Language Immersion Courses in Portugal

Language is the key to understanding a culture that might be different from one’s own. Language does not constitute the whole of it, but certainly helps in getting a feel of the nuances and the core elements of a country and its culture.
 
Portugal, geographically located on the south western extremity of Europe, like the rest of the continent, has its own formal language structure. The official language of Portugal is Portuguese, which has a rich history spanning over centuries. Portuguese, however, is not spoken in this country alone. Portuguese is truly a international language and is considered the official lingua franca in over eight countries- including nations as far as Brazil, Mozambique and East Timor! Hence there is a growing need for a holistic method for learning Portuguese through the varied Portuguese language immersion courses in Portugal. These courses are imparted by some of the finest Portuguese language schools for international or foreign students in the country.
 
The Portuguese language is one of the Romance languages and it comes from a medieval form of Spanish. Currently there are over 272 million Portuguese speakers around the world, with the majority of this living in Brazil. Also, spoken in certain African and South-East Asian countries, it is the fifth most common language in the world today.
 
Linguistically, Portuguese and Spanish are quite similar, owing to the proximity of Spain and Portugal. Although it is spoken in various countries, the accents and some pronunciations may differ from country to country.
 
Higher education in Portugal attracts a lot of international students into the country. Some of the best educational institutes of Europe are located in Portugal, especially in the capital Lisbon. This in turn, has provided a lot of international exposure to the Portuguese education system. The large number of international students who come to attend Portuguese universities, often wish to learn Portuguese; to cater to this growing need, a gamut of Portuguese studies courses, language schools and Portuguese immersion programs have sprung up.
 
Learn Portuguese in Portugal
 
Most students or professionals might feel out of place in a new cultural scenario- language being a major hindrance. Although English is an international language and most travelers do have a basic knowledge of English, people who visit Portugal temporarily or for permanent settlement should certainly possess some understanding of Portuguese. If these international students are from countries like Brazil, Angola, Guinea-Bissau or other erstwhile Portuguese colonies, it is somewhat easier for them to grasp the intricacies of the new culture. But then as the economies have opened up globally, a lot of Asian or American students are also coming to Portugal. Designed especially for them, are the Portuguese language immersion courses offered by the Portugal language schools.
 
Unlike a second language classes (conventional ones), Portuguese immersion courses are more holistic and wholesome as far as understanding of the foreign language (Portuguese in this case) is concerned. The core focus in these specific classes is to teach the language from its original setting. This practically means that international students get a true feel of Portuguese – including the language, the daily usage of it and how it correlates with the culture and history of the country. Hundreds of foreign citizens are admitted at these language classes every year, besides their specific educational courses in Portugal.