Learning Portuguese after taking up BJJ- Discussion

Hey Guys,

Like many of you i'm sure, i've decided to take the plunge in the last few months and formally start learning Brazilian Portuguese. I decided to do so for a number of reasons, including:

-The amount of exposure i get to the language simply by training means its an excellent time to learn
-That magical day when i actually get to pack my bags for Brazil for any amount of time to experience the training and culture, so when i get there i can at least make the effort to speak the language, which i've seen is generally greatly appreciate globally. people tend to make the effort to help you if you've made the effort to try in the first place
- Also as a sign of respect for the art and its roots, i think if one day i ever get a black belt i'd feel i missed part of the experience if i hadn't at least made the effort to learn some of the language.

I imagine this is a fairly common goal for many grapplers, especially in BJJ, so i'm starting this thread for discussion of all things 'learning portuguese'. Share your own methods, experiences, success. failures, questions and links here, and anyone with a grasp of the language that is willing to help out us noobs would be greatly appreciated should they have time to contribute to this thread.


Personally, i've been using the pimsleur Portuguese series, religiously doing my 30 mins lesson everyday. In the short time ive been using the lessons i've certainly made a lot of improvement in my listening comprehension and speaking ability, if only for basic concepts so far. I think ill need to supplement it with some extra written work once i have a good grasp of the basics as its heavily biased towards listening and speaking, but I find the methods used and the interactive format really good.

I have varying backgrounds in French, Spanish, and Indonesian as discussed here:
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/f48/how-many-languages-can-you-speak-799253/

the french and spanish in particular have helped me as a native english speaker, with word order and the whole masculine/feminine context thing especially.

anyone looking for inspiration to start learning, i suggest you read this thread:
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/f16/trip-brasil-479956/

 

No bites yet so ill let you know where i'm at personally atm

-Numbers 1-100
-verbs like to be/ know/ understand/ speak/ eat/ drink/ pay/ buy/ able to/go/do
-formal/informal versions of 'you'
- just now getting into conjugating verbs for us/them/he/she
-time

pretty basic but given the amount of time ive been formally studying it, most o fthis has stuck. i far prefer this to ROTE learning lists of verb conjugations, and i think the speaking focus helps my pronunciation.

 

what.

what.

Brasilians don't speak Brasilian??!?1

I feel robbed and dissapointed.

~Foz

 

The pimsleur is a good system, usually a bit more pricey than some others, but good nontheless. I have studied mandarin and spanish in the past, Rosetta makes a good product as well.

 

I've also used the "Instant Immersion" series you can get at Bestbuy and places like that....talk about instant immersion....way too advanced for beginners...they start out advanced and work backwards almost.

 

I tried for a few years but man those dam Brazilians talk way too fast.....:]

 

Dude, I already know some Brasilian...

Just add "my friend" to every sentence and you're there.

 

It's a lot of work. I live there a month a year, wife is from there and take classes once a week (and my Portuguese still sucks). Your other language experience will obviously help though. The one thing I have seen with French and Spanish speakers jumping to Portuguese is crap pronunciation and accent but practice fixes that.

Keep on going though. At least when you go there to train you will know when they are charging you an extra 10 Reias for your Guarana Antartica

 

haha born and raised there =D so no need to learn. I agree it's a great thing to learn.

 

I've thought about it, but it's hard to find lessons here. Even the local community college doesn't offer Portugese, just Spanish, French, etc.

 

$295 for pimsleur?!

Fuck that. I would have considered $50, Maybe even 100, but almost $300? ridiculous. I'd love to learn the language but my college doesn't offer it and I am a broke college student...and that is a crazy price.

 

"my fren"

I would like to learn Portuguese also. I know a few words, but that's about it. Is Pimsleur considered the best program or whatever?

 

quick lesson:

pass the "gward"

all de time

on de floor

 

from what I hear it's top of the line.

I know a few words. I know how say "call me [name]" and good morning, good evening, thank you, i know some numbers, too. and a few submissions and jiu-jitsu moves.

I'd love to learn more.

 

important words

tudo bem?

obrigado

bom dia

voce fala ingles

no fala portuguese

I kept a phrase book in my back pocket everywhere I went when I was in Brazil.

Try to talk to girls and have a few drinks. The portuguese seems to flow better.

 

I'm thinking about taking lessons sometime soon- there's a place near me that does them. Kind of imperative for me to get started asap as I intend to go study there for two months next year (all students on my course have to study abroad for two months).

As long as I get the grammar sorted quickly I should be fine... I hope...

 

Let me know Switch! I was looking into it too but the only place i found was a lady named cecilia but it was

 

For those complaining about the prices of Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone, dont you know how to use torrents? Not that I advocate piracy, but you know.

And for anyone who wants to find a teacher I would recommend trying craigslist for an instructor. I am just about to start, but I have rosetta I and II and Pimsleur. I also subscribed to the portuguese podcast which is free.

I can update later to see which one i take to the best.

 

I used Pimsleur for Mandarin. I found it more useful than actual classes at the local JUCO

 

yeah it was at 35% by the time you got to make this post.