Learning a language like Portuguese is an amazing process, and every stage of it can be very fulfilling. As the Portuguese language is spoken in many countries, learning Portuguese is not only one of the best ways to gain more understanding of different cultures, but is also a bridge to a vast and diverse lands waiting to be explored.
While there is no doubt learning Portuguese is well worth the effort, time is money. Although we would all love to have limitless time to improve our language skills, the truth is that our personal and professional lives leave little time for learning. That stated, whether for an upcoming vacation to Rio de Janeiro or a business trip to São Paulo, you want to be fluent in conversational Portuguese as fast as possible.
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This is one of the first questions anyone interested in language learning asks, and unfortunately, there's no easy way to answer it. Learning a language is a complex process that is different for each individual based on several different factors. Let's take a look at these different factors and see how they impact how fast you learn Portuguese:
If you already speak a foreign language or were raised in a bilingual setting, it may be easier for you to pick up Portuguese more quickly. Bilinguals find it easier to learn a third language, as several linguistic studies have proven. This is because they are naturally more accustomed to being exposed to different languages. Fluency and skills in one language aid fluency and skills in another. If you're not bilingual or multilingual, however, don't worry: Even that year of French in high school or that business trip to Tokyo was helpful.
One of the first steps to learning a language is learning a little bit about what makes up a language and the unique linguistic aspects of the language you want to learn. If you have already experienced studying foreign grammar, memorizing vocabulary, listening to different sounds and looking at different letters, your mind know what to expect when faced with a new language. There aren't as many surprises and language learning becomes easier and faster.
Just being exposed to different languages--especially when one of those languages is the language you wish to learn--can make language learning faster.
Even if Portuguese is not considered one of the more difficult languages for English speakers to learn, this fascinating language is very well structured. Like many other European languages Portuguese comes from the Indo-European group of languages and therefore you can find similarities in the names of basic concepts across these languages because they share the same roots.
Portuguese also borrowed a lot of words from European languages over a period of time. These words, known as cognates, are your friends and can make your Portuguese language learning much easier and faster.
Rocket Record lets you perfect your Portuguese pronunciation. Just listen to the native speaker audio and then use the microphone icon to record yourself. Once you’re done, you’ll get a score out of 100 on your pronunciation and can listen to your own audio playback. (Use a headset mic for best results.) Problems? Click here!
Here are a few examples of Portuguese words that you might already know without realising it:
beisebol
baseball
(o) cinema
(the) cinema
(o) sofá
(the) sofa
(o) doutor
(the) doctor
Champanhe
Champagne
museu
museum
restaurante
restaurant
telefone
telephone
banco
bank
(parada de) táxi
taxi stop
The more you get to know this language, the more fun tips you'll find and the better you'll be at learning it!
Your learning methods also play an important role in how fast you learn Portuguese. If your language learning is limited to a classroom setting, then it will probably take you a little longer to learn.
If, however, you also are exposed to Portuguese outside of classes, then you can cut down the time needed to learn it. Reading, listening to the radio or eBooks, speaking, watching Portuguese movies, and traveling to Brazil can all help to speed up your learning process.
We also recommend taking advantage of today's technology to spice your daily life up with some Portuguese elements! For example, switch some of your mobile apps to Portuguese; sing along a Portuguese pop song on Youtube; or catch up a Portuguese TV series on Netflix! These immersive and contextual scenarios will help you gain affinity and even appreciation for not only the language, but also the culture behind the language that you're learning.
Naturally, how long it takes you to learn Portuguese also depends on how much time you plan to dedicate to language learning daily, weekly, or monthly. Studies have proven that learners who are willing to dedicate an hour a day to language learning--whether that be by studying grammar, memorizing vocabulary, watching a movie, or reading a book--learn significantly faster than those who just attend a weekly class.
That's why online programs like Rocket Languages work so well for many language learners: they encourage frequent study and are easy to access on a daily basis. And that's also why full immersion is, by far, the fastest way to learn a language.
Your attitude also plays a huge role in how fast you learn Portugese. If you approach language learning with a positive attitude and see it as a fun and fascinating opportunity to broaden your horizons, you'll be more open to learning. You'll be more motivated to study and learn as much as possible, and the entire process will be more enjoyable and, consequently, faster.
It's no secret that staying motivated is key to learning a new language. There have been so many studies proving the importance of motivation in language learning. Staying motivated is the number one reason why many people have language success, and also the number one reason why some fail.
Reminding yourself why you want to learn Portuguese, how it will improve your life, and everything good that can come from learning it, can help you to stay motivated and therefore, speed up the time necessary to learn it.
It's no secret that Portuguese can be hard, even to natives sometimes, so people in Portuguese-speaking countries really appreciate it when foreigners take even just some small efforts in trying to communicate with locals in Portuguese. That is to say, they will be more than willing to slow down, use easier vocabulary and even body languages to make sure you are in sync with them. The rewarding experience of being able to hold a meaningful conversation in another language should really keep you motivated, so do keep up the good work!
The complex interaction between all of these factors determines how long it will take you to learn Portuguese.
But you don't just want to know all of the factors, do you? You want a timeline. You want numbers. You want to know just how long it will take you to learn Portuguese.
Luckily for you, there are several studies that sought to tell us just that.
But first, a disclaimer: in many of these studies, language proficiency or fluency is the bar set to determine whether or not the language has been "learned." As you may know, you don't necessarily need to be fluent to be able to speak a foreign language and to be comfortable interacting in that language. A low intermediate level can get you pretty far in Brazil.
Keeping this in mind, it's important to take these studies with a grain of salt and remember that you can and will be able to interact in Portuguese long before you're fluent.
Realistic estimates in the field of linguistics have studied the number of hours really needed to learn a language like Portuguese. The Common European Framework for Reference for Languages, for example, uses the "Guided Learning Hours" framework to measure the amount of classroom time total needed to reach a B2 (high intermediate) level. It assumes that for every one hour of classroom time, learners will spend two hours of independent study time. In the end, this equates to a total of between 1,000 and 1,200 hours.
Let's take a look at this in several different scenarios:
1. One 3-hour Portuguese course per week for 8 weeks, plus a weekly homework assignment (1 hour), plus independent practice of any type (2 hour). 3 courses per year. You will need between 25-30 courses.
At 3 courses per year, it may take you between 8.3-10 years to reach an intermediate level.
2. One year of Portuguese language learning in school. (4 hours per week + 2 hours of homework + 2 hours of independent practice X 12 weeks X 2 semesters).
Between 5-6.25 years to reach an intermediate level.
3. Dedicated independent study (1 hour per day).
Approximately 3 years to achieve an intermediate level of Portuguese.
4. Total, active immersion (8 hours per day).
Approximately 3 months to have an intermediate level of Portuguese.
This calculation neglects so many factors, however, and still isn't a very accurate way of determining how long it could take you to learn Portuguese.
In their study, the Foreign Service Institute examined a group of native English speakers between the ages of 30 and 40 who were studying foreign languages at their institute. The students' resulting levels were measured using the Interagency Language Roundtable Scale with the goal being to calculate how long it took students to reach "General professional proficiency" or higher.
According to the FSI, the closer a language is to your native language, the faster you will learn that language. They divided their findings into five basic language categories based on the languages' similarity to English, which determined how long it took learners to reach general professional proficiency or higher.
Let's take a look at their timeline:
Therefore, according to FSI findings, Portuguese is in Language Group I and it will take you around 575-600 hours to learn it.
This study can be used to help you estimate how many hours it will take you to learn Portuguese and calculate how many weeks--or months, or years--based on how much time you want to dedicate per week.
Keep in mind, however, that the quality of your study is more important than the quantity. Immersion experiences or daily practice can significantly limit how long it takes for you to learn Portuguese.
Check out our Top 10 Portuguese Hacks for some ideas on improving the effectiveness of your study time.
Don't be discouraged. You can and will learn Portuguese faster than you expect. There are even cases (as the internet will surely tell you) of people who learn it in less than a year.
Now that you know how much time it takes to learn Portuguese and which factors can help you achieve your goals faster, it’s also important to keep in mind that language learning is synonymous with practice. That means that reaching a certain level doesn’t guarantee that you will keep it for the rest of your life.
Taking care of your Portuguese is like taking care of your pet: you have to feed it, cuddle it, and take it out for a walk every once in a while.
In the end, YOU decide how quickly you become fluent in Portuguese and how good your skills remain. With the right attitude, dedication, situation, and motivation, any language is within your reach.
For more, check out what to look for in the best Portuguese learning software.
Tereza Pereira: Rocket Portuguese
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