Gringoes.com: Best way to improve my Portuguese?

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JessNZ
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Newbie

Joined: 26 April 2012
Location: New Zealand
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Posts: 8

Topic: Best way to improve my Portuguese?
Posted: 27 April 2012 at 22:31

Hi!

I live in New Zealand and there isn't much in the way of classes where I live to learn, and my partner who is from Brazil is not that great as a teacher -

We are going to move back soon - I would say I have intermediate Portuguese ... Some suggestions? good books to read, any websites etc...
Being in Brazil and speaking only portuguese did help me alot, but it's been almost two years and my memory is slipping!
:-) How did everyone here learn Portuguese? How long did it take for you to become fluent?

Thanks!

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3casas
Gringoes.com Guru

Joined: 02 November 2006
Location: Brazil
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3593

Posted: 27 April 2012 at 23:08

use it. get your news online (folha de SP is my favorite, and the columnists in the "ilustrada" section are often interesting.... http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/ilustrada/ ). listen to things online. you can find lots of news reports and such on youtube, you can listen to radio and news online (CBN, principally, but BBC has PT content as well).
if you are a self-studyer there are some books that are passable - falar, ler e escrever is decent, para a frente is used in many universities but i found the language to be antiquated.

don't forget the foreign service page, free content that's quite good
http://fsi-language-courses.org/Content.php

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Ferguson21
Senior Member

Joined: 06 October 2009
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Posts: 431

Posted: 28 April 2012 at 00:03

Read books and the Brazilian sites.

Watch Brazilian movies with Portuguese subtitles.

Listen to music, download the lyrics and read them simultaneous.

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spongebob
Gringoes.com Guru

Joined: 18 June 2007
Location: New Zealand
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Posts: 2730

Posted: 28 April 2012 at 14:06

Once you know quite a bit, take some courses with Brazilians. That way you are FORCED to understand the material.

-
** Just sayin' **
** Make lemonaid out of lemons. **
** Trolls get old...**

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JessNZ
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Joined: 26 April 2012
Location: New Zealand
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Posts: 8

Posted: 28 April 2012 at 23:45

Hey! thanks for the tips,- my listening and understanding is much better than replying, that's where forcing my partner to speak more portuguese comes into it!
I've been to find books but its very limited in the library here, i think getting some online might be my best bet.
Thanks!

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cecibastos
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Joined: 24 January 2012
Location: Brazil
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Posts: 6

Posted: 01 May 2012 at 11:53

I am Cecilia, Brazilian and I would like to exchange classes, I teach POrtuguese while you give me some English conversation classes just to improve it! I want to do the CPE Cambridge exam next year. Anyone? Thanks!

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Zbrazil1
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Joined: 24 February 2012
Location: Brazil
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Posts: 37

Posted: 14 May 2012 at 06:09

How much grammer do you know?

IF you are bad at grammer but good at vocabulary, get it down otherwise your bad habit will calcify and you will have a hard time later on in your portuguese speaking life!

In that case, find a theoretical course and even though it's boring, make sure to get it. And of course immerge yourself into the brazilian community, find a private teacher and just go for it!

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spongebob
Gringoes.com Guru

Joined: 18 June 2007
Location: New Zealand
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Posts: 2730

Posted: 14 May 2012 at 10:48

if you're not in Brazil, I'd do what 3casas said - I like those books. Then try to listen to podcasts, videos, anything you can find. There's a tough transition that most people (adults) have to go through to be able to REALLY understand the spoken language well. I spent many months watching Brazilian TV with no extra aides (closed capitons). After about 3 months, I was better. After 6 months, I was much better.

After that, I had to practice speaking a lot. After that, I got to about where I am today.. 4 years later.

-
** Just sayin' **
** Make lemonaid out of lemons. **
** Trolls get old...**

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Stellar
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Joined: 30 November 2011
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Posts: 78

Posted: 21 May 2012 at 17:50

Originally posted by spongebob

Once you know quite a bit, take some courses with Brazilians. That way you are FORCED to understand the material.

best way to learn IMO. :)

Edited by Stella025 - 21 May 2012 at 17:52

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Pamela88
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Joined: 21 June 2012
Location: Brazil
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Posts: 3

Posted: 21 June 2012 at 21:39

Hey,

I live in São Paulo and i´ve been in NZ last year. it was great!! let´s talk!! I´d like to help with the portuguese language!!

I look forward to hear about you.

Pâmela

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Learning Portuguese
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