Learn Portuguese in Porto
Why not learn Portuguese in Porto, the city has much to offer, including exquisite medieval buildings, vibrant nightlife and the famous port wine!
Prices & dates for Porto
Why choose Porto for a Portuguese language course?
Although it offers all the sights, history and culture that you’d expect from a country’s second city, Porto is incredibly affordable, making it a very popular destination for language learners. The city is divided into several distinct areas, with the Ribeira boasting many of the beautiful scenes that perhaps come to mind when you think of Porto. This maze of twisting streets and colourful houses is the historic centre of the city and offers a glimpse into Porto’s past. Despite being the beeline for most visitors to the city, this neighbourhood has retained its character, and tourist shops sit comfortably shoulder to shoulder with the homes of friendly locals. It’s not unusual to see laundry drying in the warm breeze from an apartment balcony as you sit enjoying a drink in one of the area’s many pavement cafes!
Although the Ribeira is probably Porto’s most famous district, thanks to its UNESCO World Heritage status, the oldest buildings in the city can be found in the adjoining Sé neighbourhood, named after the stunning cathedral, construction of which started in the first half of the twelfth century. Various additions have altered the style over the years, but the result is still an imposing structure that dominates the skyline at one of the highest points of the city. Sé is a great area in which to look for a traditional Fado show, the history of the streets and buildings adding to the haunting melodies of Portugal’s popular folk music.
You will enjoy exploring these neighbourhoods and the others that make up this charming city alongside your total immersion language studies. When you feel the need to escape the commotion of the city, take to the river, either on a short ‘six bridges’ boat tour, or go for a longer excursion and be transported all the way to the stunningly picturesque Douro Valley. It is possible to visit the area in a day, or why not make a weekend of it and stay overnight in a charming riverside guesthouse?
About our Porto school
Our language school is situated in the more commercial Bolhão area of Porto. Here you will find familiar international stores, as well as smaller shops and the namesake of the neighbourhood – the Bolhão Market. Just down the street from the school building is Capela das Almas, it’s blue azulejo tiles offering a perfect backdrop to that next Instagram post!
The school occupies the second floor of a modern building and offers five large and comfortable classrooms that benefit from ample natural light. There is a reception area where helpful staff are on hand to provide assistance and advice, and a student lounge with coffee area, cable television and access to a balcony that overlooks Sta Catarina Street, one of the main pedestrian thoroughfares. There is also a small kitchen area with a microwave and fridge that students can use.
Location of our school in Porto
Which course should I choose in Porto?
Available courses
There are two types of Portuguese course at our school - group lessons and private lessons. All lessons last 50 minutes and run at different levels, from beginner to advanced. Our native Portuguese teachers are well-qualified, patient and experienced – and they know how to make learning fun!
The Intensive programme consists of 20 Portuguese language lessons per week. In your classes, you will study with a maximum of just five other international language students of the same level. Students interact with each other in Portuguese, helping you get to know other students, as well as the Portuguese language!
To maximise your time at the school, why not opt for the Super Intensive course of 30 lessons per week? This option adds two daily lessons to the Intensive programme, enabling learners to hone each aspect of the Portuguese language to perfection. Small class sizes ensure lots of personal attention from teachers, helping you to make real progress with your knowledge of the language.
If there are specific areas of weakness that you would like to work on, consider private lessons, which can be booked as an addition to group lessons, or as a stand-alone course. Private lessons offer the freedom to design your lessons to suit your own needs exactly, so contact us with any questions or requirements you might have.
For those who want to add an extra dimension to their linguistic studies, we also offer special interest courses that feature activities such as surf, yoga and oenology. Please get in touch if you feel one of these exciting and interesting language and activity programmes could be for you!
Special courses in Porto
Accommodation options available in Porto
Available accommodation
Our school also realises that your accommodation plays a major role in your enjoyment of your Portuguese course. Staying with a Portuguese host family is the most popular accommodation option.
Each family lives within easy reach of the school and the centre of Porto. Experience Portuguese customs and traditions, and practice your language skills all the same time!
Your host family will also provide you with breakfast each day. Our school takes great care when selecting families and also checks accommodation regularly, ensuring that you’ll be comfortable with your family. If you’d prefer your own space, the school can arrange accommodation for you in apartments, hotels or pousadas (lower cost hotels).
Available activities in Porto
Our school in Porto organizes a varied activities program, showing you everything that Porto has to offer and allowing you to become acquainted with other students. You will usually be offered the chance to see the picturesque Ribeira district of Porto, the majestic Cathedral, the exquisite Stock Exchange Palace and much, much more!
You could also take a river cruise along the Douro, indulge in some fine port wine or experience the haunting melodies of fado music. With such a varied activities program, you’re sure to have a great time!
How to get to our school in Porto
For an extra fee, our school will pick you from the airport on arrival, and take you back to the airport when you depart.
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Porto: Student reviews & feedback
Intensive 20 with Host Family
The language course offered a lot of depth, and although there were few other students, the staff did do their best to switch between theoretical lessons and conversational lessons. I had two different teachers with their own methods, but both were very knowledgeable and kind. The school itself was pleasant and everyone was always ready to hand out tips on what to do after class.
The host was very friendly however and did everything in his power to make me comfortable. He cooked a varied dinner every night and invited me to meet his family.
I greatly enjoyed my stay in Porto. I've wanted to do a language course like this for many years, and I'm happy that the opportunity finally presented itself. Apple Languages was able to do arrange it on a very short notice, which is greatly appreciated.
- T. Paumen
Intensive 20 with Host Family
I thoroughly enjoyed my course. My level of Portuguese increased immensely thanks to the teachers at the school. I had 4 different teachers at the school and the vast majority of them were excellent. Also, the trips outside of the lessons were really interesting and gave me the opportunity to develop my Portuguese skills outside of class. I would without doubt recommend this school to anyone looking to learn Portuguese.
I stayed with a Portuguese family for 3 months during my course and they were wonderful. They welcomed me with open arms and were always ready to help me, whether it be in terms of Portuguese or general issues. I really felt at home with my host family, I couldn’t have wished for a better one.
- L. Ogden
Intensive 20 + Surfing with Host Family
Good and very competent teacher. The lessons were adapted to my level. Cosy house and friendly hostess.
- F. Bertin
Staff and facilities at the school were very good. Accomodation and family were very good and family very friendly.
- G. Simms
The course was excellent in every way, the school is very good, professional and the staff is very friendly and competent. The atmosphere is also very nice.
I statyed with a family with one child, they were very nice and open. I could have a talk with them or go to my room, they would respect me.
- E. Schaadt
Intensive 20 with Host Family
A really useful course, with very few students per class. It's remarkable the focus on spoken Portuguese and verbs, the main weak points that I had before taking it. The owners of the house where I stayed did all that was in his hands to make my period enjoyable. They showed me the school before I started the course, took care of my transfer there and also brought me to my departure place on a trip on the Douro the first Saturday, and to the Airport the last one.
- S. Josep
Super Intensive 30 with Host Family
The school in Porto really deserves its name, I learned very fast to speak Portugueses .... and I will come again.
- S. Müller
The course and school staff were excellent, professional, their kindness and warmth made it great experience.
- A. Rebolleedo Vásquez
The teachers were good and the course content and topics covered were also very relevant and good. I had a very good experience at the school in Porto - my Portuguese language skills improved a lot during my four weeks here and thanks to the interesting cultural program the school offered, my knowledge and appreciation of the history and culture, as well as the rich gastronomy of Porto and Portugal increased. After learning a lot about Portugal and the Douro region, I left with an even stronger desire to learn even more about this fascinating country.
- K. Erik Brekke
The course was good with excellent teaching methods. My host family was wonderful.
- M. Gaia Marino
The quality of the course itself was very high, with a school staff very friendly and professional. The accommodation was excellent and the family very welcoming and friendly too. Great location too, as close to the beach and to the metro line too.
- D. Da Costa
I enjoyed the course, the tutors were very helpful and friendly. The accommodation was good, and the host family whose appartment it was, were friendly.
- P. Ashmore
The school in Porto was small, which enabled the teachers to adapt the classes to the specific needs of the different students. Everybody was really friendly and highly capable; the stuff was always very helpful. My stay at the school was a real pleasure and I would love to return there again. The accommodation offered by Language Courses Abroad and the school in Porto was excellent, in terms of living conditions, friendliness of the owner of the house, as well as location (very close to one of the stations of the excellent metro network of Porto).
- V. Paunova
I had a great course, the teachers were very flexible and taught me well. I also had some interesting trips too and the family I stayed with were marvelous.
- S. Gaselee
Student stories on our blog
Porto comes out on top!
We keenly follow anything related to European travel and were very pleased to see one of Europe’s oldest centres,
Porto, top the results of the online vote for the ‘Best Destination of 2014’. If you are unfamiliar with this award, and all the locations that were shortlisted, you may wish to visit the link below!
Read more...When in Porto…
Porto is without doubt one of the most lively, vibrant cities that I’ve ever been to. It’s not just architecturally beautiful, but is also a university city with amazing nightlife and very interesting traditions!
I was there at the start of the academic year, and I was amazed by the way the university students, dressed in the university’s customary black capes, gather in the main square and listen to the “tuna” (university band) singing Fado to the lovely sound of the Portuguese guitar – a wonderful local tradition, that helped me realise that my time in Porto was going to be something special!
Another amazing place that I soon discovered in Porto was the “Ribeira”, located in the old part of city. There are traditional restaurants, cafés and nightclubs, all with amazing views over the river Douro. It’s a part of the city that never sleeps! I often went there in the evening, with other students from the school.
Read more...The City of Bridges (and its musical nightlife!)
I would really like to tell you something about the not so well known side of Porto, just waiting to be discovered - the nightlife you can enjoy in this amazing city, whatever your taste!
Of course, Porto is well known as Portugal’s second largest city and the ‘capital of the north’, home to a historical centre, recognised by UNESCO as a ‘World Heritage Site’. It also contains several impressive bridges that cross the river Douro, taking you from the city centre to the world famous wine caves. Each bridge has an impressive unique architecture that makes them stand out and give Porto a unique landscape. In Porto you must take the opportunity to travel in one of the traditional barca boats and see a different side of this fascinating city!
But this is common knowledge for every tourist. I want to tell you about the sometimes overlooked but truly fantastic nightlife!!
Read more...
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