Complete Portuguese Course: Portuguese for Beginners Course Syllabus

Overview: This comprehensive beginner Portuguese course is designed to take you from zero to functional proficiency with a balanced focus on pronunciation, grammar, and real-life conversation. The curriculum spans approximately 6.25 hours of structured learning, divided into 8 modules that build progressively from basic sounds to practical dialogues. With clear explanations, native-speaker listening exercises, and shadowing practice, you'll gain the confidence to introduce yourself, navigate everyday situations, and continue advancing your skills. Lifetime access allows you to learn at your own pace, and a certificate of completion is awarded upon finishing the course.

Module 1: Pronunciation & Alphabet

Estimated time: 0.5 hours

• Portuguese alphabet overview
• Clear articulation of vowels vs. nasal sounds
• Liaison rules
• Practicing “ç,” “lh,” “nh,” and “rr”

Module 2: Greetings & Basic Conversations

Estimated time: 0.75 hours

• Saying “Olá,” “Como vai?,” “Prazer em conhecer”
• Formal vs. informal address (tu vs. você)
• Key courtesy phrases: por favor, obrigado/obrigada, com licença

Module 3: Nouns, Articles & Adjectives

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Definite and indefinite articles (o, a, os, as / um, uma, uns, umas)
• Gender and plural formation
• Adjective agreement in gender and number

Module 4: Present Tense Verbs & Sentence Structure

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Conjugating regular –ar, –er, –ir verbs
• Essential irregulars: ser, estar, ter, ir
• Forming affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences

Module 5: Past & Future Tenses

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Pretérito perfeito forms for common verbs
• Pretérito imperfeito forms for common verbs
• Simple future tense (futuro do presente)
• Expressing plans

Module 6: Everyday Vocabulary & Dialogues

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Numbers, days, months, time expressions
• Family, food, directions
• Role-play: ordering in a café, asking for directions, making appointments

Module 7: Listening & Speaking Practice

Estimated time: 0.75 hours

• Native-speed dialogues with comprehension exercises
• Shadowing drills
• Fill-in-the-blank listening quizzes

Module 8: Practical Review & Next Steps

Estimated time: 0.5 hours

• Mixed-module quiz
• Writing prompts
• Speaking assignment
• Resources for continued learning: Portuguese media, apps, and language partners

Prerequisites

• No prior knowledge of Portuguese required
• Basic English proficiency to follow instructions
• Access to a device with audio playback

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Read and pronounce Portuguese sounds including vowels, nasal diphthongs, and “ão”
• Introduce yourself and engage in basic conversations using polite and formal speech
• Conjugate regular and key irregular verbs in present, past, and future tenses
• Apply essential grammar such as articles, noun-adjective agreement, prepositions, and negation
• Use practical vocabulary in contexts like travel, dining, family, and daily routines