European Portuguese classes. Enjoy learning with a prized children's stories writer. Vamos lá!

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• 1) Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I speak European Portuguese because it’s my native language.

• 2) Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  Fernando de Pessoa was a poet and visionary. He published with different names, to nourish his need of variety of his expression. “The message” is an iconic symbol related to Portugal still today.

• 3) Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behaviour in the language that you particularly like?

  Many! Portuguese language the way I teach and enjoy is a mix of expressions that translate the Portuguese vibe and culture and the sound and gestures can be quite unique. One of them is “epá”, - oh man… is simplistic translation of it, and depending on the tone and mood it can have different meanings.

• 4) Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  It is the way I express and habit my culture, regardless of where I am. It is being with my roots and moving forward in expansion towards a harmonized future.

• 5) What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  Main difficulty usually is oral comprehension. Therefore it is important to establish a relationship with sounds since the very beginning. Just by exposing your hear to it.

• 6) Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  Once in class the teacher got so fed up with us, because we were being very much jokers that day and she called us a name and we immediately went to the dictionary to find out its meaning. She got very embarrassed when we found out the meaning and confront her about it.

• 7) How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  My native language is Portuguese, from Portugal. My second language is english. I live abroad and traveled for more than 20 years and practice is the best master. Not only because of the speaking language but because when you go to places, you have a direct experience with the place, and its culture.

• 8) What makes you a Superprof in language?

  My interest in languages and my unbreakable faith on my students in their ability to learn, with one condition: consistency.