Portuguese Language Programs in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Portuguese is one of the ten most widely spoken languages in the world. Whether you’re a tourist, a student, or a job seeker, you can find Portuguese classes in São Paulo that fits your needs and lifestyle. Choose from part-time programs where you can learn at a slower pace, such as one 2-hour lesson per week, or go big and sign up for an intensive course that meets daily for several hours.

Many of the intensive courses are geared towards job seekers from foreign lands who have never studied the language before. Portuguese classes in São Paulo with intensive daily training allow you to become nearly fluent in Portuguese in just four to six weeks. If you are learning the language in order to prepare for a new work experience, you’ll be ready to tackle that job abroad in no time with confidence needed to succeed.

If you want to learn Portuguese in São Paulo for pleasure, you can learn at your leisure. Maximum class sizes in most programs tend to be small with just five students, which will ensure that you make great progress. If you want a more structured program, jump headfirst into private lessons. These are more intensive than small class programs and geared for the more serious students seeking to improve their understanding of the language. With one-on-one sessions, teachers can place more emphasis on the areas of the language you have more interest in or difficulty with.

Once you decide which type of program you want to pursue, you should consider when to go. Ideally, the best time to study in São Paulo is from March to May or October to November when temperatures are more comfortable and the city receives less precipitation. However, the weather year round is pleasant in São Paulo, with temperatures rarely dipping below 50 degrees in the winter and rising up in the 80s in the summer.

São Paulo is the economic and cultural capital of Brazil, and the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere with more than 11 million people who call this vibrant city home. If you count the greater São Paulo area, that is nearly 20 million people! But don’t let that scare you away. While life in this multicultural metropolis may be challenging at first, you’ll soon acclimate to daily life, and you’ll never run out of things to do here!

Cultural activities include theaters, local art festivals, and parades.The celebrations during carnival season rival those in Rio de Janeiro! Museum lovers rejoice, as São Paulo has some of the best in the world from the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP) to the Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo. If you are a soccer fan, go to a soccer match! São Paulo offers three first-league teams and many amateur clubs. If you’re a foodie, you might spend your weekends enjoying Brazilian barbeque, or Churrasco, with new friends, as this is a popular pastime.

Getting around in São Paulo is best done via the Metrõ system. With lines covering most of the inner city, it’s the largest, most reliable, and safest rapid transportation system in Brazil. If you need to travel to the suburbs, the Companhia Paulista de Transporte Metropolitano (CPTM), will take you wherever you need to go in the outskirts and periphery areas of São Paulo. Combined, these two services rank among the busiest metro systems in the world. If that is overwhelming to you, try the bus system or taxi service. Consider driving yourself only if you're brave enough to fight the chaotic driving conditions or what some call “the last big adventure” for drivers from abroad.

Once you figure out your way around, plan to put yourself out there and immerse yourself into the culture of São Paulo by speaking the language with locals and other foreigners like yourself. With plenty of meetups and language clubs in the city, they’ll help you do just that. Speak with São Paulo natives who are interested in learning English from you, or meet others from around the globe and practice your new tongue together while enjoying and exploring your new city together.

So, you know you want to learn Portuguese in one of the most vibrant, diverse cities in the world. But where do you stay and how do you go about getting there?

The living arrangement you choose while taking Portuguese classes in São Paulo can make a huge difference in the quality of your experience. It’s highly recommended to stay with a Portuguese speaking host family in order to have friendly, good quality accommodation, which will give you ample opportunities to converse with your host family over breakfast every morning and dinner every evening so that you are working on your skills 24/7 and gaining the most out of the experience personally by the friendships you will form.

A passport and return ticket are required in order to enter Brazil for an extended stay for most travelers. Whether or not a visa is required depends on your country of origin. European countries are not required to have a visa; however, visitors from the United States, Canada, and Australia must obtain a passport and visa prior to entry. Check out the GoAbroad Embassy Directory for more detailed and up-to-date information.

While it’s difficult to imagine what your experience south will be like before you buy your ticket, the benefits of learning Portuguese in São Paulo by far outweigh the challenges. Benefits include living and learning in a spectacular city comparable to the size of New York, with just as much, if not more, to see and do. You can learn to cook Brazilian food and learn Brazilian dances, visit outdoor markets and art shows every weekend, dine on world class food, all while learning a beautiful language. You will meet unique people with amazing stories, opening you up to different worldviews.

The biggest challenge you will face during your Portuguese classes in São Paulo is that less than 5% of Brazilians speak English (which can also help you learn Portuguese faster). So, until your language skills are perfected, you might have a bit of difficulty navigating. However, if you know any Spanish, you might be in luck. Portuguese and Spanish share many similarities that even if your Brazilian friends don’t speak Spanish, you might be able to share simple conversations with them.  Another challenge is that São Paulo is expensive, so be prepared. But in return, you will absolutely get what you pay for and then some.

You will have had a challenging experience mentally, physically, and even spiritually as your limits will be tested daily. But your life will be more amazing and meaningful because of it. You will have learned the art of the Portuguese kiss, the practice of showing up late and leaving even later, and most likely enjoying rice and beans every single day! All of that combined with learning a new language? What more can anyone ask for from an adventure abroad?! Saude!