Private lessons with top Portuguese instructors near San Diego, CA

Portuguese is my native language. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Teaching Portuguese (2000-2003) and a 400-Hour Specialization Course in PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE (São Luís School of Education- Brazil). I worked as a Portuguese teacher at Public Schools from 2004 to February 2016, when I moved to the USA. I have already taught Portuguese online. The sessions are created and tailored to help you with your Portuguese.

I take a holistic approach when teaching Portuguese. I teach grammar, vocabulary, conversations, reading, writing, and Portuguese culture. I want my students to discover, explore, understand, experience and appreciate the beauty of Portuguese!

I learned all the Portuguese I know from taking many different Portuguese classes at college, including grammar, linguistics, and literature and from living in the "Portuguese House" (at the Foreign Language Student Residence, part of on-campus housing at BYU) for two semesters. I specialize in teaching Portuguese to speakers of Spanish, but I can also teach anyone who wants to learn, even without any other prior language experience. I have grown to love the Portuguese language and the people of the various Portuguese-speaking countries around the world.

Incredibly, we scholars have found a way to teach an adult a second language without the time-consuming and tedious memorizing of grammar rules and vocabulary. My first contact with this interactive method was as a student in England, then later as an instructor. The principle is simple: to learn your second language as you did your first by listening and understanding, speaking, reading and eventually writing. It is a method widely regarded by national and international schools of language as the best method with adult students. It is based on studies which demonstrate the interval of time that new vocabulary has to be repeated to the adult learner for it to move from short term memory to long term memory. It is a directed, conversational method that requires little or no outside the classroom study, therefore it is vitally important that, when a student misses many classes in a roll, it's important he schedules extra time with the instructor to recover the material. Textbooks are provided for use during the class. If you would like to learn more about the method, please contact me. Here are the most frequently asked questions by new students or someone who is interested in learning Portuguese. Although I give some details here, remember that each person learns differently, at a different pace and has different strengths and weaknesses. What advantages do your students realize over other Portuguese language programs? My students can take advantage of the expertise offered by large schools and 26 years of experience teaching Portuguese but have the added flexibility of dealing with an independent contractor. Operating costs are lower for independent contractors, which means savings for you. As this is a fast-track program, the student will see results faster, beginning to speak in the first lesson with no time spent outside the classroom "memorizing". The bottom line is cost savings and rapid results. How long is the class? The student decides the term of the class based on his own commitment level and goals. For someone who wants to learn "enough to get by" the class will be significantly shorter than for the student who wants to be fluent. I do not have any preset start or finish times or dates for classes; each one is tailored to the students' requirements and goals. How long does it take? Again, it depends on the student's pace and the number of instruction hours per week. I recommend that the schedule-minded person set attainable goals for himself, for example, re-evaluate every 3 months and make appropriate schedule adjustments based on his goals. Where is the grammar? Some students are under the impression that this method does not teach grammar. The student learns all the grammar, but not through the use of grammar exercises, but rather through practical use. A thorough study of the books will show that all the grammar will be covered, subjunctive, reflexive pronouns, passive voice, etc. Why no homework? Students accustomed to studying a language in the traditional manner feel as though there is something missing if they are not given homework. However, homework is not necessary with this method. A language can best be learned through verbally practicing with the professor. If, however, the student wishes to do homework, there are optional exercises throughout the books. How can I learn to write without practicing writing? While it's true that the method does not focus on writing skills, the student will learn the necessary skills via other methods. If a student tries to force himself to write too soon, he will translate from his native language directly using the vocabulary learned. Using this method, the message often comes out distorted. For example, someone who thinks in English would say "I get up at 6 o'clock", but someone translating from Portuguese might say "I raise myself up at 6 hours." My method first teaches the student to think in the language, then to write. How is the division of classes done? Many schools divide their students into three or four levels, solely according to their knowledge of the language. This method depends on building a foundation, like building blocks, with each lesson building on the last. Each lesson repeats what has already been learned in previous classes for reinforcement as well as teaching new vocabulary, structures, etc. The level of the student is determined not solely on his knowledge of the language, but mostly on his ability to apply and use what he has already learned. A huge vocabulary does not help the student if he is not able to carry on a simple conversation. How large are the classes? The class can be a maximum of 10 people at the same level or could be as small as a private lesson. In my experience, semi-private and private lessons work best for most students. What's the secret to learn a language then? Here four Secrets for Success for your Portuguese class. 1. Come to the class. Since all new vocabulary is introduced and practiced during the lesson, and for new vocabulary to take hold in your short-term memory, practice is essential. 2. Speak as much as possible. Repeating, speaking, and using your vocabulary to create new phrases and sentences is the method used for adults to firmly establish vocabulary in your long-term memory. 3. Use your book for reference only. As incredible as it sounds, reading directly from your book actually retards the learning process. Always try to repeat the word, sentence or phrase without reading. Reading should be reserved as a last resort. or when is required by your teacher. 4. Practice. At every opportunity, regardless of how little or how much vocabulary you have. 5. Don't quit. Persistence beats resistance. * I use Teams for video conference lessons. *

ABOUT BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE: Brazilian Portuguese is spoken in Brazil and is my favorite language to live, laugh and enjoy life in. I lived and went to university in Brazil to master my Portuguese so I could document dying languages in the Amazon (which I did - ask me for a link to the article, and I'll share!) Learning Portuguese is the best way to connect with the people, learn how to sing and understand Brazilian music (samba, pagode, sertanejo, forro, axe, chorrinho, etc) and speak to people in this beautiful language. WHY LEARN BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE: If you plan on traveling to, or living in Brazil, these lessons are for you! Learning Brazilian Portuguese also allows you to receive a raise in your job and is perfect if you want to be a translator, a freelance writer in different languages, or if you simply want to be connected to Brazilian culture. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PORTUGUESE IN PORTUGAL AND BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE? The simple difference is the accent and a few phrases of formality. Portuguese spoken in Portugal is a little more formal and uses "tu" (informal you) conjugations while Brazilian Portuguese doesn't. We will learn the difference between the two and hear how they sound as well. HOW I TEACH: My love for this language knows no bounds. I teach through guided structure, nurturing your knowledge and adding to it in a kind, supportive and encouraging manner. We master the foundations (present tense, greetings, communication, various scenarios + vocabulary) and advance from there. We learn how to say commands and requests, speak about our lives and tell stories, ask questions and practice conversation. Our classes are immersive, which means we speak in Portuguese from the get-go and with repetition, exposure, and learning through association (applying concepts to your personal life and practicing speaking them in the language), we integrate Portuguese into our lives. I use games, music, art, miming, theatre, drama, multi-media and dance (all forms of learning) to inspire us to live in the language and create more associations. HOW WE LEARN LANGUAGE: We learn language through living in the language. We are courageous and kind to ourselves as we venture into a new world, and practice being vulnerable while being guided in a safe space to attempt to communicate in a new language, literally. We learn through meaningful interaction, analysis, and coming to our own understanding. I offer this style of teaching so that we feel confident in our ability, because all of us can learn a new language and master it.

Gina has a BA and MA in Portuguese language and literature. She has family in Brasil and teaches both Brazilian and European Portuguese. She is very active with the Brazilian community in her city, promoting the Portuguese language and culture. She does translation and interpretation work as well as tutoring and teaching. Gina travels frequently to Brasil and Portugal and is very happy to share her passion for the Portuguese language. from bio: Buongiorno! Bom dia! Buenos dias! Bonjour! My name is Gina and I am a professional linguist with a Master’s degree in Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and French. In addition, I am a Chartered Linguist, MCIL with the Chartered Institute of Linguists, a professional organization (UK- based) for translators, interpreters and language professionals. I work as an interpreter (medical, psychiatric, and general /conference interpretation). I do freelance translation work and am currently doing translation projects for Duolingo and an art gallery in France. I have been teaching and tutoring foreign languages since 1990: adults, college and high school students, and grade-school children; classroom, group, and private lessons; for business, travel, and exam preparation. My passion for languages started at a very young age. I grew up multi-lingual, have lived and spent time in multiple countries, and am always involved with international groups in my community. I am a member in the following organizations: Chartered Institute of Linguists (UK) International Association of Professional Translators and Interpreters (IAPTI) American Association for Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese Language Busters (Brazil) Tous Bénévoles (France) Alliance Française of Charleston APTRAD (Portugal) Translators Without Borders Istituto Italiano di Cultura (Italy/Portugal) Instituto Cervantes (Spain/Portugal) I love to share my passion for languages with others. My lessons can focus on conversation, grammar, test preparation , etc, depending on the needs of the student. Let me know your goals and we can work out a lesson plan.

Studied nearly two years of Portuguese while receiving B.A. in Spanish from the UW. Portuguese is extremely fun and relevant for anyone interested in travel!