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Luciana Ribas

We teach Brazilian Portuguese through short, colorful and fun videos. Our course does NOT rely on translation. You will be immersed in the Portuguese language when you watch our videos which present everyday situations. Some tell small stories with a beginning and an end and others focus on answering common questions most students have.

Each Portuguese lesson uses only vocabulary you've learned in earlier lessons, and adds to it. (For that reason, it is important to follow the exact order of the videos.)

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We teach Brazilian Portuguese through short, colorful and fun videos. Our course does NOT rely on translation. You will be immersed in the Portuguese language when you watch our videos which present everyday situations. Some tell small stories with a beginning and an end and others focus on answering common questions most students have.

Each Portuguese lesson uses only vocabulary you've learned in earlier lessons, and adds to it. (For that reason, it is important to follow the exact order of the videos.)

Our Brazilian Portuguese course is taught by a native Brazilian who is also a very experienced teacher. This is extremely important, since many language courses are taught by non-native speakers, which reduces the effectiveness of your learning. Why run the risk of picking up someone else's foreign accent?

Portuguese Today has spared no expense in the creation of our lessons and courses. We deliver professional quality content. Our video lessons were crafted by highly trained professionals. See for yourself the difference that it makes.

Most language courses use translation. We from Portuguese Today, DON'T. This is what distinguishes us from other courses. Otherwise you could learn Portuguese reading a dictionary.    

Have you ever imagined what it would be like to learn Portuguese quickly, easily, and without all the complicated grammar rules? And without having to translate everything you learn? Learn Portuguese...by speaking Portuguese.

So stop imagining and start learning. In the course "Brazilian Portuguese for Beginners", you learn exactly in this way, through the Direct Method, the method by which living languages are taught. The way you learned your native language. Learning without translation: through examples, images, listening and speaking. It is the ideal method for anyone who needs to learn the Portuguese language quickly and effectively.

At the end of each module you will be able to test and practice what you have learned.

Buy the first module now and see how easy it is to learn Portuguese with us.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • How to have a simple conversation in portuguese.
  • The difference between the two verbs "to be" in portuguese: "ser" and "estar"
  • Greetings, farewells, apologies and thanks in brazilian portuguese.
  • How to introduce yourself in brazilian portuguese.
  • Ask and answer questions in brazilian portuguese using what, how, which, where and who.
  • The names of family members in brazilian portuguese.
  • Over 100 vocabulary words in brazilian portuguese.
  • The names of professions in brazilian portuguese.
  • Numbers from 0 to 1000 in brazilian portuguese.
  • Many of the most useful verbs in brazilian portuguese.
  • Ordering food and drinks in brazilian portuguese.
  • Useful expressions in brazilian portuguese.
  • Descriptions for daily tasks in brazilian portuguese.
  • Proper pronunciation for (often difficult) brazilian portuguese letters and words.
  • Show more
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Syllabus

Module 1 - Newbie
The Portuguese Today Method: How To Use
Welcome to Brazilian Portuguese Course 1
Introduction
Read more

In this video, you will learn:

Articles: Um/Um a = A

Demonstratives: Isto = this

Conjunction: Ou = Or

Nouns: Calculadora, Chave, Caneta, Lápis, etc...

In this video, you will learn:

Questions:

O que é isto? = What is this?

Não é? = Isn´t it?

Answers:

Sim = Yes

Não = No

Nouns: Caixa, jornal, lamp, book, etc.

In this video, you will learn colors:

Amarelo - yellow

Azul - blue

Branco - white

Cinza- grey

Laranja - orange

Marrom - brown

Preto - black

Rosa - pink

Roxo - purple

Verde - green

Vermelho - red

Clique no link e resolva as questões.

In this video, you will learn:

Adjetivos/adjectives:

Grande - big, large

Pequeno/pequena - small, little

Pronouns (demonstrative):

Este/esta/isto - this

Aquele/Aquela - that

Perguntas/Question Words:

(pronouns interrogative)

O quê? - What?

Qual? - Which?

Barco - boat

Bicicleta - bicycle

Cachorro - dog

Cadeira - chair

Caminhão - truck

Carro - car

Casa - house

Gato - cat

Maçã - apple

Mesa - table

Pássaro - bird

Cores/colors:

Amarelo/amarela - yellow

Branco/branca - white

Preto/preta - black

Vermelho/vermelha - red

Azul - blue

Marrom - brown

Verde - green

Conjunções/conjunctions:

Nem - nor

Também - also

In this video, you will learn:

Greetings, farewells, apologies and thanks

In this video, you will learn:

Map = map

País = Country

Cidade = CIty

Preposition:

do/da = of

A América do Sul = South America

Países:

O Brasil = Brazil

A Argentina = Argentina

O Chile = Chile

A Venezuela = Venezuela

A Colômbia = Colombia

In this lesson, you will learn:

Computador - computer

Flor - flower

Janela - window

Televisão - television

Perguntas/Questions:

Como? - How? (description)

Qual? - Which?

Adjetivos/adjectives:

Grande - big, large

Pequeno/pequena - small

Bonita - beautiful

Pronomes demonstrativos

Demonstrative pronouns:

Este/esta/isto - this

Adjetivos/adjectives:

Grande - big, large

Pequeno/pequena - small

Bonita - beautiful

Pronomes demonstrativos

Demonstrative pronouns:

Este/esta/isto - this

In this video, you will learn the numbers from 11 to 20.

In this video, you will learn:

Alemão/alemã - German

Americano/americana - American

Árabe - Arabic

Brasileiro/brasileira - Brazilian

Chinês/chinesa - Chinese

Escocês/escocesa - Scottish

Espanhol/espanhola - Spanish

Francês/francesa - French

Holandês/holandesa - Dutch

Indiano/indiana - Indian

Japonês/japonesa - Japanese

Mexicano/mexicana - Mexican

Polonês/polonesa - Polish

Russo/russa - Russian

Venezuelano/venezuelana - Venezuelan

In this video, you will learn:

Bebê - Baby

Bicicleta - bicycle

Cachorro - dog

Camelo - camel

Carro - car

Homem - man

Menina - Girl

Menino - Boy

Mulher - Woman

Pessoas - people

Perguntas/Questions

Quem? - Who?

De quem? - Whose?

Pronomes possessivos/Possessive pronouns:

Dela - her

Dele - his

In this video, you will learn:

Esposa - wife

Família - family

Filha - daughter

Filho - son

Irmã - sister

Irmão - brother

In this video, you will learn:

Pronomes Possessivos

(Possessive Pronouns):

Dela - her

Dele - his

Deles - theirs

Perguntas/Questions

De quem? - Whose?

Quem? - Who?

In this video, you will learn how to introduce yourself and meet new people in Brazil, through a dialogue between 3 characters, with a surprise at the end.

In this video, you will learn:

Pronomes Possessivos/

Possessive Pronouns:

Dela - her

Dele - his

Meu - my/mine

Minha - my/mine

Vocabulário/ vocabullary:

Amigo/amiga - friend

Bicicleta - bicycle Bola - ball

Carro - car

Dinheiro - money

Esposa - wife

Marido - husband

Namorada - girlfriend

Namorado - boyfriend

In this video, you will learn the numbers from 10 to 100.

In this video, you will learn:

Alemão/alemã - German

Americano/americana - American

Árabe - Arabic

Brasileiro/brasileira - Brazilian

Chinês/chinesa - Chinese

Escocês/escocesa - Scotish

Espanhol/espanhola - Spanish

Francês/francesa - French

Holandês/holandesa - Dutch

Indiano/indiana - Indian

Japonês/japonesa - Japanese

Mexicano/mexicana - Mexican

Polonês/polonesa - Polish

Russo/russa - Russian

Venezuelano/venezuelana - Venezuelan

In this video, you will learn:

Do you want to know what the flavor of Brazil is? Then watch the program. In this episode, you will learn how to make the official Brazilian national drink: Caipirinha. Enjoy your drink!

This course is the continuation of the Brazilian Portuguese Course. It is imperative that you have completed Course 1 before proceeding, because the Portuguese Today lessons follow a specific sequence. Much more vocabulary, building on the words learned in Course 1. Learning the Brazilian Portuguese alphabet. Specific topics covered in depth in videos with Professora Luciana ("Mark Asks"). Ordinal numbers in Brazilian Portuguese (e.g. first, second, third). Locations of things in Brazilian Portuguese. Verb tenses of 'regular' verbs in Brazilian Portuguese.

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Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Uses the Direct Method, which mirrors how learners acquire their native language, making it easier to grasp Portuguese without relying on translation
Focuses on practical, everyday situations, enabling learners to quickly engage in simple conversations and understand common expressions
Taught by a native Brazilian speaker, which helps learners acquire accurate pronunciation and avoid picking up foreign accents
Lessons build upon previously learned vocabulary, so learners must follow the exact order of the videos to maximize their learning
Requires learners to complete Course 1 before proceeding, indicating that this course is part of a series and builds upon prior knowledge
Includes practice exercises at the end of each module, allowing learners to test and reinforce their understanding of the material

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Reviews summary

Effective beginner brazilian portuguese with direct method

According to students, this course offers a highly effective introduction to Brazilian Portuguese for beginners. Learners particularly praise the Direct Method which focuses on immersion rather than translation, finding it a unique and efficient way to learn. The native Brazilian instructor is frequently highlighted for her clear pronunciation and engaging video lessons. The sequential building of vocabulary and practice exercises are seen as very helpful. Some learners note the fast pace initially or wish for supplementary grammar explanations alongside the core method. Overall, it's considered a strong foundation for speaking basic Portuguese.
Vocabulary builds logically lesson by lesson.
"It's great how each lesson only uses words I've already learned."
"Following the videos in order is key, and the progression feels logical."
"I found the sequential vocabulary building very easy to manage."
"The practice exercises at the end of each module reinforce what I've learned."
Excellent starting point for new learners.
"As someone with zero Portuguese knowledge, this was the perfect place to start."
"It truly caters to beginners and doesn't assume prior knowledge."
"I feel confident having simple conversations after finishing this course."
"Covers essential basics like greetings, numbers, and introducing yourself effectively."
Unique no-translation approach is effective.
"I love learning without translation; it feels more natural like learning my first language."
"The Direct Method is challenging but incredibly effective for immersion."
"This no-translation approach truly helps you start thinking in Portuguese."
"Learning this way forces you to understand context, which is great."
Native speaker with clear pronunciation.
"The instructor's pronunciation is crystal clear and easy to follow."
"Video quality is professional and the teacher is very engaging."
"I really appreciate learning from a native Brazilian speaker; her accent is perfect."
"The video lessons are short, colorful, and fun, keeping me motivated."
Some find pace fast, desire more grammar detail.
"Sometimes the pace felt a bit fast, especially at the beginning."
"While the no-translation is good, I sometimes wished for a quick grammar note alongside."
"I needed to rewatch videos to fully grasp some concepts presented quickly."
"Could benefit from optional supplementary material for grammar rules."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Brazilian Portuguese Language Course #1-for Beginners with these activities:
Review Basic Grammar Concepts
Reinforce your understanding of basic grammar concepts to better grasp the nuances of Brazilian Portuguese.
Browse courses on Portuguese Grammar
Show steps
  • Review the definitions of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
  • Practice identifying these parts of speech in simple sentences.
  • Complete online quizzes to test your knowledge.
Review 'Colloquial Brazilian Portuguese: The Complete Course for Beginners'
Enhance your conversational skills with a beginner-friendly guide to Brazilian Portuguese.
Show steps
  • Work through the dialogues and exercises in the book.
  • Listen to the accompanying audio recordings to improve your pronunciation.
  • Use the book as a supplement to the course materials.
Vocabulary Flashcard Drills
Reinforce vocabulary acquisition through repetitive flashcard drills.
Show steps
  • Create flashcards for new vocabulary words learned in each lesson.
  • Practice with the flashcards for 15 minutes daily.
  • Use a spaced repetition system (SRS) like Anki to optimize learning.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Review 'Modern Brazilian Portuguese Grammar: A Practical Guide'
Deepen your understanding of Brazilian Portuguese grammar with a comprehensive guide.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on verb conjugations and sentence structure.
  • Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
  • Use the book as a reference when completing course assignments.
Create a Short Dialogue
Practice using newly learned vocabulary and grammar by writing a short dialogue in Brazilian Portuguese.
Show steps
  • Choose a scenario, such as ordering food or introducing yourself.
  • Write a dialogue of at least 10 lines between two characters.
  • Record yourself and a partner reading the dialogue aloud.
Follow PortuguesePod101 Lessons
Supplement your learning with structured online lessons from PortuguesePod101.
Show steps
  • Sign up for a free or premium account on PortuguesePod101.
  • Choose lessons that align with the topics covered in the course.
  • Complete the lessons, including the audio and video components.
Write a Short Essay About Brazilian Culture
Deepen your understanding of Brazilian culture and practice your writing skills by composing a short essay.
Show steps
  • Research a specific aspect of Brazilian culture, such as music, food, or festivals.
  • Write a 300-500 word essay in Portuguese about your chosen topic.
  • Revise and edit your essay for grammar and clarity.

Career center

Learners who complete Brazilian Portuguese Language Course #1-for Beginners will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Tour Guide
A tour guide helps visitors explore and understand a location, providing valuable insights into its history, culture, and attractions. This Brazilian Portuguese course helps build a foundation for anyone wanting to become a tour guide in Brazil, particularly for those who plan to cater to English-speaking tourists. The course focuses on everyday situations, teaching greetings, introductions, and basic conversational skills. A tour guide can benefit from learning professions, family members, and numbers in Portuguese. The vocabulary related to locations would also be useful to a tour guide.
Cultural Liaison
A cultural liaison bridges communication gaps and promotes understanding between different cultures. This Brazilian Portuguese course helps those who wish to work with the Brazilian community. The course covers introductions, greetings, and basic conversational skills. It also provides insights into Brazilian culture through its immersive approach. Proficiency in the language is essential for building trust and facilitating effective communication. The course also goes over family members, professions, and numbers.
Language Teacher
A language teacher instructs students in the grammar, vocabulary, and cultural aspects of a foreign language. This course introduces you to the structure and vocabulary of Brazilian Portuguese. It provides a foundation for teaching beginner-level classes. Familiarity with greetings, introductions, and question formation, covered in the course, are essential for teaching basic conversational skills. Furthermore, understanding numbers, family members, and professions can help a language teacher create engaging and relevant lesson plans. The teaching methodology of this course, focused on immersion and avoiding translation, could be useful for someone wanting to be a language teacher.
Flight Attendant
Flight attendants ensure the safety and comfort of airline passengers, providing excellent customer service throughout the flight. This Brazilian Portuguese course can be a great asset for flight attendants. The ability to greet passengers, provide basic instructions, and respond to simple requests in Brazilian Portuguese is extremely valuable on international routes. Knowing numbers, common verbs, and expressions, all covered in this course, helps flight attendants communicate effectively and create a positive experience for passengers. This course teaches greetings, professions, and family members.
Hotel Receptionist
Hotel receptionists are the first point of contact for guests, handling check-ins, answering inquiries, and providing information about the hotel and surrounding area. This course may be useful for hotel receptionists working in areas with a significant Brazilian Portuguese-speaking population, or in Brazil itself. The course teaches greetings, introductions, and how to ask and answer basic questions. The course also teaches useful expressions, numbers, and descriptions for daily tasks. The ability to communicate effectively in Brazilian Portuguese improves guest satisfaction and contributes to a positive hotel experience.
Translator
Translators convert written materials from one language to another, ensuring accuracy and cultural relevance. This course may be useful for those looking to translate basic texts or documents from English to Brazilian Portuguese or vice versa. It introduces fundamental vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure. The emphasis on avoiding direct translation and learning through immersion is valuable for developing a translator's intuition and understanding of the nuances of both languages. The "Brazilian Portuguese Language Course #1-for Beginners" course also teaches greetings, introductions, and basic conversational skills.
Customer Service Representative
Customer service representatives assist customers with inquiries, resolve issues, and provide support on behalf of a company. In a globalized world, knowing another language is a huge asset. This course may be useful for customer service representatives who interact with Brazilian Portuguese-speaking clients. Knowing greetings, basic conversational phrases, and numbers, all of which this course covers, can improve communication and customer satisfaction. This course also reviews professions, and family members.
International Sales Representative
International sales representatives promote and sell goods or services to customers in foreign countries. This course may be particularly useful for sales representatives targeting the Brazilian market. The course teaches introductions, greetings, and how to ask and answer basic questions. The course also goes over numbers and professions. This introductory knowledge facilitates building rapport with potential clients and understanding their needs. As the course emphasizes learning without translation, it is helpful for sales representatives.
Immigration Officer
Immigration officers review and process immigration applications, conduct interviews, and enforce immigration laws and regulations. This course may be useful for immigration officers who frequently deal with Brazilian Portuguese-speaking individuals. The course touches on greetings, introductions, and how to ask and answer basic questions. The course reviews vocabulary related to professions and family members. Being able to communicate directly, even at a basic level, helps in efficiently gathering information and ensures fair treatment. This course may be useful.
Social Worker
Social workers assist individuals and families facing various challenges, providing support and connecting them with resources. Social workers who work with Brazilian Portuguese-speaking clients can benefit from this course. The course reviews basic conversational phrases, introductions, and greetings. This is useful for communicating effectively and building trust. It also covers family members and professions. This course may be useful.
Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer coordinators recruit, train, and manage volunteers for various organizations. This Brazilian Portuguese course may be useful for volunteer coordinators working with Brazilian Portuguese-speaking volunteers. This course goes over greetings, introductions, and useful expressions. The course reviews the names of professions and family members. Basic communication skills are essential for building relationships and coordinating activities effectively. This course may be useful.
Market Research Analyst
Market research analysts study market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. For a market research analyst delving into the Brazilian market, this Brazilian Portuguese language course may be useful. Understanding basic conversational phrases, greetings, and introductions, which are covered in the course, helps in conducting preliminary interviews and gathering data. Although only beginner level, this course provides a foundation for further language acquisition. This course may be useful.
International Student Advisor
International student advisors provide support and guidance to students from other countries studying at educational institutions. This course may be useful for advisors who work with students from Brazil. The course covers general introductions, greetings, and basic conversational skills. The course also reviews professions and family members. Basic communication skills contribute to a welcoming and supportive environment for international students. This course may be useful.
Call Center Operator
Call center operators handle inbound and outbound calls, providing information, resolving issues, and assisting customers. This course may be helpful for call center operators who interact with Brazilian Portuguese-speaking customers. Knowing basic greetings, common verbs, and numbers, all covered in this course, helps in providing efficient and effective support. The course also presents useful expressions. This course may be useful.
Administrative Assistant
Administrative assistants provide administrative support to executives, managers, and other staff members. This Brazilian Portuguese course may be useful for administrative assistants in companies with international operations or who support Brazilian Portuguese-speaking clients. Basic communication skills, such as greetings, introductions, and basic question-and-answer abilities, covered in the course, improves communication and efficiency. The course helps one learn to understand numbers and expressions. This course may be useful.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Brazilian Portuguese Language Course #1-for Beginners.
This course focuses on practical, everyday Brazilian Portuguese, emphasizing conversational skills. It includes dialogues, exercises, and cultural insights. aligns well with the course's emphasis on learning through immersion and practical application. It provides additional opportunities for learners to practice their conversational skills and expand their vocabulary.
Provides a comprehensive overview of Brazilian Portuguese grammar, covering everything from basic sentence structure to more advanced topics. It is particularly useful for students who want to deepen their understanding of the language's grammatical rules. This book serves as a valuable reference tool for learners at all levels, offering clear explanations and numerous examples.

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