General Questions
[expand title=”Is Portuguese difficult to learn?”]Learning a language is challenging, but Portuguese is not particularly difficult. The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the US Department of State says Portuguese is among the easiest languages to learn, side by side with Spanish. Their scale of difficulty is based on the length of time it typically takes to achieve General Professional Proficiency in speaking and reading. You can learn more about this here.
Other articles that share this point of view that Portuguese is a very learnable language:
- Seven Easiest Languages to Learn for English Speakers<
- 9 Easy Languages for English Speakers
- How To: Use Your Spanish to Learn Portuguese
We encourage you to try for yourself!
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[expand title=”I don’t like to study or read online. Can I really learn Portuguese via webcam? How does it work?”]Our webcam lessons are as effective as lessons in person. You meet with your instructor real-time, face to face, in a video-conference. You will be totally engaged with your instructor. We use Skype or Google Hangouts with video. Both are free. You can see and hear your instructor just as if she were sitting across from you. You will receive your class materials ahead of time via email. You can print them or have them on your screen during your lesson. And we use the chat screen as our white board. We invite you to book a trial session to see for yourself how well it works.[/expand]
[expand title=”I took classes before and it didn’t go so well. Why would I like it better with Street Smart Brazil?”]Our clients love learning with us. Please do check our testimonials. There are a few reasons why this is so. Our instructors are native speakers of Brazilian Portuguese, fluent in English, and college educated. They have work experience in Brazil and abroad, and are trained to teach you perfect Portuguese in a simple way. Additionally, we use a communicative approach based on real-life situations to get you functioning in Portuguese as soon as possible. And we use our own exclusive class materials that are designed to develop all four language skills and leverage different learning styles.[/expand]
[expand title=”Do I have to pay a registration fee?”]No, there is no registration fee and no charge for class materials. You just pay for your lessons.[/expand]
[expand title=”Do I need to purchase class material and books?”]
The quality and variety of class materials that we use cannot be found in any other Portuguese language course. We use our exclusive original content workbook in combination with materials from textbooks, the web, and other resources. There is no additional charge for the materials. We believe that you will learn better by using a variety of learning tools.
With that said, if you are interested in buying a book, we have a review of the best books to learn Portuguese on our site.You will also find a list of additional materials including books, movies, and CDs at our Online Amazon Store.
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[expand title=”How do I pay for my Portuguese lessons?”]You can use any credit card or PayPal to purchase lessons online using a secure connection. For rates, please visit our store.[/expand]
[expand title=”How long does it take to learn Portuguese?”]Time to fluency varies significantly from one individual to another. The key variables in this equation are your own language skills, your consistency with lessons, and how much you practice between lessons. With one-on-one lessons you will be able to set your goals and your pace. We are ready to help you get there.[/expand]
[expand title=”I am very busy. How often do I need to have classes?”]
You can take classes whenever you have time to fit them in your schedule. When you choose one-on-one lessons, you can set your pace. With that said, consistency and practice are key to learning and developing fluency. We recommend starting with at least 1 hour per week. Practicing regularly between meetings will speed up the learning process.
If you are getting ready to take the Celpe-Bras exam, how often you take classes will depend on how soon your test is and how advanced your Portuguese is.
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[expand title=”Will I have material to study between sessions?”]Yes, you will always have study materials and homework. The more you practice between sessions, the faster your Portuguese will advance. With that said, we understand that many of our clients are very busy. How much homework you will do between sessions is a personal decision. We are here to help. If you cannot do any homework, your instructor will work with you through the exercises during your sessions. That is perfectly fine too. [/expand]
[expand title=”How do I schedule my lessons and what availability do you offer?”]
You can easily book your lessons online.
We offer classes virtually any day, any time because we have instructors in different time zones.
To give you even more flexibility, you can book your lessons with any of our instructors. We all share class reports to ensure that there is continuity between lessons even if you are booking them with different teachers.
Upon purchase of any of our classes, you will get a link to our online scheduling tool.
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[expand title=”What is the difference between Brazilian Portuguese and Portuguese from Portugal?”]
There are differences in pronunciation and grammar between Brazilian Portuguese and Continental Portuguese. The main difference is in pronunciation. Imagine a foreigner learning English in the US and then traveling to England or Australia. This person will need to adjust to how the language sounds in the new country. The same is true for Brazilian and European Portuguese.
For additional insight into this issue, we recommend reading the blog posts below. They were written by an American who learned Brazilian Portuguese and then moved to Portugal:
- Portuguese Life – Differences Between Brazilian and Continental Portuguese
- Pray for My Portuguese
- Portuguese Life – Part 2
The best way to choose which language you should learn is by considering who you will be communicating with when using the language. If you will be communicating with Brazilians, then Brazilian Portuguese would be the best option.
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[expand title=”What are the best books to learn Portuguese?”]Luciana, the founder of Street Smart Brazil, wrote a great article about the best books to learn Portuguese. There she mentions the pros and cons of each book. You can read the reviews here: The Best Books to Learn Portuguese. [/expand]
[expand title=”Are your instructors native speakers of Brazilian Portuguese?”]Yes, absolutely! All of Street Smart Brazil’s language instructors are native speakers of Brazilian Portuguese, born and raised in Brazil. Additionally, our instructors are fluent in English and college educated. They have professional experience in Brazil and abroad, and are trained with the Street Smart Brazil approach to deliver an excellent learning experience. They are also very friendly and passionate about sharing our language and culture. Meet our instructors here. [/expand]
[expand title=”How do I know if the course is a good fit for me?”]
When you take one-on-one lessons with us, we guarantee that we will customize our program to match your proficiency level and attend to your goals. One-on-one lessons are the fastest way to learn: You learn what you want and at your own pace.
For group classes, please take a look at the course program to ensure that it is what you are looking for. Knowing what you will learn and practice is much more empowering than identifying your language level through a test, especially considering that level classifications vary drastically from one school or method to another.
If you are interested in a conversation group, please contact us to schedule a free consultation. We will help you assess if the group is a good fit for you.
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[expand title=”What is your lesson cancellation policy?”]
For one-on-one lessons, you need to inform us of any cancelations or changes in schedule at least 48 hours before your class. This is because last-minute notices do not allow us to fill the time slot saved for you. Please call or send a text message directly to your instructor if you need to cancel or change a class. More advance notice is appreciated. Our business hours are Monday-Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm Pacific.
Lessons canceled without a 48-hour advance notice will be charged. No-shows will be charged.
When you cancel a lesson with 48-hour notice you have a nonrefundable credit for a makeup class. Credits are valid for 45 days from the original date of the cancelled lesson. After 45 days credits will be forfeited. This applies to all payment plans.
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Group Classes
[expand title=”Can I audit a group class?”]Our class activities are planned and designed with the number of students in mind. We do not allow guests to sit in the class. We hope you understand that we do so to ensure a smooth and effective learning experience to our clients.[/expand]
[expand title=”I missed or will need to miss a group class. Can I have a makeup class or a refund?”]If you missed or will miss one of your group meetings, please email your instructor and she will let you know what topics were covered in class and how you can prepare for the next meeting. Because we make a point of having small groups and strive to offer the highest quality in a cost-effective way, we do not have the ability to offer make-up classes or refunds for missed lessons. We appreciate your understanding. The same applies for corporate training.[/expand]
[expand title=”I started a group program but cannot continue taking classes. What should I do?”]After the first class there is no refund for dropping the program. For corporate training, there is no refund in case some of the participants drop the class or if a class is canceled by the company. [/expand]
[expand title=”I enrolled in a group program that has not started yet and I will not be able to take the lessons. Can I get a refund?”]To issue you a refund, we need to learn about your cancelation at least 10 days before the class start date. If you cancel your participation in the group less than than ten days before the first day of class, we will refund you 80% of the amount you paid. In all cases, a $35 processing fee will be deducted from your refund.[/expand]
[expand title=”I would love to warm up before my group classes start. How can I do so?”]We have a few great ways for you to get up to speed!
- Visit our blog. There you will find cultural tips and video lessons that cover both vocabulary and grammar topics.
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Watch our visit lessons and explore our Playlists. They include music, news, and more.
- Join our Facebook community. Every day we post colloquial vocabulary, language tips, music, news, and events there.
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About Subscriptions
[expand title=”If I choose the subscription option to enjoy lower rates, how do I cancel my subscription later on?”]
You can end your subscription at any time. You can log into your account and cancel yourself, or you can write to us and request cancellation. But please remember that subscriptions run for a minimum period of two months.
Absence from class does not constitute notice of withdrawal/termination.
Informing your instructor of your intention to stop classes or change your subscription does not constitute notice of withdrawal/termination.
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[expand title=”Will I get reminders for my subscription payments?”]You will not receive payment reminders prior to being charged for subscription payments. Your subscription payment will be automatically charged every four weeks on the same amount/number of lessons of your choice. Please notice that this is not the same as monthly payments.[/expand]
[expand title=”What is the schedule for my subscription payments?”]The first subscription payment is billed in full at the moment you create your subscription and prior to any classes or services are provided. Your next subscription payments will be automatically charged every four weeks on the same amount/number of lessons of your choice. Please notice that this is not the same as monthly payments.[/expand]
Celpe-Bras
[expand title=”What proficiency level do I need in order take the Celpe-Bras Preparation Course?”]
Celpe-Bras is not a multiple choice test. It is a challenging exam that will evaluate your writing, reading, listening, and speaking skills. The exam consists of:
- Written part (3 hours): You will write four essays, two based on readings and two based on listening skills (one with audio and one with video)
- Speaking part (20 minutes): Conversations about general interest topics based on pictures and headlines
Intermediate level is required to enroll in this program. If you are working to achieve intermediate Portuguese skills, please refer to our regular programs.
If you have questions about your proficiency level, contact us to schedule a consultation.
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[expand title=”How are the Celpe-Bras Prep lessons different from your other courses?”]
The Celpe-Bras Prep course is focused on the exam. You will practice with official past exams and professionally designed exclusive content created in the format of the Celpe-Bras exam. The course focuses on the activities that comprise the actual exam: speaking and writing based on readings and listening comprehension. During your sessions with your instructor you will practice and develop your speaking skills. Following each session you will have an essay for homework. Just like in the actual exam, these essays are based on texts, audios, and videos, and ask you to write about the topic.
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[expand title=”How many lessons do I need to take before my trip to Brazil?”]
The other day I came across a tweet that said:
God help the World Cup visitor who doesn’t speak Portuguese.
The message was tweeted by an American who had been living in Brazil for 5 years.
Communication in Brazil can be very challenging if you don’t have any Portuguese. If you are traveling 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.
How many lessons you need to get the basics depends on your goals and what you already know. If you are a beginner Portuguese speaker, we recommend a package with 10 hours.
You will be surprised how even a little Portuguese can make a big difference in your travel experience.
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