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Picking up a little of the language--what has worked for you?

Posted by (Nova Scotia, Canada) on

Hi team. I love picking up a few words of the local language. I have done ok with duolingo for a little Hungarian and a German refresh, but it looks like they use Brazilian Portuguese not continental Portuguese. Any other ideas that offer a sort of casual approach?

I see Google translate also uses Brazilian Portuguese, which worries me a little. Anyone have thoughts on the differences? I know for example Parisian French and Quebecois French are supposed to be quite different, but I understand it's mostly accent and some vocab--and North American French is less formal. No fundamental grammar difference as far as I know. Is it mostly a question of accent, or is there more to it than that? (I think if someone from New Orleans and Glasgow can usually work it out, accent is a barrier but not a total deal-breaker!)

Posted by
6329 posts

Thanks, Gail. I'm learning just a little Portuguese prior to our September RS tour, and I'm glad to see a couple of sources with which I'm not yet familiar.

I've been using Pimsleur European Portuguese, but level 2 only seems to be available online, and stops there. Pimsleur Brazilian Portuguese has at least 5 levels!

Posted by
7331 posts

Hi JoAnne, I love to travel to Italy and worked quite a bit over the years with DuoLingo, some old helpful language games on a CD back in the day, Italian for Dummies, etc. I also did DuoLingo for French because I needed to be able to hear the difference in words. But, for all other languages where I’m just there a few weeks and in more of the normal tourist locations, I just listen to several YouTube videos for “tourist words”. From those, I practice, make a page or two of the words I want to use - especially the sentences. What would I want to say in a hotel, at a restaurant, when I’m out sightseeing or asking a question. I review those on the plane and the first few evenings there.

Posted by
233 posts

Ohhh I love that idea Jean. I have been using youtube a LOT for touring ideas, but never thought to look for language tips.

Posted by
59 posts

Hi JoAnne
I have been round that block since prior to my first visit to Portugal in 2016
First I used Skype to work with a teacher in Portugal. It did not work so well for me
Next I tried Duolingo but dropped it when I found out that it only had Brazilian Portuguese. I felt I might as well got the whole way with the right dialect. (the difference is not enough to not use Google translate. It is too great a tool not to have it on my phone)
Memrise teaches continental Portuguese and that is what I am working with now. It is subscription based and not too tedious

Last year I tried Practice Portugues, another subscription service and it is the best if you really want to become fluent. Were I planning to emigrate, that is the one I would choose. But unless my wife suddenly changes her mind on that subject, Memrise will suffice to provide me with all the Portuguese I will need as a visitor

Dennis (going back to Portugal in October)

Posted by
1685 posts

The sources Dennis mention are the ones I would recommend. But, if you just learn a few basics - bom dia, boa tarde, obrigada/obrigado (for men), you will be ahead of a lot of tourists. Be aware bom is pronounced bon.

In all actuality, if you are staying in the main tourist areas, you are likely to find that everyone speaks English. Portuguese children are required to take several years of English and many tv shows and movies are shown in the original language with Portuguese subtitles. As a result, I’ve found few people who don’t speak some English.

I think it’s only respectful to make an effort with a few main words, but don’t stress about learning too much.
My Portuguese teacher just introduced me to the app Say Hi. One can speak into it and get a translation into Portuguese. Very handy for those times you might need it.

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