Like any phase in life, when learning Portuguese, you must endure the first stage if you wish to learn and move on to the next. Learning to speak and write a new language is no different. You must approach it with the same enthusiasm, determination and drive that you would with anything. From novice to advanced, I will explain the process. For the three stages of Portuguese, you have novice, intermediate and then there's the advanced.
Novice - The novice stage is the most important part of learning a foreign language. Because, like building a house from the ground up, you are building your foundation of all elements involved with the learning process - vocabulary, reading, pronunciation, listening skills and grammar. If your goal is simply learning to speak, you would still need to adhere to the pronunciation and listening skills in order to establish a foothold in your endeavor to learn a challenging yet rewarding language.
Advice for beginners
* Remind yourself that everyone starts from the beginning and, As I mentioned in the second paragraph, you must know that the beginning phase is the most important part of language learning. Once you've accomplished the beginning, it's all downhill afterwards.
* Understand that you are going to make some mistakes. No one is perfect. Even in the face of mockery you must drive on. You may sound like a "gringo" to native speakers, but everybody learning a foreign language speaks with an accent.
* Learning to write the language can also help with pronunciation. Once you understand how a word is written, you will better understand how it is pronounced. So, if you encounter difficulties getting the pronunciation correct the first time, just think about how the words are formed. Also, by knowing how a word is written, you know where all the syllables fall in. And knowing the syllables is key to proper pronunciation based on the rules of pronunciation for that particular language.
* Always seek advice from native speakers. It's your chanced to make improvements to sound more authentic. Ask them for some critique in your pronunciation. How can I sound more like a Brazilian?
Intermediate - The intermediate phase is when you refine your pronunciation and begin building your vocabulary. Once you have moved beyond the "novice" stage, you become more involved in conversation with native speakers because you are able to pick up more translation to understand the topic of discussion. This is when you begin to see how the language is structured.
Advanced - Finally, we move into the advanced stage of the learning process. Your pronunciation becomes more accurate, you fully understand the fundamentals of grammar and can build on your own sentences without disrupting the structure of each, and, by now, you have amassed an impressive vocabulary. You will be able to function in society without help or embarrassment. Take your conversation with you to the faculty board meetings. You've moved past the "red in the face phase" and can now call yourself bilingual - proud owner of a second language.
From Novice to Advanced, I explained what is involved and what it takes to proceed to the next level. By now, you should have a clear perspective. Understanding the steps involved helps to prepare you for success in language learning. To learn more about myself or the advise I have to offer, a visit to my website should get you on your way.
