Duolingo

Firstly I’d like to apologise. I haven’t been posting as much in the last week or so and there are a number of reasons.

It’s quite hectic at the moment with building work deadlines on our property and it is the school holidays too. Having a sit down and a moment to myself has been rare, but when I do I often look past my phone screen to admire the views. However, my phone is never too far away and when I’m using it I’m trying to get back into using the Duolingo language learning app.

Back in the UK I would use this app for at least 30 minutes a day and it really helped with my Portuguese language. Duolingo, though, only teaches Brazilian Portuguese. It didn’t deter me. First of all the app is free with ads and I find it the most engaging of language learning apps. I’ve tried plenty. It’s only when I arrived in Portugal and people would correct my accent and grammar that I decided that continuing with the Brazilian format wasn’t helpful to me.

But I’ve felt the need to start again. The main reason for this is I now understand when someone is speaking in Brazilian or European Portuguese and, therefore, become much more adaptable in my own verbal communication. It was 5 months yesterday that we landed on Portuguese soil and the locals in this central part of the country don’t speak any English. That has helped me in learning European Portuguese quickly. After all, language is developed through a need for us humans to survive.

So seeing as I can now differentiate between the two types of Portuguese I don’t feel that the Duolingo app will be an issue.

It is a bit like American English and British. Diaper and nappy, trash and bin. It’s different, but still easily understood. I mean, I lived in the north east of England for a few years and struggled to understand the local phrases much more than when I’ve spoken to an American!

So there we go. I’ve finished my coffee and the sun is going down. I’ve had my 20 minutes peace and I’d best get back to the family. I didn’t get to do Duolingo this time, but I’m glad I checked in with you all.

Cuidad.