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Kieran Ball

Olá e bem-vindo :-)(Hello and welcome)

There is nothing more thrilling than being able to speak to the locals in their own language when you visit a foreign country. Well, now you can experience that amazing feeling too.

My name is Kieran Ball and I’ve been teaching foreign languages in my hometown for over fifteen years. I love languages, I love learning and I love teaching. I also love chocolate, but this isn’t really the place to discuss my chocoholism.

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Olá e bem-vindo :-)(Hello and welcome)

There is nothing more thrilling than being able to speak to the locals in their own language when you visit a foreign country. Well, now you can experience that amazing feeling too.

My name is Kieran Ball and I’ve been teaching foreign languages in my hometown for over fifteen years. I love languages, I love learning and I love teaching. I also love chocolate, but this isn’t really the place to discuss my chocoholism.

I created 3 Minute Portuguese as a way to make learning Portuguese easier than ever before and accessible to anybody, especially people who have tried and failed in the past. My course is perfect for the complete beginner as I break down the Portuguese language into tiny chunks that I show you how to build back together again in a logical, simple to understand way. You can go from knowing no Portuguese at all to putting together your own sentences in just a few minutes. Watch the free preview lessons below and you’ll see what I mean.

If nothing else, I just want you to see how easy it is to learn Portuguese.

As the name suggests, each lesson in this course lasts just three minutes (more or less. ). In each lesson, you learn a tiny chunk of Portuguese that you can use to build sentences. As you work through the course, you learn more and more little chunks and your sentences will gradually get longer and longer.

The chunks that you learn in the first lessons are carried through to the last lessons. This means you don’t have to worry about trying to remember everything; you will get so much opportunity for practice that you will find the words and phrases just sink into your brain.

The lessons in this course are focused, practical and effective, and you will build language skills that you can use straight away in real-world situations. You will be able to speak Portuguese comfortably and with confidence whenever you’re in a Portuguese speaking country.

When you begin learning something new, you tend to start off with lots of excitement and motivation. You might spend a few hours on the first day learning, but then the next day, you can only manage one hour, and then that goes down to half an hour, and then you get bored and you give up. Well, the reason behind the very short lessons is that it helps you to stay motivated and it also enhances the learning process.

By keeping your learning to short chunks, you will find three wonderful things start to happen:

1. You will maintain enthusiasm

If you want to learn anything, you have to maintain enthusiasm or else you won’t continue. If you limit your study time to just three minutes, you’ll keep Portuguese fresh and exciting and you’ll be eager to learn. If you spend hours studying, very quickly you’ll get bored with Portuguese and it’ll turn into a chore.

2. You will study more consistently

It’s much better to study for just three minutes once a day than to study for three hours once a week. A spare three minutes is relatively easy to find even in the most hectic of schedules. If you make sure you complete at least one three-minute study session every day, it’ll quickly become a habit that you’ll do without thinking. It’s much easier to fit in a daily three-minute habit than a weekly one-hour habit. By doing this, you’ll become a much more consistent learner, and consistency is the key to success.

3. You will remember things better

This is my favourite reason as to why you should limit your study to just three-minute chunks. If you study something for just three minutes every day, you’ll trick your brain into memorising the information more quickly than if it were to see the information for hours each day. It’ll think, “I see this information every day so it must be important, but I don’t see it for very long, so I’d better hold onto it and make it into a memory fast. ” You’ll be amazed at how much more easily things tend to stay in your brain if you limit yourself to just three minutes a day.

So, that’s why I keep the lessons to just three minutes.

It still amazes me when I get an email from somebody on the other side of the world telling me how much they have enjoyed learning Portuguese with me. Apart from the thrill it gives me to find out people are listening to my voice in places like Mongolia, Peru and even Fiji, it also confirms to me that the 3 Minute Languages courses work.

So, if you want a course that teaches you to speak Portuguese you can use in everyday situations using a simple and fun method, then sign up to 3 Minute Portuguese today.

Obrigado :-)

Kieran

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Speak portuguese confidently and comfortably in everyday situations
  • Understand what's being said back to you
  • Be more than just an average tourist when travelling to portuguese speaking countries
  • Go from complete beginner to building your own sentences after the very first lesson
  • Build a solid base vocabulary of words and phrases you can use straight away in the real world
  • Understand and use grammatical and linguistic features of the portuguese language with ease
  • Understand the structure of the portuguese language
  • Give your opinions in portuguese
  • Give descriptions of things in portuguese
  • Greet the locals when you are in a portuguese speaking country
  • Order food and drinks in portuguese
  • Get to grips with portuguese pronunciation
  • Show more
  • Show less

Syllabus

Lesson 2b
Here is a brief introduction as to why three minutes is key to effective learning.
Portuguese in just three minutes?
In this lesson, I'll give you your first set of Portuguese words and phrases. These words and phrases are extremely useful and can be used in a variety of situations.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Breaks down the Portuguese language into small, manageable chunks, making it accessible for individuals with no prior experience
Focuses on practical and effective language skills that can be used straight away in real-world situations, such as ordering food and greeting locals
Emphasizes consistent, short study sessions to maintain enthusiasm and improve memorization, which is helpful for building a new language foundation
Includes PDF versions of practice exercises, which can help learners reinforce their understanding of the material
Teaches grammatical and linguistic features of the Portuguese language with ease, which is helpful for building a new language foundation
Requires learners to build upon previous lessons, which may be difficult for learners who wish to jump around or skip ahead

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Reviews summary

Bite-sized portuguese for beginners

According to learners, this course is a fantastic way to start learning Portuguese, especially for absolute beginners and travelers. The unique 3-minute lesson format is widely praised as brilliant and effective, helping students to stay motivated and making it easy to fit study into a busy day. Students report building simple phrases quickly and feeling more confident speaking. However, some note the course is very basic and only scratches the surface of grammar and pronunciation, suggesting it needs supplement for further learning. Some also desired more practice opportunities or found the pace a bit fast in parts.
Builds basic confidence and foundational skills.
"Highly recommend for absolute beginners!"
"It's definitely for complete beginners as advertised."
"It's a brilliant concept for beginners who feel overwhelmed by traditional methods."
"Excellent course for absolute beginners!"
"As a complete novice, I found this course very helpful to get started."
"Absolutely perfect for getting started!"
"I learned so much useful Portuguese already and feel confident using simple phrases..."
Perfect for busy schedules and motivation.
"The 3-minute lessons are perfect for fitting study into a busy day."
"The method of short lessons is quite effective for memorization."
"The small, manageable chunks make it easy to stay motivated."
"The bite-sized lessons make it easy to digest and retain information."
"The short lessons fit perfectly into my commute."
"The 3-minute concept is the first that's kept me consistent."
Could use more speaking opportunities.
"I wish there were more opportunities to practice speaking or interactive exercises."
"...it felt like it didn't allow for enough repetition or practice within the lesson itself."
Some found pace fast or coverage brief.
"Found it too simplistic and the instructor's pace felt a bit fast for a beginner in some lessons."
"Pronunciation guidance felt a bit rushed in some parts."
"Also, pronunciation wasn't covered as thoroughly as I expected."
Only covers the surface level.
"it only scratches the surface of grammar and pronunciation. You'll need more than this course alone to become fluent."
"It's very basic, which is fine for lesson 1, but I worry it won't be enough for the next steps."
"Good starting point, but definitely needs supplement."
"it's quite basic and definitely needs a follow-up course or other resources to advance beyond simple conversations."

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 3 Minute Portuguese - Course 1 | Lessons for beginners with these activities:
Review Basic Portuguese Phrases
Review basic Portuguese greetings and phrases to build a foundation for the course. This will help you feel more comfortable and confident when starting the lessons.
Browse courses on Portuguese Language
Show steps
  • Find a list of common Portuguese greetings and phrases.
  • Practice saying each phrase out loud.
  • Write down each phrase and its English translation.
Read 'Portuguese for Dummies'
Supplement the course with a comprehensive guide to Portuguese. This will provide a broader understanding of grammar and vocabulary.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Portuguese for Dummies'.
  • Read the introductory chapters on pronunciation and basic grammar.
  • Focus on the sections related to greetings, introductions, and basic conversation.
Practice Portuguese Pronunciation
Improve your pronunciation by practicing common Portuguese sounds and words. This will make it easier to understand and be understood.
Show steps
  • Find online resources with audio examples of Portuguese pronunciation.
  • Listen to the audio and repeat the words and phrases.
  • Record yourself speaking and compare it to the original audio.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create Flashcards for New Vocabulary
Reinforce vocabulary learning by creating flashcards. This active recall method will help you memorize new words and phrases more effectively.
Show steps
  • Create flashcards with Portuguese words on one side and English translations on the other.
  • Review the flashcards regularly, focusing on words you find difficult.
  • Use the flashcards to quiz yourself or a study partner.
Explore 'Short Stories in Portuguese for Beginners'
Enhance comprehension and vocabulary through engaging short stories. This will provide context and make learning more enjoyable.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Short Stories in Portuguese for Beginners'.
  • Read one story per week, focusing on understanding the main ideas and new vocabulary.
  • Look up unfamiliar words and phrases and add them to your flashcards.
  • Try to summarize the story in your own words.
Follow Portuguese Language Blogs and Channels
Immerse yourself in the language by following Portuguese language blogs and YouTube channels. This will expose you to different accents, vocabulary, and cultural insights.
Show steps
  • Search for Portuguese language blogs and YouTube channels for beginners.
  • Subscribe to a few channels and blogs that you find interesting.
  • Watch or read at least one video or blog post per week.
Practice with a Language Exchange Partner
Improve your speaking and listening skills by practicing with a native Portuguese speaker. This will provide valuable feedback and help you gain confidence.
Show steps
  • Find a language exchange partner online or in your local community.
  • Schedule regular practice sessions with your partner.
  • Spend half the session speaking in Portuguese and the other half speaking in your native language.
  • Focus on practicing the vocabulary and grammar you've learned in the course.

Career center

Learners who complete 3 Minute Portuguese - Course 1 | Lessons for beginners will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Tour Guide
A tour guide leads groups of tourists, often in foreign countries, sharing information about local attractions and culture. This course, which focuses on building practical Portuguese language skills, may be very useful for someone preparing to work as a tour guide in a Portuguese-speaking region. The course teaches how to engage in basic conversation, order food, and understand locals. The ability to confidently use Portuguese in everyday situations, gained through this course, allows a tour guide to better connect with the local culture and enhance the experience for their groups. The course’s focus on building a solid base vocabulary, and understanding the structure of the language, helps the tour guide communicate effectively with locals and address unexpected situations. Additionally, the course’s approach of breaking down the language into small, manageable pieces may make it easier to retain and apply this new language. Ultimately, this course could help someone become a more confident and helpful tour guide.
Hospitality Staff Member
A hospitality staff member works in hotels, restaurants, and other establishments to provide services to guests. This course provides great value for those who may work in a Portuguese-speaking area. It focuses on building practical Portuguese language skills, and it may be very beneficial to a hospitality staff member. The ability to greet guests, take orders, and understand basic requests, as taught in the course, provides a strong foundation for good customer service. The course’s emphasis on a solid base vocabulary and the construction of simple sentences translates directly into real-world scenarios. With the help of this course, a hospitality staff member can engage comfortably with Portuguese speakers and provide much higher quality service. The course’s approach of learning in small chunks makes the language easy to retain.
Missionary
A missionary travels to different regions to help foster their faith and to provide aid to those in need. This course may be useful for missionaries who intend to work in Portuguese-speaking countries. The ability to speak the language of the local people can aid greatly in building connections with members of the community. This course focuses on teaching basic Portuguese phrases and sentences, and a solid base vocabulary, all of which would help a missionary in day-to-day work within a Portuguese speaking population. The course also provides practice with real world scenarios, and this would aid the missionary in everyday communication. The practical knowledge and basic skills of Portuguese taught in this course would help any missionary thrive in various regions of the world.
International Customer Service Representative
An international customer service representative works with customers from different countries, often in multiple languages. This course may be very useful for an individual who wishes to provide customer support in Portuguese. The course's focus on building practical, everyday Portuguese language skills allows a representative to engage better with Portuguese-speaking clients. Learning to use basic vocabulary and construct simple sentences could be very helpful in this role. The course helps a person to communicate effectively with clients, handle basic inquiries, and build rapport, which are all crucial to success in customer service. It also emphasizes understanding the structure of the language, which may help in dealing with unexpected questions. The course's focus on immediate application of language skills may mean the student is well prepared to interact with customers. The course provides a solid start for those looking to work with international clients.
Travel Blogger
A travel blogger documents their travel experiences through written content and photos. This course may be helpful for a travel blogger who wishes to travel in Portuguese-speaking countries. Being able to communicate with locals, order food, and understand basic phrases, as one might learn in this course, provides a much more authentic travel experience. The course helps build a basic vocabulary and understanding of grammar providing a nice foundation for this kind of work. The ability to engage in simple conversations gained from this course is invaluable for a travel blogger. This course may help the travel blogger to create richer and more detailed content about their travels, and to be more than just an average tourist. The course’s emphasis on practical language will help provide the travel blogger with real-world capabilities in Portuguese.
Flight Attendant
A flight attendant ensures the safety and comfort of passengers during flights, often interacting with people from different countries. This course, focused on building practical Portuguese language skills, may be very helpful for someone who aspires to work on flights where communication in Portuguese is needed. The ability to greet, assist, and understand basic needs, as taught in this course, allows the flight attendant to handle a variety of requests from passengers. The course’s focus on building a base vocabulary and providing opportunities to practice speaking helps build confidence in speaking Portuguese. The course helps flight attendants engage more effectively with Portuguese-speaking passengers and enhance their overall experience. The course also emphasizes learning key phrases for everyday situations. The practical skills taught in this course could certainly assist a flight attendant in their daily responsibilities.
International Aid Worker
An international aid worker provides assistance to people in need around the world, often in remote regions where multiple languages are spoken. This course, focused on building practical Portuguese language skills, may be helpful for someone who wants to work in Portuguese-speaking areas. The ability to communicate with locals, understand their needs, and make requests, as taught by the course, allows an aid worker to make a meaningful impact. The course’s focus on building a solid base vocabulary and practicing real-world sentences goes a long way in this field. The course also emphasizes learning key phrases for everyday situations. The ability to practice and immediately apply language skills, gained through the course, is especially useful for anyone who wants to work on the ground in another country. This course helps prepare an aid worker to communicate with and serve people effectively.
International Sales Associate
An international sales associate helps to sell products or services to clients in different countries. This course may be useful for a sales associate who wants to work with Portuguese-speaking clients, as it focuses on building practical language skills. The ability to engage in basic conversations, understand client’s needs, and give descriptions, as taught by the course, will help the salesperson. The course's emphasis on a solid base vocabulary and grammatical structure provides what's needed to communicate effectively. The course may be useful in helping to establish rapport with clients, and this may lead to more sales. The practical and immediately applicable language skills learned in this course provide a foundation for success as a sales professional.
International Event Planner
An international event planner organizes conferences, festivals, and other events that involve participants from all over the world. This course could be beneficial for an event planner who may be responsible for organizing an event in a Portuguese speaking country. The ability to greet, assist, and understand the basic needs of Portuguese-speaking attendees, as taught in the course, is very beneficial. The course stresses building a basic vocabulary, and this allows an event planner to better coordinate and communicate with Portuguese-speaking staff. The course also provides much needed confidence in a real-world setting. The practical language skills learned from this course provide a solid foundation for someone who works regularly with international clients and participants.
Translator
A translator converts written or spoken material from one language to another. Although this course does not explore advanced levels of Portuguese, the foundations it builds may be useful for individuals looking to start a career in translation, particularly if they wish to focus on basic, everyday scenarios. The course helps build a solid base vocabulary and understanding of Portuguese grammatical structure. The practical focus of the course, teaching how to form sentences and engage in basic conversations, helps to prepare a translator for some real-world projects. The language skills developed through this course equip translators to better capture the meaning from original material. For a translator keen on developing a strong foundation, this course may be a good start.
Cultural Exchange Coordinator
A cultural exchange coordinator organizes and facilitates programs that allow people from different cultures to interact and learn from one another. This course may be helpful for someone who plans to work with participants from Portuguese speaking countries. The ability to communicate using basic Portuguese is helpful in establishing rapport and ensuring that the exchange participant is comfortable. This course helps build a solid vocabulary and introduces basic grammatical structures. The focus on building practical spoken Portuguese will allow the exchange coordinator to improve their communication with their program participants. The knowledge and skills introduced on this course provide a foundation for a career as a cultural exchange coordinator.
Immigration Officer
An immigration officer processes and reviews applications for visas, passports, and other immigration documents. This role often requires knowledge of multiple languages. This course, focused on building practical Portuguese language skills, may be helpful for an immigration officer who deals with Portuguese-speaking individuals. The ability to understand basic Portuguese, ask questions, and handle routine interactions, as one might learn in this course, enhances the officer's ability to process applications fairly and efficiently. The course’s emphasis on building a solid base vocabulary and understanding the structure of the language enables the officer to communicate clearly. While the course does not focus on high levels of linguistic skills, the skills that are gained here may improve the quality of an immigration process. The practical approach of this course may help anyone to handle real world situations involving a Portuguese speaker.
Researcher
A researcher investigates topics to gain new knowledge or to understand existing concepts. This course may be helpful for a researcher doing work in a Portuguese speaking area. The ability to communicate with locals, understand their culture, and collect data, may be aided by learning basic phrases and vocabulary. This course provides a great foundation for any researcher who needs to improve communication in their work. The course also uses small chunks of information that allow the learner to have better retention. For any researcher who wants to be able to communicate more confidently, this course may be a good start.
Language Tutor
A language tutor provides instruction in a specific language to individuals or small groups. This course, while designed for beginners, may be useful for a tutor who plans to teach Portuguese to beginners. The course’s approach of breaking down the language into small, manageable chunks may be a helpful starting point for the tutor’s own teaching style. The focus on practical language skills, such as ordering food and giving descriptions, may give a tutor ideas for everyday language learning exercises. The course demonstrates how to build simple sentences and use a solid base vocabulary. Although the course focuses on basic skills, it may help the tutor understand a learner’s perspective, and this may help them improve their own teaching techniques. This course may also help any prospective tutor organize the basics from a student's point of view, to help guide their own students.
Social Worker
A social worker helps people who are facing difficult situations or struggling with different types of crises. This course may be helpful for a social worker who wishes to work with people from Portuguese speaking regions. The ability to communicate with people in their native language can help in building rapport and trust with people who are in difficult situations. The course will help build a basic vocabulary and understanding of grammatical structure. Also, by focusing on real-world application, this course could help the social worker in various practical situations. The skills learned in this course would help a social worker to be more effective in helping their clients.

Featured in The Course Notes

This course is mentioned in our blog, The Course Notes. Read one article that features 3 Minute Portuguese - Course 1 | Lessons for beginners:

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 3 Minute Portuguese - Course 1 | Lessons for beginners.
Offers engaging short stories designed for beginner Portuguese learners. Reading these stories will help you improve your comprehension, expand your vocabulary, and get a better sense of how the language is used in context. It's a great way to reinforce what you've learned in the course and make learning more enjoyable. This book is best used as additional reading.
Provides a comprehensive introduction to the Portuguese language, covering grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. It's a helpful resource for beginners who want a more in-depth understanding of the language. While the course provides a quick start, this book offers a broader perspective and can serve as a valuable reference.

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