Portuguese Lessons in Cambridge

Known for its beautiful architecture, picturesque streets and relaxing surrounding countryside, Cambridge is a wonderful city that is full of history. Famous for its university, the city attracts students from all around the globe, so it’s not unusual to hear people speaking other languages as you walk along its streets. As a result, if you’re a language learner in the city you’ll find many opportunities to immerse yourself in other cultures and make international friends. If you happen to be interested in the fascinating Portuguese language, you’ll be glad to know that according to the 2011 census, there are nearly four thousand Portuguese native speakers in the city. Although most come from Portugal and Brazil, you can also find small groups of residents from Mozambique, Angola and other Lusophone countries whose cultures are worth exploring. Whether you decide to learn the European or the Brazilian Portuguese variant, speaking this language will allow you to access unique job openings in Cambridge, as well as the chance to connect more deeply with part of the foreign-born communities and the many tourists that visit the city each year.  What’s more, learning this widespread language will make travelling more enjoyable and expand your horizons like no other.
 

Learn Portuguese for Work and Travel

Cambridge is a successful city with a world-class reputation for education, science and innovation, so it comes as no surprise that the local economy is one of the most successful in the area. Because of that, there are many incredible positions you can apply for in the city, especially if you learn Portuguese, as top local companies like Redgate Software, Frontier Developments and Cambridge Intelligence are always looking for bilingual candidates that can help them expand abroad and improve their business relationships with international companies. On the other hand, learning Portuguese is also a smart way to improve your experience in your travels, as you’ll be able to feel much more at home in Lusophone countries and even in places where Spanish, Italian and French are the official languages, as speaking Portuguese will help you understand many words in other romance languages.

Learn Portuguese for Social

If you want to get immersed in Brazilian culture, you should check out the many events organized by the Cambridge University Brazilian Society, all of which are completely free and open to the general public. The main aim of this society is to provide academic and cultural exchanges between Cambridge and Brazil through academic and social events like talks, music nights, art exhibitions and film screenings. They invite many Brazilian artists, thinkers, activists and performers to their events, so attending them is a great way to get to know many native speakers who will expand your knowledge of Brazilian culture.

Another great way to get to know Lusophone cultures in the city is by visiting some of the local restaurants that specialize in making traditional dishes from these countries. If you’re interested in Portuguese cuisine, The Ladz Cambridge, located at 52 Mill Road, is known for serving some of the best Peri-Peri chickens in the area and offering a great service. On the other hand, if you want to try delicious Brazilian dishes, pay a visit to Las Iguanas, located at Quayside, a wonderful restaurant that specializes in Latin food.

Learn Portuguese for Culture

One of the wonderful advantages of learning Portuguese is that it will help you expand your social circle and make new friends from all over the world. If you’ve started learning the language and you’re looking for a chance to meet native speakers in Cambridge, you should attend one of the meetings held by Cambridge International Friends. This group is for anyone interested in sharing stories about their travels, socialising with foreigners and practising their language skills. Additionally, it offers different kinds of events that include walks along the river to chat and relax, international food nights where you can try dishes from all over the world and meetups at local pubs and restaurants. If you’re interested in boosting your language skills, you might want to check out the monthly language exchange event that takes place at All Bar One, located at 36 Saint Andrew's Street. Here you’ll find speakers of many languages including Portuguese, so no matter how fluent you are, it’s the perfect event to meet friendly people who can help you take your skills to the next level.

Where to learn Portuguese in and around Cambridge?

After reading about all the advantages of learning Portuguese, you’re probably wondering where you can learn in Cambridge. If you’re interested in studying the language in an academic setting because you want to add a language to your university degree or want to become a language professional, the University of Cambridge offers Portuguese courses at all levels that in the addition to the basics of the language, covers literature from Angola, Brazil, Mozambique and Portugal, the media of literature, film and the visual arts, and a broad chronological spectrum of texts from the sixteenth century to the present. Alternatively, if you are the kind of language student that prefers to study on your own, you should check out the many resources available at the Cambridge Central Library, located at 7 Lion Yard, that include music, films and useful course books that will help you develop the basic skills you need to start speaking Portuguese. However, if your goal is to become a fluent Portuguese speaker as fast as possible, then you should check out the courses available at Listen & Learn. If you send us a quick enquiry, we’ll connect you with one of our native tutors who will create a flexible Portuguese course you can enjoy at home, in your office or even online. We also offer free 15-minute level tests you can take on our website, so if you’re not sure how good your skills are, you can take the Portuguese test before contacting us.