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Brendon’s Portuguese Log | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Language Learning Log |  | |
| Blee7 Newbie United States Joined 4729 days ago 11 posts - 12 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Portuguese | Message 1 of 2 24 March 2013 at 6:17am | IP Logged |
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Well it has been approximately 1 year since I started learning Portuguese. I try and
spend about 1 hour a day doing something in the language. Starting today March 23, 2013 I want to be more agressive in my studies and attempt to reach fluency 2 years from today. I have tried multiple methods and anxious to step out of the programs and into some real work studies. I currently live in the U.S., however, will be moving to Minas Gerais, Brazil this summmer and spending a few months there. Hoping to come back at an intermediate level or higher. How much time is typical in a immersion setting to get a stong handle of the language? 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| iguanamon Pentaglot Senior Member Virgin Islands Speaks: Ladino Joined 5261 days ago 2241 posts - 6731 votes  Speaks: English*, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Creole (French) | Message 2 of 2 24 March 2013 at 12:11pm | IP Logged |
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How much time it takes you to improve your Portuguese depends on how you spend your time whilst there and before you arrive. When I lived in Puerto Rico, I met Gringos who had been living there for years with only a smattering of Spanish at best. Their poor language skills were due to, 1) lack of interest, motivation and 2) living within an English bubble- hanging out with other ex-pats and English-speaking natives.
I spent a month in Brazil last year and I can tell you that you won't run into all that much English. Still, it exists. Avoid English like the plague. Don't hang out with ex-pats or natives who want to practice their English, unless you get to practice your Portuguese in a language exchange. My advice, while there, try to join a group of natives- hobby group, theater volunteer, other volunteer opportunities exist- be creative, take a class in a subject outside language-learning, in order to really surround yourself with the language. For example, in São Paulo, I took a free photography class over a three day period. I learned much more than just how to take good photos. I met some nice folks and learned a lot of new Portuguese. I would have done more along those lines if I'd had more time available. Actively avoid other English-speakers. Before you go, get a private tutor via skype for a couple (or at least one) of sessions of conversation classes a week. You need to consolidate what you know. Buy two books- Como dizer tudo em inglês by Ron Martinez, which is a very thorough and comprehensive phrase book. I got my copy used for $1.99 on Amazon, and How To Improve Your Foreign Language by Boris Scheckman which can also be had for cheap as a used book. Use the time before you go to work on your weaknesses in Portuguese- verb conjugations and tenses, vocabulary, pronouns and prepositions. Listen to as much native content as possible and read widely- even if you don't find the subject matter all that gripping. Get a private tutor and/or do lots of skype exchanges/chats. Write on lang8. My point is, don't wait until you get there to immerse yourself, do as much as you can now and you'll be better off for it when you get to Brazil. If you don't get a tutor, then at least try to do as many skype exchanges as possible with Brazilians. If I can help you further, please pm me. Edited by iguanamon on 24 March 2013 at 12:17pm 1 person has voted this message useful |
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