Portuguese Lessons in New York

New York City’s streets are filled with life, noise, and languages. According to the 2020 census, among the more than 800 languages you can hear in New York’s metropolitan area, one of the most commonly used is Portuguese, with over 100,000 speakers that come from countries like Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde. The influence of these communities can be seen in many neighborhoods across the city, where you can find bars, restaurants, and institutions that celebrate these cultures.

 If you want to get closer to any of these communities, learning Portuguese is the best way to go. Although there are many different variants spoken in the nine countries where Portuguese has official status, the two most commonly used around the globe are the European and Brazilian ones. No matter which one you choose, learning this vibrant language will change the way you experience the city for the better, as you’ll be able to appreciate the various lusophone communities that you can find in New York more deeply. On top of that, learning such a widespread language will make you more employable and will turn you into a citizen of the world.

Learn Portuguese for Work and Travel

If you live in a multicultural city like New York, learning a second language is one of the smartest things you can do to become more employable. Learning a widely spread language like Portuguese will open many opportunities for you in the city and giveaccess to unique positions that include Portuguese Speaking Data Scientist for Dataiku, Brazilian Portuguese Speaking Language Manager for Whatsapp, and Portuguese-Speaking Sales Development Representative for Shutterstock.

What’s more, learning Portuguese will allow you to get around more easily in many of the lusophone countries like Brazil, Mozambique, and Sao Tome and Principe. These countries have beautiful destinations where native English speakers can find lots of jobs, but being able to communicate in Portuguese is key to really connecting with the locals, especially if you visit small towns and villages.

Learn Portuguese for Social

Anyone who wants to learn about Portuguese culture in Brooklyn should visit the Luso-American Cultural Center. Located at 619 Henry St in a former St. Paul's Lutheran Church, this great organization holds many events that showcase Portuguese music, food, dance, and art. Some of their past events include live Fado music, forró dance lessons, and fundraisers where attendees can enjoy incredible traditional Portuguese food like Caldo Verde, Bacalhau com grão de bico, and Castanhas assadas.

Another great place you should check out is the Ipanema Restaurant, a wonderful place to enjoy traditional dishes from Brazil and Portugal. The restaurant is owned by a family that comes from both of these countries and offers traditional food that has been passed down for generations. When you dine here, you’ll feel part of their family, and get to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere filled with Portuguese and Brazilian music, art, and people. The restaurant is located at 3 W 36 St and has vegetarian and gluten-free options, so it has something for everyone.

Learn Portuguese for Culture

If you’re interested in Brazil, The New York Brazilian Portuguese Meetup Group is just what you’re looking for. They host events that celebrate Brazilian culture like samba and forró lessons, movie screenings, live music events, and bate-papo, which are light conversations in Portuguese. Their events are completely free and they take place online and in private locations around the city, so if you want to attend any of them, you should join their virtual group. On the other hand, if you’re interested in a language exchange where you can boost your Portuguese skills with other learners and native speakers, the Portuguese Conversation Club is a great language group that holds monthly events that are perfect for intermediate and advanced learners who want have conversations in Portuguese. Hosts pick different topics for every meeting, which will help you expand your vocabulary and learn new phrases. 

Where to learn Portuguese in and around New York?

No matter what your learning style is, you’ll find many useful resources in the New York Public Library, located at 476 5th Ave, that can help you become more fluent in Portuguese and learn about the different lusophone cultures. Not only will you find learning materials like Portuguese grammar books, dictionaries, and grammar books, but also films and music that will make you fall in love with the different cultures where Portuguese is spoken. If you are interested in traditional folk music, Anthology of Portuguese music will transport you to the Trás-os-Montes and the Algarve regions in Portugal with their incredible sounds that feature a multitude of haunting a capella recordings of harvest songs, sung prayers, secular ballads, and unique instruments that are used in the area. If you want to explore Brazilian music, you’ll also find many Bossa-nova albums at the library, as well as recordings by some of the most influential Brazilian singers from the 20th century like Carmen Miranda and Francisco Alves.

As helpful as these resources and materials can be, if you truly want to work on your Portuguese and become fluent fast, there’s nothing as good as a language course. Although there are many good places in New York City where you can study, the best choice is Listen & Learn. Our language courses stand out from the rest because each of them is completely tailored to our students’ interests and language goals. If you’re not sure how good your Portuguese is and you want to find out before starting a course, we offer free level tests on our website you can check out. After you get a score, simply send us a quick inquiry now and one of our team members will pair you up with one of our Portuguese native teachers in no time!