Best online language learning resource

[Normandy144]

Hi, I'm interested in learning Portuguese and can't find any group lessons near me and don't particularly want to fork out for 1 on 1 personal tuition. Can anyone recommend an online app i can use? Bonus points if you can recommend a kids language app for my children so we can all speak and understand family when we visit.

Duolingo is not bad - free and user friendly. Appeals,to kids. It has its limitations but OK as a starting point. You can download the app and start now!

Depending on the age of your DC you could also try sourcing Disney films with Portuguese language. Children just watch the pictures and soak up the words.

Are you looking for Euro or Brazilian?

If it's Euro, Michel Thomas Foundation Portuguese is very good. There's also an advanced course and (I think) a vocabulary builder. Not an app, it's all audio, but the method really is very good.

Compliment this with Duolingo to increase your vocabulary.

Euro not Brazilian. I will look those both up. So is Duolingo just Brazilian then? Will i be understood in Portugal? All the in laws are European portuguese so don't need to learn the Brazilian version.

There are differences in grammar and vocabulary but the biggest difference is accent and pronunciation. I learned Brazilian Portuguese at uni and still struggle to understand people from Portugal as they swallow the endings of words. I’d be ok once I got used to it I guess. But the other way round is easier. You’ll be understood fine.

Not sure if there’s a euro option in Duolingo.

There’s a good explanation here of the differences:

www.mezzoguild.com/portuguese-and-brazilian/

There are also people offering language classes on Skype - cheaply. You could listen to the free stuff and movies etc and then have a couple of in-line lessons just to practice what you've learnt. You wouldn't need an experienced (good => expensive) teacher for that, just anybody who can speak the language and correct pronunciation.