Learning Portuguese. (Well I am trying...)

 For a while I felt like I was picking up the language ok... but the last few times I ventured out with Maria, out neighbour, people have asked her if I speak Portuguese. She has responded by dropping her head and shaking it sadly.... with a 'poor Mel, there is no hope' type expression on her face.

Cheers buddy! (so perhaps I need to make a little more effort).

So, its back to my Michele Thomas Portuguese Course. I do have the Berlitz Earworms too,  but find the 'great music' tag is slightly false advertising..  It is one of those courses that is irritating but does go in. It certainly makes it very simple.

The Michele Thomas course is an 8 hour course which has great reviews. I found it a godsend when we first arrived, but now I am returning to it with a basic vocabulary and a better idea of accents etc it is so much easier.

This morning I have been on Amazon looking for Barrons 501 Portuguese verbs which I have found and ordered. I took a look and both the earworms (Berlitz) and Michele Thomas courses are available, along with Usborne's flashcards, first 100 words and first 1000 words which I ordered for Sienna last year. Although the Usborne materials are aimed at kids, they are perfect for beginners too. I especially like the flashcards. They could also be used for a Portuguese person learning English as the english words are printed in the corner.

One trick I have found helpful for learning is to label items around the home with post it notes in Portuguese on the door (porta), window (janela), table (mesa) and so on.... then you are looking at it all the time and it will go in without any effort.  It is definately useful too to carry a notebook around with you and write down new words/words you do not understand... when you have a Portuguese person repeating a word to you.... louder and LOUDER..... you can write it down and work out what they were trying to tell you later. (You will feel pretty bad if you realise they were yelling "HELP", or "FIRE")

As my old buddy used to say to me .... 'JFDI'   (Just F****ng Do It) A handy acronym for those who dither and put things off.

I am seriously going to pull my finger out, (hopefully I can restore Maria's hope for me).. and aim to learn at least three new words a day.

Wish me luck! (BOA SORTE !)

The following link will take you to a useful eBook 'Learn Any Language' -aimed at complete beginners, which will help you to learn any language (including Portuguese) quickly and easily.
Click Here!

Tashan.....

My little man Tashan.. 12 years old and a fantastic 'Kevin and Perry' impressionist !! (Apparently because he is a teenager). Tashan LOVES food and music and is a funny and affectionate Son. I so wish he would do his 'Carlton' (Fresh Prince of Bel Air) moves in front of people...... hilarious !!! Just like his Auntie Vicky.

We are working through the usual hormone stuff at the moment and tend to bicker a fair bit... but hey ho... that should pass in about six years or so with a bit of luck.

Tashan started his new School in Portugal recently and is in week 5. He is beginning to pick up some Portuguese but is understandably finding it really frustrating not being able to communicate with his new mates.... when he gets really stuck he uses Google Translate on a laptop ! We have been using the Michel Thomas method Portuguese course on our ipod's for the last few months. Tashan used the course a lot whilst we were travelling and this has really helped.

The School feel he is a fast learner and are pleased with him. Luckily he is a bright boy, but obviously this is a huge transition for him... The kids at his new School have really welcomed him and he has been happy to go every day... enjoying the attention of being the new English kid on the block !! His English teacher tells me the girls love him too !!

School will finish for the Summer soon - in the middle of June as it gets too hot here, they return to School at the start of September so he will have a long Summer Holiday. This is balanced out by a long School day; starting at 8:45 and ending at 5:05.... with plenty of 'ping pong' breaks in between.. !!