If you’ve been following my journey here at Roam Away From Home, you already know how much moving abroad to Portugal has changed my world. But you also know that moving to a new country comes with its fair share of hurdles—and the absolute biggest one for most people moving abroad to Portugal? The language barrier. Thankfully, I had a secret weapon before I even stepped foot on the plane.
Before my big move, my mom came across an incredible online program for learning Portuguese that was instrumental in helping me assimilate, handle daily life, and truly fall in love with the culture. Fast forward to today, and I am so excited to sit down in person for a chat with the brilliant mind behind that very program: Anita, the founder of Portuguese with Anita.
We recently caught up over lunch in the beautiful, traditional town of Loulé to talk about travel, fighting the “too old to learn” myth, and how you can master European Portuguese without losing your mind over boring grammar drills.
From a 10-Year-Old’s Dream to 6,000+ Global Students
Anita isn’t just someone who decided to start teaching on a whim; she’s a qualified teacher who’s been doing this for over 20 years.
I was always very determined,” Anita laughed as we discussed her background. “I was about 10 years old when I met a teacher who was just beautiful inside and out. The way she took care of our class made me want to be exactly like her.”
By the time she finished university, a happy accident led her to teach small groups of expats. She quickly realized that the conventional style of sitting in a classroom and memorizing a blackboard didn’t work for everyone—including herself.
I needed visual elements and interaction to learn something. So, I became that type of teacher as well… You would always have something to do outdoors, a game to play, or a roleplay. Multi-touch points of learning instead of just memorizing.”
That exact philosophy is what makes it so easy to learn Portuguese online through her platform today.
The Secret to Staying Motivated? Connect it to Your Passion
One of the biggest takeaways from our chat was how we, as adults, learn best when we are relaxed. When you force yourself to stare at vocabulary lists that don’t apply to your real life, your brain shuts down.
Anita’s top tip for Portuguese learners? Incorporate the language into things you already love.
- Love fitness? Join a local gym or take a Pilates class with a Portuguese instructor.
- Love volunteering? Get involved with local animal shelters or green initiatives (like I do with Lagos Mais Verde).
- Love food? Skip the massive corporate supermarkets where checkout is entirely automated. Instead, visit the little grocery shop around the corner or the local Saturday farmer’s markets.
When you shop at small markets, you are also helping local producers,” Anita shares. “You get to be friends with them, and you learn through story time! Portuguese culture is very welcoming and friendly.”
How Do Native Speakers Really View Language Learners?
I hear from so many immigrants that their number one fear is opening their mouth and making a mistake in public. But Anita totally shares that this fear should be replaced when you understand how much Portuguese speakers appreciate that you’re learning. .
When I asked her how native speakers perceive foreigners trying to speak the language, she answered with one powerful word: Respect.
In one word, respect. Because that shows you do care about the country and about us. It shows you really want to adapt. I feel honored when I go to the post office and see the person ahead of me trying to speak to the lady working there.”
And if a local tries to switch to English to “help” you? Anita’s advice is simple: Insist, insist, insist! Give them a warm smile and humbly say, “Podemos falar em português? Quero praticar!” (Can we speak in Portuguese? I want to practice!). Usually, they are just excited to practice their English, but they will happily switch back to help you learn.
Myth Busting: “I’m Too Old to Learn Portuguese”
Living in the Algarve, I constantly hear retirees say they’ve missed their window to learn a new language. If that’s you, Anita has some inspiration that will completely change your mind.
“Last Monday, I met up with my student, Betty. She is from the States, doesn’t live here yet, and has nobody at home to practice with,” Anita shared. “She went through all my courses, all the way to the advanced level. She has a beautiful pronunciation and ordered our entire lunch fully in Portuguese.”
The part that surprises most people? Betty is 78 years old. Anita has several students in their late 70s (shoutout to Neil, another one of her amazing students!) who are thriving.
In fact, learning later in life has a massive hidden benefit: older adults often have more confidence and simply don’t care about making mistakes anymore. They just embrace the journey!
Going Off the Beaten Path in Portugal
If you want to experience the true soul of Portugal, you have to step outside the heavily English-speaking tourist hubs like Albufeira.
During our interview, the traditional church bells of Loulé started chiming right on cue. Loulé is one of Anita’s favorite places in the Algarve because of its narrow historic streets, local festivals, the castle, and the bustling Saturday morning markets.
But if you want her absolute, all-time favorite destination in the country? You’ll have to catch a flight to São Miguel Island in the Azores. Often compared as the “Hawaii of Portugal,” it’s a volcanic paradise of endless green trails, massive craters, and stunning waterfalls. It’s so magical that Anita regularly hosts immersive, in-person language retreats there for her students.
Ready to Start Your Journey? (Limited Time Discount & Live Event!)
If you stumbled upon this article when looking for Portuguese with Anita reviews online, you’ll see a common theme: this isn’t just a textbook course. It’s a thriving global group of over 6,000 Portuguese learners.
When you join her world, you get lifetime access to a complete self-paced journey from absolute beginner to C2 fluency. But you also get daily WhatsApp support directly from Anita, a 24/7 conversation room to practice with fellow students, private Telegram access, and fun community Zoom events like quiz nights and book clubs.
⏳ Exclusive Launch Window Closing June 7th!
Anita’s ultimate flagship product—the MasterCourses Bundle (covering Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels)—is currently open for enrollment, but the launch window closes, June 7th! If you want to secure the ultimate value for your language journey, click the link below to check out the current promotions and grab a Portuguese with Anita discount before the doors close.
👉 Click Here to Explore the MasterCourses Bundle & Start Learning Today!
🗓️ Join Our Free Live Webinar on June 18th!
Can’t get enough? Anita and I are teaming up to host a FREE live Portuguese webinar for beginners on YouTube! We will be going live on June 18th at 7:00 PM Portugal/London time (2:00 PM EST / 11:00 AM PST). Whether you want to learn the absolute basics, practice your pronunciation, or just hang out with us live, we would love to see you there. Mark your calendars, and we’ll see you soon!
Tchau for now!
Please note: I did not get paid to do this interview or create this article. If you do decide to buy Anita’s course through the links on my page, I will receive a commission at no cost to you (I actually get exclusive discounts thanks to Anita!). I think if you watch the full interview, you’ll see just why I continue to work closely with Anita
Leave a Reply