Someone tweeted this yesterday:
“God help the World Cup visitor who doesn't speak Portuguese. Airports = real chaos. Worst I've seen in five years living here.”
Communication in Brazil can be very challenging if you don’t have any Portuguese. If you are going to Brazil to work in a big international company, it is likely that some of your colleagues will speak good English. But if you are going as a tourist, don’t expect people on the streets to speak any English. Bus and taxi drivers, waiters, bank tellers – in other words, the people you tend to ask for help and information – don’t usually know English.
If you speak fluent Spanish, you may get by a bit easier, even if you offend a few Brazilians along the way. My tip is to make them know that you know that we speak Portuguese, and not Spanish, in Brazil.
There is a better way to make the best out of your trip to Brazil! Street Smart Brazil offers a Travel Portuguese program that will give you survival – or instrumental – Portuguese. In this program you will learn:
- Greetings and Farewells.
- Introducing Yourself
- Expressions of Courtesy
- Numbers
- Brazilian Currency
- Asking for Directions
- Getting Around
- Basic Health Concerns
- Brazilian Menu Customized to Your Palate
- Brazilian Food You Should Try
- Useful Phrases for various situations
- + Customize your package to your attend to your needs
The program is customizable to attend to your goals. Already know basic Portuguese? Use your class time to practice through mock conversations, add vocabulary, get cultural tips, and improve your speaking and listening. This will allow you to better understand people in Brazil and vice-versa.
We offer this program through one-on-one lessons via Skype. We also offer it to groups of 2 or 3 learners via Google Hangouts. With shared audio and video, our webcam lessons are as effective as lessons in person, offering you the convenience and flexibility your busy schedule requires.
You can purchase single hours of instruction or packages of 6, 10, and 16 hours.
Book a trial lesson to test-drive our classes. The World Cup starts in a few days. You don’t have any time to waste. And, really, going to Brazil without any Portuguese is like eating your strawberries without the cream.
To learn more about us, check out our fantastic clients’ testimonials here.
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