Going back to beginner Portuguese before a trip to Portugal has reminded me of an uncomfortable truth about language learning: recognising something when you see or hear it is very different from being able to recall it when you need it. I’m off on a trip to Portugal soon, so I’ve been busy reviving my very basic Portuguese. I first started learning this beautiful … [Read more...]
How to learn Portuguese fast
So, you want to learn Portuguese fast? Follow the advice in this post and you can get yourself ready to use your Portuguese in the sorts of basic everyday contexts that we all need or in highly specialised contexts that are personal to you. This post is addressed to you if you're a beginner, a false beginner or rusty. That said, much of what you'll read will also help … [Read more...]
Ten reasons why you should learn Portuguese before Spanish
Should I learn Spanish or Portuguese in 2025? Well, I'm sometimes asked in surprise why I've chosen to learn Portuguese instead of its close - and more pushy - relative, Spanish. After all, most people learn Spanish not Portuguese. Unlike Spanish, Portuguese is hardly ever taught as a foreign language in schools in English-speaking countries. It's taken up only by only a … [Read more...]