Portuguese is an important romance language. Some 2000 years ago, it originated from the Latin language spoken by the Romans of the Iberian Peninsula in northern Portugal aznd Galicia (today's Spain ). With a total of 210 million native speakers, Portuguese is ranked 6 th in the list of world's most spoken languages. It is spoken as the official language in Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola, Sao Tome e Principe, Guinea Bissau Mozambique and of course Portugal. Portuguese is also one of the official languages in East Timor , Macau , and Equatorial Guinea . Research conducted by UNESCO shows that Portuguese is the fastest growing international language in South America and Southern Africa .
Different Ways to Learn Portuguese
Portuguese is very easy to learn but it requires some time and practice. Portuguese can be mastered in many useful ways.
In this new world of technology, there are many Portuguese language software, CDs, DVDs, online books, tapes and courses available. So you can choose any of these tools to learn Portuguese. It is recommended that you go for Portuguese language software available at the www.rosettastone.com .
You can also find a professional Portuguese language teacher who gives private classes. Attending private classes or taking one-on-one language lessons provides you an opportunity to learn the language at you own rate.
Watch more and more Portuguese Television programs, movies or theater. Study Portuguese culture. This will help you to learn Portuguese quickly and effectively.
Another effective way of learning Portuguese is to make Portuguese speaking friends and interact with them in Portuguese. Also, try to think in Portuguese because will help you understand and speak the language well.
Benefits of Learning Portuguese
There are many benefits of learning portuguese, especially when it comes to breaking language barriers. Other than Portugal , there are countries that also speak Portuguese; these include United States , Brazil , Canada , India and some Southern African countries. So if you know how to speak Portuguese, it will always be a benefit when traveling to any of these countries. If you can speak Portuguese, you will have unlimited opportunities for employment in government agencies, the health care industry, business and law firms. Portuguese is also one of the official languages in the European Union and further highlights its importance on the world stage.
Free Resources on the Internet
If you are planning to learn Portuguese, the internet is the cheapest way to do that. At www.about.com you will find anything and everything regarding the Portuguese language. It is a huge resource with absolutely no cost; no sign up, no fee, no registration. You can search for online Portuguese lessons, courses to learn Portuguese, information on Portuguese culture, and much more.
Books to learn Portuguese Language at www.Amazon.com
Transparent Language - Portuguese
More Softwares to Learn Portuguese Language at www.Amazon.com