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My Learning Plan (and Mindset)
Like most people, I’ve got a full-time job, social commitments, and a constantly changing schedule, including night shifts where I’m running on fumes. So yeah, I get it, finding time (and energy) to learn a language isn’t always easy. But the good news? It doesn’t have to chew up hours of your day. Honestly, if you can squeeze in 15–30 minutes a day, that’s absolutely enough.
The goal isn’t to cram, it’s to build a habit that’s easy to stick with. Even five minutes counts. I find that reading a short article, listening to a podcast while you cook, and speaking aloud things you see around you has been keeping me present with Portuguese daily. The key is showing up every day. I definitely have off days where I don’t feel like doing anything, but I’ve learned that the more consistent I am, the more progress I see.
One extra tip that’s helped me is making your environment work for you. Change your phone settings to your target language, follow creators who speak it, or play Portuguese music in the background. Surrounding yourself with the language in small, natural ways makes learning feel less like a chore and indirectly motivates you.
Tools I’m Using
One of the most common questions I’m asked is: “How are you learning Portuguese without being in the country?” In reality, you don’t need to book a plane ticket to whatever country for a year to make real progress—you just need the right mix of resources and a good balance between active and passive learning.
Active learning
This is the foundation for everything, I break down my active learning into just a few daily habits.
- Audio Course + Notebook Practice
I start with an audio based course, specifically the Pimsleur Brazilian Portuguese series. It’s excellent for building conversational skills and pronunciation. Each lesson is 30 mins and designed to be done once a day. As I go through each lesson, I jot down any phrases or expressions that stand out or are new to me. This helps reinforce not only listening, but writing and recall too.
- Grammar Study – Yes, Really
I know grammar books can feel dry, but trust me, just skimming one or two grammar points a day can really strengthen your understanding. I use “Modern Brazilian Portuguese Grammar” by John Whitlam, and I highly recommend it. It’s well structured and not nearly as intimidating as some older style grammar texts. You can find it on Amazon.
- Vocabulary Boost with Anki
One of my favourite tools is Anki, a spaced repetition flashcard app that’s insanely effective for memorising vocab. After each study session, I add 5–10 new words or phrases into my deck. Over time, this method really accelerates vocabulary retention. It’s like jogging your brain right when Anki thinks you are about to forget a word. Tip: I have a book called “1000 words, 10,000 sentences”. which curates the most used Brazilian sentences in daily life. Sometimes I will add some of these phases into Anki.
Passive Learning – The Fun Part
Passive learning is where things feel more relaxed, and honestly, more enjoyable. It’s all about just getting exposure and acclimatising yourself to the language.
- YouTube
I regularly watch Portuguese-language content. One channel I absolutely love is Easy Portuguese. They interview people on the streets of Brazil, so you get a feel for real life conversations and cultural context. It’s casual, and quite slow so you can pause to take notes if needed. One more useful channel is Speaking Brazilian. bite sized language tips and conversations in a clear tone. Its not too hard to come across Portuguese Youtubers with a few searches.
- Netflix & Subtitles
If you have Netflix and have already seen a movie for before, you can switch the audio and subtitles to a Portuguese dub. It’s a great way to absorb the rhythm and tone of the language. It’s especially great because the context of the movie is already known to you. You can even use the google chrome extension “Language Reactor” which brings up the subtitles with the ability to translate and get example phrases from highlighting the words while watching Netflix .
- Duolingo
While it’s not my main resource and there is a great debate on where its useful, Duolingo definitely has its place for beginners. I use it occasionally during my commute, it turns dead time into something productive. It’s gamified, which helps keep motivation high, especially on those days when your energy is low.
- Music
Spotify is another tool I always have running in the background. Brazilian music is full of rhythm. I especially enjoy upbeat funk Carioca and Forró, both are catchy, and a great way to passively absorb vocabulary and pronunciation. Just search the Top 50 Brazil charts or curated playlists to get a feel for what you like.
What’s Actually Working For Me
One thing I will guarantee that helps me a lot is reading out aloud what I’ve learned. My ultimate goal is to speak, so training the speech patterns is well needed. I even do this aloud to song lyrics and when recalling Anki cards.
One of the best things you can do is put into practice what you have learned. Ultimately talking to native Portuguese speakers weather it be friends or tutors would be your best option, however In an english speaking country I know these people are hard to come by or tutors can be pricey, so another alternative is utilising an application called Hellotalk. This gives you access to a multitude of native Portuguese speakers who also are learning your language, and you can do free language exchanges via text or phone calls.
Mistakes I Made (and What I Learned)
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is this, don’t wait until you feel “fluent enough” to start using the language. I made that mistake when I was learning French, holding back because I was afraid of being misunderstood. But in reality, the most powerful learning moments will come from your mistakes. When someone corrects you, that correction is going to stick far better than anything you memorised in a textbook. It’s called error based learning, and it’s a scientifically proven part of how our brains process and retain new information.
Also, resist the urge to cram. Your brain learns best when it’s not overwhelmed. Instead of marathon sessions, aim for consistent, do-able learning that your brain can actually absorb and retain over time. When things start feeling like a chore, that’s a sign to stop and come back another day with fresh energy.
Above all, enjoy the process. If learning stops being fun, it becomes much harder to stay motivated. I once tried learning Spanish just because I liked a few songs, but without a deeper reason, I eventually lost steam. That’s why finding your personal motivation and drive is so important. Whether it’s for travel, love, culture, or connection, let that reason guide you when things get tough.
I’ll be updating this blog regularly with my progress in learning Portuguese, along with tips, tools, and lessons I pick up along the way. Whether you’re just starting or already on your own language journey, I hope my experiences can inspire and motivate you to keep going. Stay tuned, there’s more to come, and we’re in this together!
