Comments on: The Myth of the English-Speaking Portuguese https://the-ramble.net/2022/02/22/the-myth-of-the-english-speaking-portuguese/ Lisa and John and the world. Mon, 18 Jul 2022 19:14:45 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 By: John https://the-ramble.net/2022/02/22/the-myth-of-the-english-speaking-portuguese/#comment-157 Mon, 18 Jul 2022 19:14:45 +0000 https://the-ramble.net/?p=2462#comment-157 In reply to David.

Aw, Lisa and I are both so honored when we hear that we’re actually helping anyone, thank you! Since there’s no money involved here, we get paid in admiration heheheheehhe

I agree about the language immersion. I use the MemRise app (this is not necessarily an endorsement, there are plenty of tools out there, but I do like it) and it has pronunciation modules where you speak into the mic, it is uploaded, and they assess how you are doing. I would have the *hardest* time with those modules when I was getting started in the US. I didn’t really even notice until just a few days ago, but I basically never fail a single prompt in those modules anymore – being here and absorbing the language every single day, even when I don’t understand it, is clearly benefiting me! I even get told ” fala muito bem!” on a regular basis. . . which to be clear, is not a good thing. When people hear that my accent isn’t terrible they assume my *grammar* must be pretty far along as well, which it most assuredly is not! Lisa has advised me to screw up a little more on purpose just to set the expectations lower 😀

]]> By: David https://the-ramble.net/2022/02/22/the-myth-of-the-english-speaking-portuguese/#comment-154 Mon, 18 Jul 2022 14:32:34 +0000 https://the-ramble.net/?p=2462#comment-154 Living in a foreign land required some familiarity with the language, culture and customs. As to your statement about high school French, I took three years of it, and possessed just rudimentary skills, certainly not enough to speak confidently. 10 years after high school, I found myself in the Air Force living in Belgium. I lived far enough from my work that I was essentially in a 100% French speaking environment outside of work. I was forced to immerse in the language to survive. It was amazing how quickly the high school French came back, and I developed the ability to understand the spoken language without having to translate it into English in my head. That, to me, is when you have truly begun to master the language to a level where you have some ability to function in that society (English is my second language, so having learned it as a child helped tremendously). I’m currently starting the process of learning Portuguese. The biggest challenge is the pronunciation and how quickly Portuguese people speak. I listen to Portuguese radio and watch online language videos and news broadcasts trying to understand as much as I can. I totally believe in the immersion method of sink or swim as far as language goes. We are starting the process of thinking about theD7 visa, still about a couple years from actually doing it. But reading your blog gives me more confidence we can do this.

]]> By: John https://the-ramble.net/2022/02/22/the-myth-of-the-english-speaking-portuguese/#comment-136 Thu, 03 Mar 2022 23:02:02 +0000 https://the-ramble.net/?p=2462#comment-136 In reply to Maria del Pilar Singleton.

Oo, an actual translator! Maria I’m going to admit total novice-hood here and admit that the thought had never even crossed my mind; dang that’s a good idea. I’ll need to suss one out now so there won’t be a scramble when the time comes and we really need them!

I’m so glad you’re enjoying the read; you’ve written a lot less than us and we’re getting a lot from you, too. Almost seems unfair. 😀

]]> By: John https://the-ramble.net/2022/02/22/the-myth-of-the-english-speaking-portuguese/#comment-135 Thu, 03 Mar 2022 22:53:51 +0000 https://the-ramble.net/?p=2462#comment-135 In reply to Scott D.

I mean, the post says several times that we’re talking about outside of Lisbon and the Algarve or that the stories we have are only our own. So yes, I’m sure that where ever “here” is for you is working fine for people with limited English, but that’s exactly the distinction we were making here. I guess we have a ways to go in the writing-clarity department. 😀

]]> By: Maria del Pilar Singleton https://the-ramble.net/2022/02/22/the-myth-of-the-english-speaking-portuguese/#comment-134 Sat, 26 Feb 2022 08:15:09 +0000 https://the-ramble.net/?p=2462#comment-134 John. I truly enjoyed your very accurate deprecation of the realities of coming to a country where your primary language is not the one spoken. It is our responsibility to maneuver both the culture and language challenges. An additional option that David and I use is hiring an interpreter for those situations that are critical. Enjoy you Ramble very much.

]]> By: Scott D https://the-ramble.net/2022/02/22/the-myth-of-the-english-speaking-portuguese/#comment-133 Wed, 23 Feb 2022 14:01:54 +0000 https://the-ramble.net/?p=2462#comment-133 That’s the complete opposite of my experience. I can think of only 2 or 3 instances where someone did not speak any English in important situations. I don’t think it’s a myth here where I live.

Yes, I can understand if you’re out of the major cities with tourists or expat populations, I can see that would be true. But here? I met someone who has lived here 11 years and doesn’t speak Portuguese. My neighbors have been here 3 years and don’t speak more than 3 words. It’s not that hard to imagine that being true.

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