Learning to Speak Portuguese

It is really essential that you try to learn even the basics of Portuguese before you go. Although you may be heading for a mainly ex-pat area, and many Portuguese people speak very good English, you ought to be aware of what is going on around you. When you make the effort a whole new world opens up to you, from conversing simply about your purchases at the market, to understanding legal documents and socialising with new Portuguese friends.

Hopefully you will have taken my earlier advice and started to learn some Portuguese before you arrive in Portugal. Once you get there, there are many other things you can do to continue the good work and gain confidence, either formally or for yourself.

• Enrol on a course at a language school or college - look in the Yellow Pages (Paginas Amarelas) for details
• Look out for private lessons, or English/Portuguese conversation exchanges advertised in papers, church and school newsletters, or even bars.
• Start to read in Portuguese - begin with a magazine of some interest, or a women's, or general-interest magazine. Keep your expectations low to start with - small paragraphs before double-page spreads.
• Watch TV - yes, it really is good for you! You may find it very fast to start with, but you can at least get used to the sound of the language. Programmes with English subtitles can be useful, although translations are not always totally accurate.
• Play Portuguese radio when you are at home.

Slowly but surely you will gain confidence if you try. Don't be afraid of making mistakes - the Portuguese people will help you if you make an effort. Don't end up as one of those ex-pats who live abroad for 20 years and never utter more than a couple of words of the local language - unfortunately they do still exist!