Portuguese Lessons in Oxford

Finding Portuguese speakers around Oxford is not at hard as you think. In fact, according to the 2011 census, there are around 1223 Portuguese native speakers living in the city, and many local language-enthusiasts who study it as a foreign language, so the chances of bumping into someone speaking in Portuguese are pretty significant. Additionally, Oxford has many events that celebrate Lusophone cultures, and wonderful local restaurants where you can experience the delicious foods made in these countries so if you find yourself to be interested in this fascinating language, pursuing this particular interest is one of the best things you can do in the city. By doing so, you’ll experience the many advantages, such as a more active social life, as you’ll be able to connect with more members of the foreign-born community as well as with tourists, a more successful career, and the chance to expand your worldview as you immerse yourself in other cultures.

Learn Portuguese for Work and Travel

Although the job market in Oxford is one of the largest in the area, it’s also one of the most competitive. This means that if you want to stand out, learning language skills is one of the smartest things you can do, especially if you’re trying to land a corporate job at one of the city’s top companies, which are always interested in hiring bilingual applicants who can speak widespread languages like Portuguese. The reason why they see people who can communicate in more than one language as an asset is because they can help them improve their business relationships with foreign companies, not only by speaking the language but also by understanding the social norms and etiquette used in other countries. As a result, there are many positions in the city exclusive for Portuguese speakers, such as Technical Customer Service Associate for Veeva Systems, Portuguese Credit Controller for In2Consult and Interpreter for Absolute Interpreting and Translations Ltd. In short, if you want to become more employable, don’t hesitate to start learning Portuguese, as it will help you access wonderful job openings that will take your career to the next level.

Learn Portuguese for Social

Every year on the first Sunday of July, you can attend the Cowley Road Carnival, a celebration attended by around 50,000 people. This festival features members of the diverse foreign-born communities who gather to celebrate their roots in an amazing event filled with colour, rhythm and art on Cowley Road. At the heart of this celebration, you’ll find Sol Samba, a Brazilian percussion and dance group based in Oxford that aims to inspire people with the beauty and power of authentic Brazilian carnival music and dance. Their current repertoire focuses on the laid back grooves of samba reggae and also includes other Brazilian rhythms such as Rio samba, maracatu, afoxê, afro-samba, samba duro, batucada and baião. In addition to watching them perform at the festival, you can take lessons with them or attend the cultural talks they give around Oxford. What’s more, if you play any instruments or dance, you can join them and enjoy the teachings of their band directors, all of whom come from Brazil.

Learn Portuguese for Culture

As you might know, learning a foreign language widens the door to know more people, especially if you attend any of the local social groups that keep Lusophone cultures alive in the city. One you should check out if you’re interested in Brazilian culture is Oxford Forró. This group was made to celebrate Forró, a genre of Brazilian music that originated in the northeast states of Brazil and encompasses various dance styles and musical beats. If you want to experience this lively music and learn its steps, you can join the weekly dance lessons at The Gatehouse, located at 10 Woodstock Road. Even if dancing is not your forte, the event offers a great chance to meet Portuguese native speakers in the city who can help you boost your language skills, as well as to expand your knowledge of Brazilian culture. Alternatively, if want to meet people that love Portuguese culture, check out the events organized by the Oxford University Portuguese Society, which include Portuguese Wine and Cheese tastings, Portugal day celebrations and other social gatherings located at different venues across the city where you can learn about Portugal, its people and traditions and socialize at the same time. 

Where to learn Portuguese in and around Oxford?

Depending on your language goals, you have many options to learn Portuguese around Oxford. If you want to get a certification, you should check out the Portuguese courses at the University of Oxford, which are designed to help you learn in a small, productive class environment. On the other hand, if you are not interested in taking lessons in an academic setting, you could visit the Oxfordshire Public Library, located on Queen Street, which has many interesting books in Portuguese such as Complete Portuguese by Manuela Cook, a book that goes from beginner level to upper-intermediate and is aimed at students who wish to learn Portuguese but can’t attend classes and Portuguese for your Trip, by Berlitz language, perfect for learners who want to pick up useful words and expressions they can use on their trips to Portugal and Brazil. The library also offers many films in Portuguese which can help you practise your listening skills, such as City of God, a Brazilian crime drama that takes place in the Cidade de Deus slum outside Rio de Janeiro and follows the story of Buscapé, a street kid who decides to become a photojournalist when he discovers he is not cut out to become a villain.

However, if you’re looking for a language course that adapts to your learning style and is completely tailored to your interests, your best option is Listen & Learn. If you send us a quick enquiry, we’ll make sure you are paired up with a native Portuguese tutor who will build a completely personalised course that fits your every requirement and take your language skills to the highest level!