles to Learning  Portuguese

A new journey or project is oftentimes accompanied by optimism. This is true whether it’s learning Portuguese or training to run your first 10K.  We see the end results, the successes, but rarely consider the days of work it will take to become successful. And so when it comes time to get started, there’s often a hard reality check that stops them from ever taking action.

So how can we prevail?  The first key is getting perspective on the process. No matter what your goal is, the three biggest challenges are always:

• Resources – In deciding how to go about learning, you have to figure out which method to use, understand how much it costs, and factor in your available budget.
• Time – Once you’ve got this figured out, what about time? When do you have availability for learning? Is there room in your schedule for classes?
• Accountability – Finally, be honest with yourself. When it comes to learning, are you a self-starter? Over the long haul, how much will you need to lean on an accountability partner or coach to stay motivated and on track?

It’s about here that many beginners get overwhelmed. If that’s you, breathe easy. You can rest assured that with each of these challenges we’ve built a strategy at Rype so that you can learn Portuguese as painlessly and efficiently as possible.  These challenges may feel huge now, but our model helps you overcome them through an amazing online community and platform. The Portuguese teachers at Rype are some of the best in the world. And you work with them around your schedule, selecting just the right teacher so that the process is fun and interactive, and at the same time, accountable.  This model is so much more efficient and affordable than private lessons or a group language school, that you’ll be amazed how much faster you’re able to speak Portuguese fluently.

The Benefits of Speaking Portuguese Fluently

Each of us has our own motivations for studying language.  For some it may be travel. For others it may be the cognitive benefits of bilingual- or multilingualism.  Sill for others it might be about opening up business opportunities. Let’s look at just a few of the common benefits of speaking Portuguese fluently:

• New career opportunities. In an increasingly global marketplace, multilingual job candidates are more valuable.
• Increased confidence. Learning Portuguese is learning to express yourself. This act of deliberately connecting with people, of communicating, is directly linked to a boost in self-confidence.
• Increased attention span.   Additional, language learning boosts attention span, as proven by a Scottish scientific study.
• Deeper relationships. Connecting deeply with people in their native language creates a sense of understanding and empathy that doesn’t exist without being fluent.  connect deeply with people in their native language, it opens up a relationships that simply aren’t accessible without being fluent.

10 Quick Tips for Speaking Portuguese Fluently

Begin with these quick language tips today and you’re setting the foundations for speaking Portuguese fluently.

1. Stop Being a ‘Student’ of Portuguese.

Your language learning mindset is everything. And in setting your attitude, let go of the concept of “teacher and student” as your vehicle to fluency.  Not only are these concepts worn out, they’re counterproductive.  Consider the world’s greatest language “students.” Who are they? Babies!  And these greatest learners don’t think of themselves as students at all. Instead they simply inhabit the sounds and rhythms of the language around them with a completely open mind. Emulate this as you learn. Replicate it by creating as many opportunities to absorb Portuguese in your environment as possible.

2. Let Go of Perfection.

Yes, dedication to grammar rules and pronunciation can seem like a noble pursuit. But if you’re locked into the mindset that you need to be an “A student,” then holding on too tightly can actually slow you down in terms of fluency. Kids learn faster than adults because they’re not afraid of making mistakes. They’re not embarrassed. This is the healthiest attitude: Let go of perfectiont and keep it fun.

3. Overcome the “Mistake Fallacy.”

Another  way of saying this is to overcome the mistake fallacy. This is the the mistaken concept one’s ability to speak or write free from errors is what determines their success. Ultimately though, nobody (especially native speaking locals) really cares if you blow your verb conjugation or pronunciation. Instead, you’ll endear yourself to them through your willingness and determination to speak their language.

4. Speak Aloud.

Portuguese fluency depends on speaking aloud. Nothing more and nothing less. You should seek out every opportunity to speak aloud, even if it’s just listening to and repeating Portuguese podcasts or shows. As long as you’re speaking aloud and having fun doing it, your brain is creating new learning pathways and helping you towards fluency.

5. Emulate native Portuguese Speakers in Real Life.

Also take every opportunity to emulate native Portuguese speakers IRL. There are many ways to do this, especially in cafes or restaurants.  One trick is to listen in as a native speaker orders their food or drink, and then imitate them exactly as you hear it. While it might not even make perfect sense to you, imitating their intonations and expressions has a special effect. It bypasses the default mode of trying to translate and instead gets your mind simply “thinking” in Portuguese.

6. Practice with a Portuguese conversation partner or teacher.

Tutors, teachers, and conversation partners are so beneficial because, as discussed above, they force you to speak.   Our model at Rype is based on a proactive learning mode. This means interacting with teachers in real time.

7. Switch Your devices to Portuguese.

This might seem like a pain at first, but you’ll be amazed how quickly your brain adapts to the prompts on your devices when set in Portuguese. An easy first step is adding Portuguese as one of the operating languages of your phone / messaging / email and practice with that whenever communicating with conservation partners or teachers. Eventually try having your phone’s entire system in Portuguese for constant reinforcement.

8. Watch Netflix in Portuguese.

No brainer. When you’ve got your phone set up in Portuguese, work on a daily diet of entertainment in Portuguese, whether Netflix, HBO, YouTube, etc. You can experiment with your favorite shows with Portuguese subtitles, but the best of all is hearing native Portuguese speakers as much as you can.

9. Learn about Brazilian and Portuguese culture.

To truly reinforce what you’re learning you need context. Part of your learning journey should include the culture of countries where Portuguese is spoken. This includes both Portugal and Brazil, so you have lots of options when it comes to learning new  literature, music, architecture, philosophy, cuisine, and poetry. More than anything, these cultural expressions allow you deep insights into how Portuguese-speaking people relate to the world and each other. These insights are the most invaluable part of learning the language.

10. Travel with an All-Brazilian (or Portuguese) Crew.

This makes travel 100% more challenging and 150% more fun. Yes you’ll be pushed out of your comfort zone, but that’s really the point.  There is not a single faster way to fluency than traveling with (and living with) zero other native English speakers but only native-Portuguese speaking people. And chances are it will be the most fun you’ve ever had.

Classic Methodologies for Learning Portuguese

Are you starting to get a good sense now of how to approach your learning journey? Having gone through those quick tips, let’s turn now to different tools and methodologies. From here, hopefully you’ll have an even better idea of what will work best with your learning style individual situation.

Private Portuguese Tutors

Immersive learning, or interacting in real time with real people, is the king of all methodologies. The key word here is interacting, as simply listening to someone passively (say a lecture) may be 5-10x less effective in stimulating your brain’s learning centers than being immersed in a situation where you’re forced to speak / interact.  Having tutors or coaches also promotes higher retention and accountability.

Learning Apps

Apps are another tool for learning Portuguese fluently. We’ve reviewed Babbel and Duolingo, two of the more notable language apps out there. Apps can be very effective supplements to your learning journey, but they shouldn’t replace a teacher.

Audio Courses and Programs

Berlitz style tapes and other audio programs are part of a mostly bygone era in language learning now that we’re in the age of apps. They can still be a convenient way to supplement your learning, especially memorizing travel phrases, but they’re not truly a proactive way to get speaking Portuguese fluently.

Conversation Partners

Conversation exchanges are an interesting prospect. You pair up a native Portuguese speaker, and vice versa, they pair up with you. The intention is for you to mutually practice teaching and learning from each other. While this can be a great learning methodology, finding a suitable partner can take time and patience.

Learn to Speak Portuguese Online

Now that we’ve examined different methodologies, let’s look at Rype. To speak Portuguese fluently, what’s called for is an immersive approach — that’s proven by research.  Through the benefit of learning with private teachers, we’ve helped 10,000+ members speak a new language around their busy lifestyle. And best of all, our rate is way more affordable than a private language school. Here are the highlights of the major benefits we offer to our language students:

• You can enjoy Portuguese speaking lessons from anywhere you are in the world (no commuting).
• Your experience is with a native Portuguese teachers that you choose, (all of whom are handpicked and pre-vetted).
• You’ll learn Portuguese online at any time of the day, any day of the week.
• You’re only paying a fraction of the cost of a private language school.
• You’ll be retaining more information and learning Portuguese faster.
• You’ll be part of an exclusive community of fellow Portuguese language learners and global citizens.
• Start with a risk-free trial

If you still have any questions about how Rype works or want to share any feedback, feel free to reach out at help@rypeapp.com. Activate your risk-free trial now and start learning Portuguese online today.

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