I started learning Spanish almost 3 months ago using Duolingo as 3 of the possible retirement spots I was considering were Spanish speaking countries. As I’ve done more research everything points to Portugal. I am probably 3 years or so away from retiring. I do plan to visit next fall. Would be I be better off continuing Spanish & then switching to portugese ( I know I’d need something other then Duolingo as it’s Brazilian portugese) or will it be better to switch to portugese now? Or learn both at once? I’m not sure how long it takes to learn - I’m spending roughly 20 hours/ week on Spanish now.
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Dec 23, 2020 10:07 pm
6 Replies
Dec 24, 2020 8:13 am
Welcome to the forum.
In my opinion, if you plan on living in Portugal, switch to European Portuguese. Although there are some similarities between Spanish and Portuguese, there are a lot of differences too. Unless you are a language-learning master, I would focus on the one you will need once here.
Portuguese is a very difficult language and I am not great at learning languages. I have lived here since 2012, married to a Portuguese man, kids speak Portuguese yet I still struggle.
@astridff thanks so much for your answer! I think I will switch over & start learning portugese. I’m hoping to visit next fall & it would be nice to know at least a little. Learning Spanish was nice as I have 2 coworkers who speak Spanish to practice on 🙂, but I really think my future is going to be in Portugal
I would certainly start on portuguese - right decision IMHO.
Many years ago I started using Duolingo... it helped me build my vocabulary. However, I stopped Duolingo when I started having 1:1 lessons with my european portuguese. Yes, I had o unlearn a little but not so much as to feel I had wasted my time.
@cabanastavira thanks! I was using Duolingo for Spanish & really liked it but I saw that their portugese was Brazilian so I downloaded drops & Ling which I don’t like as well as Duolingo. Do you think using Duolingo was helpful for you even if it was Brazilian portugese?
@pje Yes I did find Duolingo useful to start off. As long as you are aware that there are differences but to me not significant, in the main. Brazilian soap operas are widely watched in Portugal so any slips are, generally, understood. I am sure that there are those who would disagree with me but for a way to start building vocabulary for free it is fine: not perfect!
However, I now have European portuguese lessons. There are now plenty of European portuguese resources on the web (there weren't when I started.) Hope this helps.
Dec 26, 2020 3:27 pm
Good Morning, I also live in the US currently. Have been intermittently taking Portuguese lessons from a woman from Madeira for a couple of years and use books recommended by her which you can obtain online, Bom Dia 1 and Bom Dia 2. Bom Dia 1 is very good to get all the basics you need. But recently I moved and was able to add Portuguese TV stations to my cable subscription (make sure they are not the Brazilian ones which are more prevalent), specifically RTPI and SIC. In just a month I have to tell you I have gone from my usual, OMG, I don't know what they are saying to, hey, I get some of that. The children's cartoons, cooking shows, new reports and telenovelas are really very good because often the speech is slowed way down. Tchau
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