Portuguese Connection Language School Review (2024)

My friends Lucy and Martin moved to Portugal from the US in 2022. They live in the pleasant coastal town of Setúbal, about 45 minutes from Lisbon. When I heard about Lucy’s positive experience learning Portuguese in Lisbon at Portuguese Connection Language School, I asked her for an interview.

Read on for more about this recommended Portuguese language school in Lisbon.

About Portuguese Connection Language School

Portuguese Connection is centrally located on Praça do Príncipe Real (Principe Real Square), traditionally a gay neighborhood and now one of Lisbon’s trendiest areas.

As of April 2024, Portuguese Connection has an excellent 4.7 rating on Google. Read the reviews.

Portuguese Connection Student Interview: Lucy

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My husband Martin (Dutch-American) and I decided to move to Portugal in 2022 from the US. Most of the previous 40 years I had been in New Mexico practicing medicine, although I retired in 2011 and we started doing a lot of traveling internationally.

After trying out a few different retirement hobbies I got pretty serious about bird photography and birding, which took us to many wonderful off-the-beaten-tourist-track places. We also walked 7 different Camino de Santiago routes and were quite passionate about doing these long pilgrimages. Probably it was the pandemic that ended those trips.

We chose Portugal because it is quite accepting of immigrants, has a lenient tax structure for your first 10 years here (but that is no longer available to newcomers), has a reasonable cost of living, wonderful natural beauty and cities, and a good transportation network. We did not plan on having a car. The language felt like a deterrent, but we thought we could deal with that.

What was your level of Portuguese before attending Portuguese Connection?

Before attending classes at Portuguese Connection, I had used various online study tools like Practice Portuguese, Drops, and Memrise.

Duolingo offers Brazilian Portuguese, but it’s really advised that students, especially beginners, stick to European Portuguese learning. There are significant differences, although certainly the Brazilians here are fully understood by the locals.

I found, and still do find Practice Portuguese to be my favorite app. It’s quite user-friendly. I also watched some YouTube conversational and grammar videos.

I also did private sessions with a tutor who was focused on conversation. “Falar, falar, falar”… Nothing else mattered. I did progress some, but I felt my approach was too disorganized and unsystematic. I lacked discipline. 

(Note from Ingrid: Practice Portuguese was also my favorite resource for European Portuguese. Check out my review of their excellent free podcasts here.)

What other languages have you studied? How did they help with Portuguese?

I have always liked language learning, and my background in French, Spanish, and Italian both helps and hinders. The less I fall back on them, the better. But as my Portuguese improves, I am losing the others.

How does learning Portuguese relate to any plans to obtain permanent residency or citizenship in Portugal?

You need a certificate of completion of level A2 for permanent residency. You need to pass an A2 level test that the government administers, OR complete a government class that, in Setúbal, requires attendance two evenings a week for about 9 months.

The private schools’ certificates do not allow you to skip the exam. Right now I am undecided about my plans in this area. There is also talk about that government class going online, which would interest me, in the event I decide to pursue citizenship.

What made you decide on Portuguese Connection? How were your initial communications with the school?

I knew two people in Setúbal who had studied at Portuguese Connection and really enjoyed going and benefited. I didn’t really do any comparison shopping with other schools. I looked at the website and sent an email of inquiry.

You can choose your number of weeks of study. I decided to do 4 weeks, and they said there was availability. I did the online placement test, following their instructions to leave blank any answers I was unsure about. They put me in level A2.2. I left with a B1 certificate after 4 weeks.

When did you attend Portuguese Connection? Do you recommend this time of year for taking a Portuguese language course in Lisbon?

I attended in March and April 2024. It was sometimes cool and a bit rainy; actually one day with heavy rain and flooding that did not affect me. Some days were warm.

It was always comfortable in the building. It’s actually in a basement.

I recommend spring because the weather is likely to be reasonable, and the summer crowds have not yet arrived. Public transit is already busy. If it were busier, that might make the commute difficult.

How did you commute to Portuguese Connection from Setúbal every day?

My commute took 2 hours each way: bus within Setúbal, train to Lisbon, metro line, and then a very pleasant 10-minute walk. There are other ways to do it, e.g. using longer distance bus in lieu of train.

My experience was not typical because the vast majority of students are living or staying in Lisbon or on the periphery.

Another advantage of staying or living in Lisbon for the classes is that you can freely take advantage of field trips Thursday afternoons. I did not feel I could spend that time.

What was your class schedule like? How were your classes (quality of instruction, number of students)?

Group classes go from 9 am to 1 pm. You get a 20-minute break from 11 to 11:20.

The instructors were very kind and patient and had good teaching skills. No English was spoken. Some students did private lessons in the afternoons.

We did oral reading, quiet reading, a lot of conversation about our lives, asking questions to the presenter, some grammar teaching and exercises, audio exercises with Q and A, and even word games.

My classes were 4-8 students. We usually had 30 to 60 minutes of homework. 

How effective were the language learning materials provided by the school?

Very effective. We had a textbook and also handouts with articles, exercises, games, etc. I’m still using the textbook for review and to complete chapters we didn’t cover.

(Note from Ingrid: I had the same textbook when I studied at Lusa Language School in Lisbon and even the Brazilian version at the school in Rio! There are just not that many quality Portuguese textbooks compared to, say, Spanish. Like Lucy, I used it as a study resource at home between stints at language schools.)

What were your fellow students like?

The students were a mixed bag. Those in my classes ranged in age from 20-71. They were Italian, French, British, Filipino, Mexican, Irish, and Australian. Everyone was congenial, friendly, and a willing participant.

What extra activities did the school offer?

Field trips Thursday afternoons to sights like monuments, bridges, parks, cafes. One outing was to the Lisbon Story Centre. These activities sounded like good opportunities for some additional Portuguese conversation, socializing, and cultural exposure.

Were there any challenges you faced during your time at Portuguese Connection?

We covered a great deal of material. It felt generally a bit challenging, but at the same time, manageable.

How do you feel your language skills improved from attending the school?

I gained confidence in speaking. My vocabulary grew. I learned to handle some tenses I had not previously studied. We spent a good deal of time on prepositions. It became easier for me to follow the instructor speaking 100 percent Portuguese.

Would you recommend Portuguese Connection to prospective students? If so, why?

Definitely recommend it, if you want a structured supportive environment and are willing to put in the time and effort. 

What are your future plans for learning Portuguese?

I plan to continue with Practice Portuguese and YouTube video lessons. I would like to return to this school later this year for at least two more weeks. I will probably participate in some conversation and games groups here in Setúbal.

Brigadão to Lucy for sharing her tips on how to learn Portuguese in Lisbon!

^{All photos courtesy of Lucy except top photo of rainbow-colored Lisbon motorway, Setúbal street decorations, and Setúbal pastries by Ingrid; group classroom photo by kind permission of Portuguese Connection; and group photo by Fun & Happy Walkers of Setúbal.}

For more information on Portuguese Connection Lisboa and Portuguese classes in Lisbon, visit their website or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.

Have feedback about Portuguese Connection school or more recommendations for Portuguese courses in Lisbon? Please share your thoughts in the comments.