Teaching Portuguese from Portugal, Europe for students of all levels. Adults and under 16.

Find out more about Joaquim

• Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

   I speak Portuguese from Portugal fluently because I was born in Portugal, and my passion for communication with different cultures.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  The historical character that I would have to mention is Fernando Pessoa, he died in 1935, but his influence is very much alive in modern Portuguese culture.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behavior in the language that you particularly like?

  I can think of two typical words that reflect the quintessence of Portuguese culture and spirit, its Cafézinho and Desenrascanço.
  Cafézinho literally means "little coffee" and it's used both to describe a small, strong cup of coffee and as a casual gesture of hospitality.
  Desenrascanço has no literal translation to English but it can be described as "creative problem-solving under pressure with a humorous spin"

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  The shared language across continents: Beyond Portugal, over 250 million people speak Portuguese-in Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé & Príncipe, East Timor, and more. Your skills transfer to these cultures, too.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  The main difficulty is the connected speech, vowel reduction and nasal vowels. To help the process of learning its recommended focused listening and practice speech with natives, culture anchors, immersion and repetition its essential.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  Anedota: Gravidez vs. Gravidade
  
  (Pregnancy vs. Gravity / Seriousness)
  
  Durante uma viagem a Portugal,
  
  (During a trip to Portugal)
  
  um pastor estrangeiro - muito simpático, mas ainda a aprender português -
  
  (a foreign pastor - very friendly, but still learning Portuguese)
  
  foi convidado a dar uma pequena palavra numa igreja local, nos arredores de Lisboa.
  
  (was invited to give a short speech at a local church near Lisbon).
  
  Antes do culto começar,
  
  (Before the service began),
  
  viu uma senhora sorridente com a mão pousada na barriga.
  
  (he saw a smiling lady with her hand resting on her belly).
  
  Alguém lhe disse que ela estava grávida,
  
  (Someone told him that she was pregnant),
  
  e ele, entusiasmado por praticar o seu português, quis ser gentil.
  
  (and he, excited to practice his Portuguese, wanted to be kind).
  
  Com um grande sorriso e confiança na sua pronúncia, disse alto para todos ouvirem:
  
  (With a big smile and confidence in his pronunciation, he said out loud for everyone to hear):
  
  - Parabéns, minha senhora, por essa gravidade! Que Deus abençoe este momento tão especial!
  
  ("Congratulations, madam, for this gravity! May God bless this special moment!")
  
  A sala ficou em silêncio.
  
  (The room fell silent.)
  
  A senhora olhou para ele, confusa.
  
  (The lady looked at him, confused.)
  
  Um senhor atrás quase se engasgou a rir.
  
  (A man in the back nearly choked from laughing.)
  
  E uma jovem tentou disfarçar a gargalhada com um ataque de tosse.
  
  (And a young woman tried to hide her laughter with a coughing fit.)
  
  Foi então que alguém discretamente sussurrou ao pastor:
  
  (Then someone discreetly whispered to the pastor):
  
  - Pastor… "gravidade" é o que mantém os pés no chão… ou uma situação séria. A palavra que procura é "gravidez".
  
  ("Pastor… 'gravidade' is what keeps your feet on the ground… or means a serious situation. The word you're looking for is 'gravidez' - pregnancy.")
  
  Corado até às orelhas, o pastor corrigiu-se de imediato -
  
  (Red to the ears, the pastor corrected himself immediately -)
  
  e a igreja inteira explodiu numa gargalhada calorosa.
  
  (and the entire church burst into warm laughter).
  
  Desde esse dia, ele nunca mais confundiu gravidez com gravidade!
  
  (From that day on, he never confused pregnancy with gravity again!)

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  A few years ago, I spent two unforgettable weeks in Madeira with my family, exploring both Funchal and the golden island of Porto Santo.
  I chatted with locals in small markets, listened to island expressions and idioms, and noticed subtle pronunciation differences unique to Madeira.
  Today, I bring those insights into my lessons. I help students go beyond grammar, giving them the tools to understand how people really speak in Portugal, not just what the textbook says.

• What makes you a Superprof in language?

  I create personalized, structured lessons that meet your student's goals using authentic vocabulary, grammar, and expressions from Portugal, not Brazil.
  I explain how Portuguese is actually used in real life using role-play, dialogues, and real-life scenarios (ordering coffee, renting an apartment, etc.).
  And I correct gently but clearly and explain why something is right or wrong.