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Melbourne is a major cosmopolitan city that is often ranked amongst the world's most liveable. As such, it’s hardly surprising that so many of its residents are either foreign-born or have relatives that come from other countries. In fact, according to the 2016 census, 46% of Melburnians have immigrant parents, so it’s pretty common to find people that have deep connections with other cultures. Among the diverse communities you can find in the city, the are many that come from Lusophone countries like Portugal, Brazil, Mozambique, Angola and East Timor. These groups not only brought their traditions, foods and art to the city but also the beautiful Portuguese language, which can be heard in many local neighbourhoods. If you choose to learn this fascinating language, the way you experience Melbourne would improve dramatically, as you’ll be able to get closer to a bigger part of the local community, as well as take advantage of the many job opportunities that are exclusive to bilingual speakers in the city.
On top of getting access to unique job positions in the city like Customer Service Representative for EasyGo, being able to speak Portuguese will help you make a big impression in any job interview in Melbourne. Some of the city’s top employers like BHP Group, CSL Limited and Telstra Corporation Limited are always on the hunt for multilingual employees that can help them expand abroad and build long-lasting commercial relationships with foreign companies. If you can communicate in Portuguese, you’ll be an asset to these companies, as you’ll be able to help them get access to the Brazilian market, one of the fastest-growing in the world.
Additionally, learning a widespread language like Portuguese will make your travels much more enjoyable, as you’ll be able to connect with native speakers in Latin America, Africa and Europe and feel at home in countries like Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau. What’s more, learning Portuguese will help you understand other Romance languages like Spanish, Italian and French, which makes it one of the most useful languages you can learn to make yourself understood in most countries.
One of the most interesting things about learning Portuguese is exploring the culture of the various Lusophone communities around the globe. If you’re a foodie, you’ll be pleased to hear that Melbourne has many restaurants where you can indulge in the wonderful traditional foods from Portugal and Brazil. If you’re interested in the former, you should visit Bar Lourinhã, located at 37 Little Collins. The owners of this bar are passionate about sharing their love of Mediterranean and Iberian flavours with the local community and have been doing it for fifteen years. Here you can try dishes like Portuguese rabbit rice and enjoy traditional Portuguese liquors like Ginjinha de Obidos.
For those wanting to explore Brazilian cuisine, B’Churrasco is the place to go. This excellent Brazilian restaurant, located at 61 Beckett Street, offers mouth-watering Brazilian barbecue cooked over an open fire in front of customers. You’ll be able to try a great selection of meats that include lamb, pork, chicken and beef that you can have with salads, chips and other seasonal sides. One of the best things about this restaurant is that most of its staff come from Brazil, so in addition to tasting amazing food, you’ll be able to speak to natives who are eager to share their culture with local residents.
In Melbourne, there are great social groups where you can meet native speakers from different parts of the world. If you’re interested in meeting Brazilian people in the city, you should attend some of the meetings organized by Lambada in Melbourne, a group dedicated to teaching this lively dance that originated in Brazil in the 1980s. Beginners should attend introductory events that take place at Argyle Square on Lygon Street where they can learn the basic steps, meet the other members and have fun.
For those wanting to meet European Portuguese speakers, the Aussie-European Social Circle holds regular events where you can find a lot of people from Portugal and other European countries. These events take place at The Terrace Cafe, located at the Royal Botanical Gardens on Anderson Street, and offer the perfect chance to expand your social circle while you have coffee, pastries or sandwiches in a relaxed atmosphere.
If you’re trying to boost your Portuguese skills in the city, a great place you should visit is the State Library Victoria, located at 328 Swanston Street. Here, you’ll find resources that can help you expand your vocabulary and get to know the different cultures where Portuguese is spoken, such as films, novels and grammar books. You’ll also find interesting books like 28 Portuguese Poets by Richard Zenith, which explores the works of famous poets like Fernando Pessoa, Alberto Caeiro and Álvaro de Campos in both English and Portuguese. Another great book you can’t miss is Brazilian Literature as World Literature by Eduardo F. Coutinho, a great introduction to Brazilian literature that analyzes the connection between Brazil's literary production and that of the rest of the world.
Reading these books will make you appreciate the literary works from Lusophone countries more deeply and fall in love with their captivating language. However, If you truly want to take your skills to the next level, there’s nothing quite as efficient as taking a language course. Here at Listen & Learn, you’ll find the best qualified native teachers to help you become fluent in no time. All you have to do is send us a quick enquiry and one of our team members will pair you up with a tutor who will tailor lessons that fit every requirement you might have. No matter what your language level or learning style is, we’ll create the perfect course just for you!
These Portuguese lessons are more general in nature and are targeted at students who have a whole range of different needs. While all beginners level students can expect to cover Survival Portuguese—required for short visits to a country where English may not be spoken and/or the intention is to make good contacts with the local population—students then generally progress in different directions depending on their needs. Typical students include those buying property overseas, spouses of overseas nationals, people about to set off on that long-awaited world trip, Portuguese-culture enthusiasts and those who are keen to pass a particular Portuguese examination. Enquire now about our Portuguese Courses or Take A Free Portuguese Level Test
These lessons in Portuguese are meant for those who feel that learning Portuguese would make a change in their work. For starters, it is expedient to learn how to say hello/goodbye, as well as basic business protocol; once the basics have been mastered, reading and writing come to the fore. Students who have greatly benefited have been involved in import/export, international negotiations and acquisitions, jobseekers in multinational companies where another language is required and those working in the international academia and government circuits. Even in our most fundamental beginner's lesson, students can anticipate ending the lesson with basic telephone Portuguese and e-mail Portuguese skills for communicating, as well as survival Portuguese if a short visit to the country is needed. Enquire now about our Portuguese Courses or Take A Free Portuguese Level Test
Two or more people can benefit from studying Portuguese together as these Portuguese lessons are also offered to groups (Two-to-One Portuguese Lessons or Small Group In-Company Portuguese Lessons). Every student must have the same degree of knowledge of the language, the same business or language needs and the ability to study at the same time and place as everybody else. The booking has to be made for all students at the same time. Listen & Learn does not advocate group sessions of more than 6-8 people, though Taster Portuguese Lessons can be experienced by up to 12 people. Enquire now about our Portuguese Courses or Take A Free Portuguese Level Test
Our native speaker qualified Portuguese language teachers can train you and your colleagues at your office or home at a time to suit you. Classes can be any day of the week (even weekends) in the morning, afternoon or evening. In certain circumstances, if your home or office is not available, you can take your classes at the trainer's office. Course books are provided. Enquire now about our Portuguese Courses or Take A Free Portuguese Level Test
If there are two or more of you with the same level of Portuguese, the same targets within the language and are able to study at the same time and location, then you'll be happy to know that these Portuguese lessons can also be made available for Two-to-One Portuguese Lessons or Small Group In-Company Portuguese Lessons. Listen & Learn does not generally recommend classes of more than 6-8 people, though Taster lessons in Portuguese can run with up to 12 people. Bookings must be made for all participants at the same time. Enquire now about our Portuguese Courses or Take A Free Portuguese Level Test
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