15+ European Portuguese Courses (With Reviews)

Forget stuffy classrooms, outdated textbooks, and mind-numbing printouts. These modern courses are a far cry from traditional language classes. They’re dynamic, engaging, and tailored to fit your busy lifestyle.

So, whether you’re planning to retire in the Algarve, study in Coimbra, or simply want to pass that all-important A2 exam for citizenship, there’s a course out there for you.

Note: If you are studying to pass an exam, none of these courses provide certification at the end. To get that certificate, you’ll need to book the exam separately.

European Master Course

Dive into Mia’s comprehensive video courses, tailored for learners from A1 to B2 levels. Each course is a treasure trove of knowledge, packed with 10 videos that’ll keep you entertained for 40-60 minutes each. But don’t worry, it’s not all grammar drills! Mia sprinkles in vocabulary gems, essential phrases, and even throws in mini-games, quizzes, and catchy tunes to keep your learning journey lively and fun.

Want to fast-track your Portuguese prowess? Grab a bundle of courses and save 15% – it’s like getting a linguistic bargain! And for those ready to sound like a true Portuguese local, Mia’s special “Speech Course” is your ticket to mastering that authentic European Portuguese pronunciation.

Levels: A1, A2, B1, B2
Type: Online Streaming Video Lessons
Cost: $399 + Tax (approx) for a bundle (e.g. A1 & A2)
Discount: 15% off with this link or by using code 15PORTUGALIST
Buy it: learn-portuguese.org

Practice Portuguese

Practice Portuguese began life as a podcast, but today it’s much more than that. It’s a full-blown language learning app (for computers and phones) that’s somewhat similar to other apps like Duolingo or Babbel. Here, you can learn grammar, vocabulary, and basic conversation—from A1 to B2 and all focused on European Portuguese.

From A1 newbies to B2 powerhouses, this digital language studio has got your back. But wait, there’s more! Ever wished you could eavesdrop on real Portuguese conversations? Enter the ‘shorties’ – bite-sized audio dialogues that’ll have you navigating everything from café orders to police encounters like a local. These three-minute gems span from A1 to B2, with some even venturing into C1 territory. Talk about linguistic street smarts!

Now, here’s the kicker: at just €12.75 per month (wink wink, just for Portugalist readers), it’s a steal! It’s like getting a personal Portuguese tutor for less than the price of a fancy pastel de nata a day. Even if you’re flirting with other language courses, keep Practice Portuguese in your pocket. It might just be the ace up your sleeve in your quest for Portuguese fluency.

So, ready to turn your Portuguese dreams into “realidade”? Dive into Practice Portuguese and watch your linguistic superpowers soar!

Levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, and some C1 content
Type: App with audio and some video content.
Cost: €12.75 per month
Buy it: PracticePortuguese.com

The Journey

Picture this: You’re Carla, our intrepid heroine, hot on the trail of a mysterious letter from her long-lost father. As you unravel this family drama, you’ll be secretly leveling up your Portuguese from novice to near-native!

This isn’t your grandma’s language course (unless your grandma is a secret agent, in which case, cool grandma!). “The Journey” is a feast for the curious mind, perfect for those who want to devour Portuguese like it’s a suspense novel. From basic “bom dia”s to advanced “ai meu Deus!”s, you’ll be living and breathing Portuguese as you chase down clues with Carla.

So, are you ready to turn your Portuguese learning into a thrilling quest? Dive into “The Journey” and transform from a tongue-tied tourist to a smooth-talking sleuth. Who knows? By the end, you might solve more than just the mystery of Carla’s father – you might crack the code of fluent Portuguese too!

Levels: None given, but probably A1-B2
Type: Streaming videos + quizes
Cost: €27.99 per month (discounted for first 3 months)
Buy it: PortugueseWithCarla.com

Michel Thomas Total Portuguese

Discover Portuguese the Michel Thomas way with Total Portuguese, an engaging audio course designed to take you from beginner to intermediate level. This unique learning experience unfolds over a series of CDs or MP3s, with each lesson lasting a bite-sized 10 minutes or less.

What sets this course apart is its interactive approach. After a concise mini-lesson, you’ll join virtual classmates in putting your new knowledge into practice, forming sentences and building confidence. It’s like having a personal Portuguese tutor in your pocket!

By the end of the course, you’ll have developed a solid foundation in Portuguese, ready to create your own sentences and converse with native speakers. While Michel Thomas doesn’t strictly adhere to CEFR levels, here’s a rough guide:

Start course ≈ A1
Foundation course ≈ A2
Intermediate course ≈ B1 (for listening and speaking skills)

Keep in mind that reading and writing skills are not covered and would need separate attention. For a comprehensive journey from novice to intermediate, opt for the Total course package.

Levels: Foundation Portuguese, Intermediate Portuguese
Type: Audio Course
Cost: ~ $152
Buy it: MichelThomas.com

Pimsleur’s European Portuguese

Discover Portuguese on the go with Pimsleur, an audio-based course that turns your daily commute or dog walk into a language learning opportunity. This method, similar to Michel Thomas, emphasizes repetition and sentence construction, making it perfect for busy learners.

Pimsleur’s strength lies in building your confidence and ability to form simple sentences – crucial skills for beginner language learners. The course is easily accessible through Pimsleur.com or their mobile apps, fitting seamlessly into your daily routine.

However, it’s worth noting a few limitations:

The European Portuguese course only goes up to level 1
Compared to other courses, it covers more basic content (you’ll get a lot further on the Michel Thomas course, for example).
After completing level 2, learners may struggle to find a suitable next step

Despite these drawbacks, Pimsleur remains a solid choice for beginners looking to build a foundation in European Portuguese, especially those who prefer audio-based learning. It’s an excellent starting point, but you may need to explore other resources to advance beyond the basics.

Levels: Level 1
Type: Audio Course
Cost: $20.95 per month
Buy it: Pimsleur.com

Portuguese Academy

Levels: A1, A2, B1, B2
Type: Web App
Cost: $35 Per Month or $350 Per Year
Link: portugueselabacademy.com

Portuguese Lab Academy is a comprehensive online learning academy that mixes videos with scripted dialogues with quizzes, vocab flashcards, and grammar exercises.

Get Started in Portuguese: Absolute Beginner Course

Levels: A1, A2
Type: Book & CD
Cost: ~ $30
Link: Amazon.com

Get Started in Portuguese is part of the Teach Yourself series, a series of books similar to the “For Dummies” books. The book is written by Sue Tyson-Ward, who has written several books about learning both European and Brazilian Portuguese.

This book and accompanying CD are designed to take absolute beginners to an A2 level of Portuguese.

Plataforma de Português Online

Levels: A1, A2, B1, B2
Type: Web App
Cost: FREE
Link: pptonline.acm.gov.pt

Plataforma de Português Online is a free online course that covers European Portuguese levels A1, A2, B1, and B2. It’s good considering that it’s free, but unfortunately the site can be slow and sometimes stops working altogether.

It’s a nice addition to any of the other courses, particularly for vocab, but it probably won’t be enough on its own.

ELearning from the Camões Institute

Levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1
Type:
Cost: €180-320 per level
Link: instituto-camoes.pt

The Camões Institute offers a number of distance-based courses in European Portuguese. You can either study by yourself at the basic level or, if you go for the premium option, you get some interaction with a tutor.

The Camões Institute also have a range of Portuguese courses for specific purposes including Portuguese for Business, Introduction to Legal Portuguese, Creative Writing – Advanced, Journalistic Writing, and Portuguese for the Hotel Branch.

Distance Learning from the University of Coimbra

Levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1
Type: Distance learning
Cost:
Link: ed.uc.pt

The University of Coimbra’s Open University or distance learning section offers some Portuguese courses, which normally take place during the academic year. The levels available are A1, B1, B2 and C1. It can be hard to find C1-level courses, so this is useful for anyone wanting to take their Portuguese from intermediate to advanced.

There are also courses in academic writing in Portuguese, as well as several courses in other disciplines like computer programming.

Ponto de Encontro: Portuguese as a World Language

Levels: –
Type: Book & Website
Cost: $150
Link: Amazon.com

Ponto de Encontro is the Portuguese textbook used at several major universities including Berkeley, Texas, and Harvard. This book looks at Portuguese as a world language — it doesn’t specifically focus on European Portuguese, and is designed in a way that both Brazilian and European Portuguese learners can learn Portuguese from the same textbook.

For the book itself, the cost isn’t prohibitive (usually it’s around $20), but when you factor in the cost of the access card which gives you access to videos, audio, and other teaching material on Pearson’s MyLab, the cost jumps to around $150.

Colloquial Portuguese: Beginner’s Course

Level: Beginner
Type: Book with accompanying CDs or MP3s
Cost: $43/£34
Link: Amazon.com

Colloquial Portuguese: Beginner’s Course contains 13 lessons, as well as a guide to pronouncing Portuguese words. The book covers Portuguese for common situations (such as going to the supermarket) while also delving into Portuguese grammar at the same time.

If you buy the textbook, but it doesn’t come with a CD, you can stream the audio MP3s at routledgetextbooks.com.

Colloquial Portuguese doesn’t say which level on the CEFR scale it takes you to but, as it only offers 13 lessons, it’s likely to be around A1.

Português em Foco

Levels: A1, A2
Type: Textbook with CD
Cost: ~ $36
Link: Possibly out of print, but you can find copies on Amazon and eBay

Português em Foco is a textbook and CD combo that covers A1 and A2 Portuguese. The book contains texts, grammar exercises, and a list of useful expressions and vocabulary.

Passaporte para Português

passaporte para portugues textbook cover

Levels: A1, A2, B1
Type: Textbook
Cost: ~ $45
Link: Amazon

Passaporte para Português is a course that aims to take Portuguese language learners from absolute beginner to B1 level in around 180 hours of study – equivalent to an hour a day for six months.

Two books are available: one covers A1 and A2 level Portuguese, and another covers B1 level Portuguese.

Dialogar em Português

Levels: A1, A2
Type: Textbook with CD
Cost: $32/£25
Link: Lidel.pt

Dialogar em Português covers A1 and A2 level Portuguese. Like most other courses at this level, the lessons are structured around everyday situations such as eating out at a restaurant, transport, and shopping.

Olá! Como está?

Levels: A1, A2, B1, B2
Type: Textbook with CD
Cost: £43
Link: Lidel.pt

Olá! Como está? covers levels A1 – B2. The package includes an audio CD.

Aprender Português

Levels: A1, A2, B1, B2
Type: Textbook with CD
Cost: ~ $50
Link: Wook.pt

Aprender Português is a series of books that covers levels A1/A2, B1, and B2. Each level is supported with exercise books and a CD.

Avançar em Português

Levels: B2
Type: Textbook with CD
Cost: $14/£25
Link: Lidel.pt

Avançar em Português covers B2 level Portuguese. The coursebook is accompanied by a CD.

Português Atual

Levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2
Type: Textbook with CD
Cost: Around $33 per level
Link: Lidel.pt

Português Atual is a series of textbooks (with a CD) that covers each of the levels in the CEFR framework. It’s one of the few resources that covers the C1 and C2 levels of European Portuguese.

Book one, Português Atual 1, focuses on A1/A2 Portuguese. Book 2, Português Atual 2, focuses on B1/B2. Book 3, Português Atual 3, focuses on levels C1 and C2.

Other Resources

The materials above are all structured courses, but sometimes you need other resources like podcasts, simple books, and vocab apps to help you with your learning. This is especially true if your course is strong on one or two areas (like grammar or listening) but not so strong in others.

Here are two suggestions:

Italki – A place to find Portuguese tutors for individual lessons over Skype or just conversational practice. Other similar sites include Preply and Verbling.
HelloTalk – A tandem exchange app where you can connect with native Portuguese speakers who are learning your language and correct each other’s mistakes.

And, be sure to have a read of the following articles on Portugalist as well:

FAQs

Which course is best?

Unfortunately, there’s no perfect course and each of these language courses has its own strengths and weaknesses. Many people like the Michel Thomas or Pimsleur courses, for example, because they build your confidence and get you constructing sentences quickly, but they lack a reading and writing component.

Which courses are free?

Currently the only course that’s free is the Plataforma de Português Online from the Alto Comissariado para as Migrações (Portuguese government). While the course is good, particularly because it’s free, it isn’t as easy to use as most of the paid courses.