Our approach is built around three core competencies that we consider essential to learning and using a language:

Linguistic competence
This refers to an understanding of the formal aspects of the language, including vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, spelling and discourse structures. It provides the foundation for understanding and producing spoken and written language, and serves as the basis for developing other communicative competencies.

Interactional competence
This is the ability to use language effectively in real-life communication. Beyond knowing grammatical rules, it involves interpreting intentions, negotiating meaning and adapting to different contexts, people and communication goals. It helps learners build the confidence they need to take part in a wide range of social interactions in Portuguese.

Intercultural competence
This involves developing the awareness and sensitivity needed to understand and respect different cultural perspectives. Through exploring Brazilian traditions, values, linguistic varieties and society, learners develop a broader understanding of Portuguese as both a social practice and a cultural expression. This encourages more thoughtful, respectful and meaningful interactions.

While linguistic competence focuses on how the language works, interactional and intercultural competence expand learning by placing Brazilian Portuguese within the contexts where it is actually used. That is why our conversation circles explore topics that go beyond the language itself, including history, the environment, popular traditions, Brazil’s cultural and geographic diversity, the arts and everyday life.

Practising Portuguese with us is also an opportunity to discover and understand Brazil in all its diversity