How to learn European Portuguese

One of the ways to learn a foreign language is to watch TV programmes, such as soap operas/ telenovelas.

The flashing 888 (or 887) number on the top right/left corner of your TV at the start of/during certain portuguese programmes is there as a notification for you to be informed that there are Portuguese subtitles available, should you be interested to set them on (by using teletext).

Be aware that in order to set on this feature you will need to press the teletext button (the button displaying the shape of a TV screen with three lines inside it) on your remote control, followed by pressing three times the number 8 button.

An example is the telenovela "Queridos Papás" on channel 4 (TVI). It's a very easy, everyday, funny story that helps us forget about the problems of life....

https://tviplayer.iol.pt/programa/queri … a86eb2d8cd

(Previous episodes available here)

Try to follow the story. The first few episodes will be difficult, but you will see fast improvements in your portuguese.

Thanks - this sounds very useful. I've bookmarked the link and will go back to it periodically!

(Subtitles available in portuguese)

Cuba Libre

https://www.rtp.pt/play/p10683/cuba-libre

Based on a true story, the extraordinary life story of the portuguese Ana Silva Pais, only daughter of the last director of Salazar's political police, owner of a remarkable beauty and sensuality, but also of a huge rebellious spirit. After being elected Miss Swimming Pool Figueira da Foz at the age of 22, in 1958, later, in 1965, married to a Swiss diplomat and living in Havana, she leaves her husband and family to give herself to the Cuban revolution, secretly in love with Che Guevara.

O nosso cônsul em Havana / Our consul in Havana

https://www.rtp.pt/play/p5909/nosso-consul-em-havana

A portuguese fictional series freely inspired by the period when Eça de Queiroz (well known portuguese writer, born in 19th century) was Portuguese Consul in Cuba, at the time a Spanish colony.

No subtitles available (yet):

O Crime do padre Amaro / The crime of priest Amaro

https://www.rtp.pt/play/p11278/o-crime-do-padre-amaro

In the late 1860s a story of the forbidden passion between Amaro, a young priest, and Amélia. Tense, emotional and anchored in personality conflicts, it casts a critical eye on society and the church in Portugal, in 19th century in Leiria.

@JohnnyPT, as usually you provide high professional information. You are an asset for this forum.

Cheers!

POETRY by Fernando Pessoa

Some poems by Fernando Pessoa and his 4 heteronyms: Alberto Caeiro, Álvaro de Campos, Ricardo Reis and Bernardo Soares.

(Audio version available in both languages)

Eg.

The Tagus is more beautiful than the river that flows through my village

English

https://www.casafernandopessoa.pt/pt/cf … llage?eID=

Portuguese

https://www.casafernandopessoa.pt/pt/cf … ldeia?eID=

@JohnnyPT

  On the ball as ever Johnny PT.  I have been listening to Pessoa and his "Hetorynyms" for ages now and trying to follow the wonderful Livro do Desassossego (pdf is here:https://agrcanelas.edu.pt/blogs/biblioteca/files/2012/11/Livro-do-Desassossego-.pdf) whilst listening to the English MP3.  I recently found a stone for Florbela Espanca on a wall in Quelfes and learned that P thought of her as his "Twin soul."

I don't know how others do it but I went to a concert of Fado in both of their honour featuring many and varied musicians and singers and, of course, to the tragic life of Florbela Espanca AND her status as an original voice in world literature.

My goal at the moment is to discover more about Sao Bras and its importance to the first inhabitants of the Algarve - as well as the beauty of the place itself and its very thriving community.

There's probably a reason why getting to the Algarve as more than a bare-assed tourist is so difficult lol.

Many thanks as ever to JohnnyPT!

Invaluable!

👍

@JohnnyPT

Hey Johnny,

I'm afraid I must agree with hanibal18. I have a Brazilian friend who lives in Sao Paolo who would also agree. When I was in French Guiana there was a Brazilian woman there that I also talked to. Both have said that Brazilians can understand Spanish speakers better than Spanish speakers can understand Portuguese. Also, they both come from the same Latin roots.

My favorite is Pimsleur. It's not free but it is very inexpensive, and if you go premium, you get access to every language they teach.

@JohnnyPT
Hey Johnny,
I'm afraid I must agree with hanibal18. I have a Brazilian friend who lives in Sao Paolo who would also agree. When I was in French Guiana there was a Brazilian woman there that I also talked to. Both have said that Brazilians can understand Spanish speakers better than Spanish speakers can understand Portuguese. Also, they both come from the same Latin roots. - @MateoT7

Yes, it's true. Spaniards don't know anything about languages. They're not even interested in trying to understand. This shows the traditional Spanish arrogance.