https://www.reddit.com/r/Brazil/comments/1j81o40/best_way_to_learn_portuguese/
created by Unlikely-Grass-1441 on 10/03/2025 at 15:46 UTC
3 upvotes, 9 top-level comments (showing 9)
Oi galera, my wife and I are thinking about moving to Rio, where she’s from and where her parents/family live. I do not yet have Brazilian citizenship, but my wife has US citizenship.
I have a decent paying job in consulting right now, but I really love Brazil and its culture. I feel like moving there - at least temporarily - would be such an incredible experience, especially given the current situation in the US.
With that said, of course priority is given to Brazilians and Portuguese speakers for jobs.
I’m looking for recommendations on the best ways to learn Portuguese to help me land a job in Brazil. Does anyone have experience making the switch, and how did you learn without being immersed in language by living there?
Comment by --rafael at 10/03/2025 at 15:53 UTC
6 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Priority is not given to brazilians, but you typically need to speak Portuguese to do you job in Brazil, as that's the only language that's spoken in the office. Even in big tech companies - like one I used to work in Brazil - they've tried hiring non-portuguese speakers and that never quite worked out very well. Only a few people in the company would be able to talk to them and, overall, it made everything harder.
As a native Portuguese speaker, I've learnt English and French. The best thing you can do is taking some classes every day and try to read and watch brazilian stuff. For instance, brazilian soap operas are a great way of learning Portuguese, as they speak everything very slowly and clearly and the emotions are very over the top. So, it's easy to follow even if your Portuguese is not great.
Having classes helps a lot, but it's talking to others that you're going to solidify your knowledge.
Comment by debacchatio at 10/03/2025 at 16:56 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
American here. I moved to Rio ten years ago. Your best asset is your wife: you need to be only speaking in Portuguese together.
I got a work visa and a job through STEM and had to learn Portuguese on the fly. It took me about 3-4 years to really feel comfortable with the language.
Comment by dankScorpioEnergy at 10/03/2025 at 15:57 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I'm reading pato don to learn 😂
Comment by estrepid_ostrich at 10/03/2025 at 16:09 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Continued usage is the best way. Speak to your wife anytime you know a word even if it's a mix of english and portuguese.
Phone in Portuguese. Listen to music. Watch movies (with english subtitles at first) or rewatch movies you already know in English (Kung Fu Panda is a classic lol)
Immerse yourself the best way you can in the USA, portuguese sticky notes on things in the house, your brain needs the constant reminder to see things in portuguese and not translate them. (Don't know if that makes sense)
And of course, come to Brazil, you'll learn very quick if you immerse yourself and not be afraid to fail. (even though you said without immersion lol)
Comment by SurveyReasonable1401 at 10/03/2025 at 16:23 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I used Preply, my teacher is very good.
Comment by Moist_Broccoli_1821 at 10/03/2025 at 21:06 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Find a remote job and earn cash in dollar. Only a fool would want to land a Brazilian job and work in Brazil. You’d be just as well of as the rest of them.
Work remote, live like a king.
Yes, still important to learn Portuguese bc u can’t rely on ur wife for everything
Thank you. Case closed.
Comment by Nautilus_The_Third at 10/03/2025 at 17:52 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Why move to the certainly most dangerous city in Brazil, and leave a country with great quality of life and far lower criminality?
Comment by ThroatRemarkable at 10/03/2025 at 20:32 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Better learn to run and get used to a bulletproof vest. Lol
Comment by lostgirlexisting at 10/03/2025 at 21:20 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
The quickest way to learn Portuguese is to immerse yourself in it. If your wife has the patience to teach you, speak to each other only in Portuguese. Listen to music and stream shows/movies in Portuguese. Talk to your in laws or listen to them talk and try to figure out what theyre saying. That's how I learned before my first trip to Brazil. Then i spent 3 months there and picked it up a lot faster. Over the last 5 years, I am at an intermediate level and can get through most conversations easily but not always with correct grammar. You'll only learn if you practice.