Portuguese Lessons in Sydney

In Sydney, there’s a community of 20,459 people that speak Portuguese as a native language. Although 19% of them were born in Australia, the majority were born in other countries. In fact, according to the 2016 census, 45.5% come from Brazil, 28.1% from Portugal and the rest come from places like East Timor, Mozambique and Angola. According to the 2016 census, in recent years there has been a 36% increase in the number of Portuguese speakers in the city, due to the big influx of immigrants from Brazil and Portugal. As a result, the Portuguese language in Sydney is more alive than ever, and the various Lusophone cultures are celebrated across town all year round in the many events and festivals held by these foreign-born communities. If you attend any of these celebrations, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in these wonderful cultures and connect with the portion of the local society more deeply.

However, the best way to truly understand them is to learn their language, as the Portuguese language reflects the values and beliefs of the cultures where it’s spoken. On top of this, if you choose to become a proficient Portuguese speaker in the city, your overall experience in Sydney will improve, as you’ll get access to better jobs and be able to expand your social life to include people from all over the world.

Learn Portuguese for Work and Travel

Portuguese native speakers can be found in Europe, South America, Africa and Asia, so if you choose to learn the language, you’ll be able to take advantage of the unique opportunities that the Lusophone business world offers. What’s more, because Brazil and Portugal are countries with strong economies, you’ll become an asset to local companies in Sydney that want to expand there or are trying to improve their professional relationships with multinationals located there, especially if you can speak business Portuguese. On top of this, if you have your own business in the city, you’ll be able to attract Portuguese-speaking customers more efficiently or enhance your relations with Portuguese-speaking employees.

If you’re planning on travelling to any of the beautiful locations where Portuguese is spoken, being able to communicate fluently will allow you to understand some of the cultural differences and break down possible language barriers that prevent you from truly connecting with the locals. Learning the language is particularly important if you’re planning on moving to a Lusophone country, as it will make your life there much easier.

Learn Portuguese for Social

In Sydney there are many events that celebrate the wonderful Brazilian culture. Many are organized by the Brazilian Community Council of Australia, a non-profit organization that seeks to promote Brazilian culture in the country and showcase the many talented Brazilian artists and performers that live in Australia. Among their most well-known events is the Rhythm Brazilian Day, which takes place at Tumbalong Park in Sydney, and offers incredible live music, delicious Brazilian food and even a cultural village where you can enjoy the best Brazilian art.

Additionally, if you’re interested in other Lusophone cultures, you can’t miss the annual Arraial do Bracca, where you’ll get the unique chance to enjoy performers from Portugal, Angola, East Timor, São Tomé and Príncipe and, of course, Brazil. This amazing festival, which takes place in June every year at the Sydney Portugal Community Club, located at 100 Marrickville Road, is a perfect place to take part in traditional dances, meet people from all over the world and immerse yourself in the Portuguese language.

Learn Portuguese for Culture

If you’ve been learning Portuguese for a while and want to check how good your skills really are, why don’t you attend one of the local language exchange events? The OH Yeah! English & International Language Exchange, for example, is a great place to have full conversations in Portuguese with natives and help them out with their English. The main purpose of this group is to connect people from all over the world and help them improve their conversational skills, learn about other cultures and make new friendships. This vibrant community of language enthusiasts is one of the biggest in the city and organizes weekly events at The Shark Hotel, located at 127 Liverpool Street. After you pay the $2.50 admission fee, you’ll be placed at a table with other Portuguese speakers according to your language level, and once there you’ll get to enjoy wonderful conversations in Portuguese and English with your new friends.

Where to learn Portuguese in and around Sydney?

Do you want to expand your knowledge of Lusophone cultures? If so, you should pay a visit to the Town Hall Library Express, located at 456 Kent Street, which has many interesting books on the matter. If you’re interested in learning more about popular music in Brazil, a great book you should consider reading is Hello, Hello Brazil: Popular Music in the Making of Modern Brazil, by Bryan McCann, which explores the flourishing of Brazilian popular music between the 1920s and the 1950s. On the other hand, if you want to feel transported to Angola and Cape Verde, there’s a compelling novel by Paul Theroux called The Last Train to Zona Verde, with wonderful descriptions of these countries and their communities that will make you want to visit them as soon as possible.

After reading any of these books or the many others you can find at the library, you’ll have a deeper understanding of the different cultures where Portuguese is spoken, which will inspire you to learn the language. The best way to do so is with a help of a qualified teacher, who can help you become a fluent speaker quickly. If you’re wondering where you can find the best tutors in Sydney, the answer is Listen & Learn.  Whether you want to learn Portuguese to expand your business or to travel, just send us a quick enquiry and we’ll have one of our native teachers create a completely personalised Portuguese course just for you!