4 Great TV and Radio Shows for Learning Portuguese

Looking for some new ways to practice Portuguese? Why not try radio and TV?

Whether you watch and listen purely for immersion while you work or study, or fit programs in as a way of learning, radio and TV can be a fun and effective way to help you learn.

Here are some suggestions for the best TV and radio to help you learn Portuguese.

 

 

Os Nossos Dias

 

Os Nossos Dias is a Portuguese telenovela that has been on the air since 2013. There are around 300 episodes so far so there is plenty of material for you to work through, and with episodes at around 45 minutes long you can easily fit the show into your learning routine.

Os Nossos Dias follows the lives of Marta Brito and her family, tackling current social issues against a sunny backdrop.

This is a great show to learn Portuguese with because you will quickly become familiar with the accents and colloquialisms of your favorite characters as they go about their days.

Os Nossos Dias is an easy watch, particularly with subtitles if you are a beginner. Though even without subtitles it is simple enough to get the gist of what is going on.

There are thousands of clips on Youtube like this one if you don’t feel like watching a full episode, to begin with.

Learning Portuguese? Check out our free placement test to see how your level measures up!

 

RTP Antena 1

 

If having Portuguese playing in the background is what you are looking for, then RTP Antena 1 might just be perfect.

This is a public radio station keeping you up to date with the latest news stories from Portugal, interspersed with the occasional blast of music and weather reports.

The presenters are all clearly spoken, so don’t panic if your very first listen leaves you understanding little! This is a 24-hour radio station meaning you can tune in whenever is convenient for you.

Alternatively, if you are looking for short bursts of Portuguese to fit into your routine, scroll through the website. There are broadcasts on sport, entertainment, science, and everything else you can think of!

To give you an example try this story on children not getting enough time to play. There is a short video and a piece of text meaning you get to practice listening and reading all in one short story. RTP Antena 1 is a great resource for Portuguese learners!

 

 

 

Nelo e Idália

 

Nelo e Idália is a great show for learning Portuguese if you enjoy comedy. It is a sitcom following the everyday adventures of Nelo and Idália, complete with canned audience laughter in all the good parts.

Both characters speak clearly so are easy to follow; by the end of a thirty-minute episode you will probably have picked up at least some of the jokes!

This Brazilian show is at a nice pace for beginners so even if this is the first show you are watching in Portuguese, you should be able to enjoy it as you learn.

There are 25 episodes of Nelo e Idália so you have a good amount of material to work through. You can watch entire episodes or find clips on Youtube like this one if you can only fit in a few minutes of learning a day. Why not learn a little Portuguese through laughter?

 

 

RFM

RFM is one of Portugal’s biggest commercial radio stations, so you can start listening already knowing what format to expect. The shows predominantly consist of music that is both Portuguese and international, interspersed with news updates, weather, traffic, and sport.

The show is on all day long so if your schedule is already tight for studying why not have RFM on in the background as you go about your day?

On RFM’s main website you will find a wealth of resources for learning. There are schedules for the station’s programming, links to podcasts, a constantly updated top 25 chart, and plenty more besides.

There are even simple articles to read if you feel like a little reading practice. Try this one on cruises to give you a taste of what to expect.

Articles are a mixture of text only, audio, and short video clips, with no set formula to follow. So if you want to grab a little practice but don’t know what to do, pick one at random! RFM is a great addition to the tools you are already using to learn Portuguese.

 

Radio and TV are great ways to inject a little Portuguese learning into your day, especially if you’re too busy with work and chores and want something flexible and enjoyable you can use while you do something else. When are you going to start?