Sorry, this page is no longer available
Sorry, this page is no longer available
We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Kieran Ball

Hello and welcome to “3 Minute Portuguese - Course 4”

The aim of this course is to make Portuguese accessible to anybody regardless of age, educational background or "aptitude" for learning. This course leads on from "3 Minute Portuguese – Courses 1, 2 and 3" and new language structures are introduced to enable you to communicate in more situations when on holiday abroad.

Read more

Hello and welcome to “3 Minute Portuguese - Course 4”

The aim of this course is to make Portuguese accessible to anybody regardless of age, educational background or "aptitude" for learning. This course leads on from "3 Minute Portuguese – Courses 1, 2 and 3" and new language structures are introduced to enable you to communicate in more situations when on holiday abroad.

My method for teaching Portuguese is simple but effective. It works for anybody, no matter what your requirements. I have been teaching foreign languages for over ten years and I’ve taught a wide range of students of all ages and backgrounds, including students with learning difficulties, so I know my method is accessible to absolutely anyone, with no exception.

With this course, it’s almost as if you have your very own language tutor at your beck and call. Take it with you wherever you are and have a quick listen to one of the lessons whenever you find yourself with three minutes to spare. You will be amazed at how much your language skills will develop after just a few minutes a day of study. You will start to learn the Portuguese language in a simple, logical and fun way.

You will learn a variety of words that you will learn to put together to form sentences that will be useful in any visit to Portugal or Brazil, or any other Portuguese-speaking country, and you'll learn how to put the words together to form sentences, saying exactly what you want.

There is ample opportunity throughout the course to practise what you've learnt, and structured repetition ensures you'll never forget what you've learnt.

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn some more useful question phrases you can use in lots of situations.
  • Learn some more verbs and start to add different structures to your language.
  • Learn a technique called "building motors" to help speed you along to fluency
  • Learn more in-depth ways to greet people and talk about how you're feeling
  • Learn some new adjectives, adverbs and adverbial phrases
  • Learn about portuguese honorifics and how to introduce yourself
  • Learn how to confirm and change reservations
  • Get to know the first "structure" in portuguese
  • Learn a few phrases to help you describe things in the past
  • Learn how to talk about illnesses in portuguese

Syllabus

Introduction
Lesson 27
Lesson 27a
Lesson 27b
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Builds upon previous courses in the series, offering a progressive learning experience for those aiming to develop basic conversational skills in Portuguese
Focuses on practical phrases and sentence structures applicable to travel situations in Portugal, Brazil, or other Portuguese-speaking countries
Employs structured repetition, which reinforces learning and helps learners retain new vocabulary and grammar concepts effectively
Requires completion of the first three courses, which may pose a barrier to entry for learners who are not already familiar with the course's teaching style
Introduces the concept of "Building Motors," a technique to accelerate language acquisition and fluency, which may be helpful for some learners

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Accessible beginner portuguese series

According to learners, this course serves as an accessible and effective continuation of the "3 Minute Portuguese" series, particularly suited for beginners and those looking to acquire language skills for travel. Students frequently highlight the bite-sized, 3-minute lesson format, which they find perfect for fitting study into busy schedules. The instructor receives consistent praise for being clear, engaging, and making learning enjoyable. While the unique format is effective for building vocabulary and learning practical phrases through structured repetition, some reviewers note that covering more complex grammar points in short bursts can be challenging and may require supplementary resources or practice for deeper understanding.
Strongly assumes completion of prior courses.
"This is a fantastic course! It builds perfectly on the previous 3 Minute Portuguese courses."
"Good continuation from Course 3."
"Okay course, but it really does assume you've done the first three. I jumped in at Course 4 and felt a bit lost initially."
Instructor is clear, engaging, and easy to understand.
"The instructor is engaging and makes learning fun."
"The instructor explains things clearly and repeats important points."
"The instructor's method works... The instructor is clear and easy to understand."
Helps with practical phrases for travel and basics.
"I feel much more confident using simple phrases for travel now."
"...have given me a solid foundation for speaking Portuguese on my upcoming trip."
"Introduced useful phrases for everyday interactions and travel."
Convenient for busy schedules, quick learning.
"The bite-sized lessons are perfect for fitting study into a busy schedule."
"Perfect for busy people! I listen during my commute. It's amazing how much you can pick up in just 3 minutes."
"The '3 Minute' method is very accessible... Great for quick revision or adding new vocabulary."
Pace is fast, challenging for complex grammar.
"sometimes I felt the lessons were too short to properly grasp the new grammar concepts introduced..."
"Felt this course moved a bit too fast... Introducing past tense and structures in 3-minute bursts is challenging."
"Good for dipping your toes, but not for solid understanding without significant external practice."

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 4 | Languages for beginners with these activities:
Review Portuguese Greetings and Introductions
Reinforce your understanding of basic greetings and introductions in Portuguese to build a solid foundation for more complex conversations.
Show steps
  • Review notes from previous Portuguese lessons.
  • Practice saying greetings aloud.
  • Write out common greetings and responses.
Explore 'Portuguese for Dummies'
Supplement your learning with a beginner-friendly guide that reinforces key concepts and provides additional practice opportunities.
Show steps
  • Read chapters related to course topics.
  • Complete the exercises in the book.
  • Review vocabulary lists.
Read 'Modern Brazilian Portuguese Grammar: A Practical Guide'
Expand your understanding of Portuguese grammar with a comprehensive guide that complements the course's conversational approach.
Show steps
  • Read chapters related to course topics.
  • Take notes on key grammar points.
  • Complete exercises in the book.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a short dialogue in Portuguese
Practice using new vocabulary and sentence structures by writing a short dialogue between two people in a common scenario.
Show steps
  • Choose a scenario (e.g., ordering food, asking for directions).
  • Write a dialogue using learned phrases and vocabulary.
  • Record yourself reading the dialogue aloud.
Practice Conversational Portuguese with a Language Partner
Improve your speaking and listening skills by practicing conversational Portuguese with a language partner.
Show steps
  • Find a language partner online or in person.
  • Schedule regular practice sessions.
  • Discuss topics covered in the course.
  • Provide feedback to each other.
Practice Verb Conjugation Drills
Master verb conjugations through repetitive exercises to improve fluency and accuracy in sentence construction.
Show steps
  • Select a few key verbs from the course.
  • Conjugate the verbs in different tenses.
  • Create sentences using the conjugated verbs.
Write a Travel Blog Post in Portuguese
Apply your Portuguese skills by writing a blog post about a hypothetical or real trip to a Portuguese-speaking country.
Show steps
  • Choose a destination in Portugal or Brazil.
  • Research the destination and gather information.
  • Write a blog post describing your experiences.
  • Include photos or videos to enhance the post.

Career center

Learners who complete 3 Minute Portuguese - Course 4 | Languages for beginners will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Language Consultant
A language consultant provides expert advice on language-related issues to businesses, organizations, or individuals. This role requires deep knowledge of the language. This course provides a foundation of language learning and introduces new language structures. The course also teaches techniques such as 'Building Motors' which can be helpful in analyzing and adapting language learning techniques. A language consultant can also use knowledge of how this course is delivered to inform and refine their approach. Anyone wishing to work in this role, particularly with Portuguese language, may find this course helpful.
Language Tutor
A language tutor helps students learn a new language by providing instruction, practice, and feedback. The tutor creates a learning environment that is engaging. This course is designed to be accessible to anyone, no matter the learning background, which demonstrates the teaching ability of the course. The course also introduces various language structures which can help someone seeking to tutor others. The method of simple but effective teaching in this course may be especially helpful to someone who wishes to be a language tutor. The course also includes the technique of 'Building Motors', which can be a useful teaching method in language tutoring.
Cultural Liaison
A cultural liaison is a professional who assists individuals or groups in navigating cultural differences and promoting understanding. This role requires effective communication and an understanding of different customs and norms. This course teaches you how to communicate in different situations while on holiday, providing a foundation for the intercultural communication that is required in the cultural liaison role. The course also helps you to learn about Portuguese culture with the focus on honorifics. Someone who wants to become a cultural liaison may find this course especially useful.
Foreign Correspondent
A foreign correspondent reports news from abroad. This requires living in a different country or traveling there often, and communicating in another language. This course is designed to help people communicate in a variety of situations when on holiday, with an emphasis on asking questions and describing things. It will offer a foundation in the Portuguese language and culture, which will help a foreign correspondent when working in a Portuguese-speaking area, particularly with the focus on learning honorifics. Someone wishing to become a foreign correspondent may find this course of value.
Translator
A translator converts written or spoken text from one language to another. This requires a deep understanding of both languages, as well as cultural nuances. This course introduces new language structures that help you communicate in more situations, which helps build essential skills as a translator. This course also provides practice to help you understand how to put words together to form sentences, which is key to the work of a translator. Being able to build sentences is important to make sure the meaning is correct when translating written and spoken words. Someone wishing to work as a translator may find this course useful, especially if they want to translate from Portuguese to English.
Tour Guide
A tour guide leads groups of people, often travelers, through a specific location. They share information about the history and culture of the place, and answer questions. This course is designed to enable communication in a range of situations when on holiday abroad, which is highly relevant for a tour guide. In this role, you will need to understand and respond to questions and requests, and give descriptions of a place and the past. You will use skills taught in the course including greetings, how to talk about how you are feeling, and the ability to form sentences. This course may be useful to any aspiring tour guide, particularly one who wants to work in a Portuguese speaking area.
International Aid Worker
An international aid worker provides assistance and support to communities in need across the globe. They must be able to communicate effectively across cultures. This course is designed to teach communication in a variety of situations when abroad. It also teaches you how to greet people and ask questions which are key skills for an international aid worker. The course emphasizes clear expression and learning to form sentences. This course may be useful for someone wishing to work in Portuguese-speaking areas as an international aid worker.
International Recruiter
An international recruiter is responsible for finding and attracting candidates for positions in different countries. The role requires communication skills and knowledge of different cultures. This course teaches you how to communicate in a range of situations when on holiday abroad, which is relevant for an international recruiter. It also provides practice in putting words together to form sentences. The focus on greetings and describing your feelings may be especially helpful. Anyone wishing to become an international recruiter would find this course helpful, especially if they plan on recruiting candidates from Portuguese speaking countries.
International Sales Representative
An international sales representative develops and maintains relationships with customers in other countries. They need to understand the language and culture as well as sales techniques. This course leads to communication in more situations when needed, especially to do with travel. The course also teaches you how to make sentences, which is a necessary skill to talk about sales opportunities. The course also focuses on learning how to speak about reservations which may be beneficial when doing sales internationally, particularly in Portuguese speaking countries. Any aspiring international sales representative may find this course helpful.
Hotel Concierge
A hotel concierge assists guests by providing them with information, making reservations, and arranging various services. Being able to communicate in a range of situations when on holiday abroad is essential to this role, and this is a focus of this course. Additionally, this course teaches you how to confirm and change reservations, which is a common task for a hotel concierge. You also learn greetings and how to talk about how you are feeling, which are helpful skills. Aspiring hotel concierges that want to work with Portuguese speaking guests may find this course very helpful.
Flight Attendant
A flight attendant ensures the safety and comfort of airline passengers. They also provide customer service. This course is designed to help people to communicate in many situations when traveling abroad. The course focuses on useful question phrases, greetings, and how to talk about how you feel, which are important for a flight attendant to know. You also learn how to confirm and change reservations, which are often part of a flight attendant's work. This course may be helpful to a flight attendant who works on flights to Portuguese-speaking countries.
Social Worker
A social worker provides support and resources to individuals and families in need. This requires excellent communication skills and the ability to connect with others. This course aims to teach you how to communicate in more situations when on holiday, and will enable a social worker to deal with various scenarios. You also learn greetings and how to talk about your feelings, which is important for building rapport. The course further offers practice in forming sentences. Someone seeking a role as a social worker, particularly with people who speak Portuguese, may find this course useful.
Customer Service Representative
A customer service representative interacts with customers to provide information, address inquiries and resolve issues. This role requires excellent communication skills. This course introduces new language structures that promote communication in more situations, which can be highly useful for a customer service representative. You will also learn how to use question phrases, greet people, and describe how you feel, skills that are essential in any customer service interaction. This course's emphasis on practical communication and structured repetition may be useful for someone who wishes to enter the customer service field, particularly in a role where Portuguese language skills are an asset.
Immigration Officer
An immigration officer works at border entry points, such as airports, to verify the documentation of travelers. This course will help you communicate in a range of situations when on holiday abroad, which is applicable to an immigration officer. The course also includes practice in forming sentences, which is important when asking questions. The course touches on useful phrases for describing things in the past, which may also be useful. Someone who wants to work as an immigration officer may find this course helpful, especially if they will be working with people who speak Portuguese.
Market Research Analyst
A market research analyst studies market conditions to examine the potential sales of a product or service. This role involves analyzing data, identifying trends, and communicating the results effectively. This course teaches useful question phrases, enabling a market research analyst to ask relevant questions effectively. Gaining an understanding of how to form sentences, another objective of this course, will help the market research analyst express their findings in a clear manner. An analyst focusing on Portuguese-speaking markets may find this course valuable.

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 4 | Languages for beginners.
Serves as an excellent supplementary resource for beginners. It provides a lighthearted and accessible introduction to Portuguese grammar, vocabulary, and culture. It is particularly useful for reinforcing the concepts taught in the course and offers additional examples and exercises. This book is more valuable as additional reading to solidify understanding and build confidence in using the language.
Provides a comprehensive overview of Brazilian Portuguese grammar, which is essential for understanding the structure of the language. It useful reference tool for students who want to delve deeper into the grammatical concepts introduced in the course. While the course focuses on conversational Portuguese, this book offers a more formal and detailed explanation of the language's rules. It is particularly helpful for students who plan to continue studying Portuguese beyond this introductory course.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser