Brazilian Portuguese Level Structure
In the Portuguese Language Centre our courses are divided into 7 levels: Beginners, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-Intermediate, Advanced and Pre-fluency. Each one of these levels is further divided into sublevels. The high-level objectives of each level and their corresponding sub-levels can be found below.
If you are interested in learning Brazilian Portuguese but are unsure of your level then please feel free to contact us to arrange a free level test.
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Beginners
The Beginners level comprises four stages: Beginners L1, L2, L3 and L4. Each stage is one term long (one class one evening per week for 8 weeks).
This level starts with students who have not studied Portuguese before (Beginners Level 1) and at the end students will be able to understand and use familiar everyday expressions and basic phrases with simple structures using verbs in the present tenses.
They will also be able to introduce themselves and others; ask and answer questions about personal details such as where someone lives, people they know, things they have and their routines and hobbies.Â
Students can interact in Portuguese in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help. They will be introduced to the past tense at the end of the level.
If you’re not a complete beginner then contact us for a free level test.
Following the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference, at this level you are at A1.
Elementary
The Elementary level comprises three stages: Elementary L1, L2 and L3 (8 weeks each).Â
At the end of this level you will be able to understand and make more structured sentences; pose questions and reply in the present, past and future tenses using regular and irregular verbs and using adequate vocabulary to talk about the past and a range of themes.
To start in this level you will need to have completed the Beginners level or be placed at Elementary level through our level test. Please click here if you need to book a free level test.
Following the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), in this level you are at A1/A2.
Pre-Intermediate
The Pre-intermediate level is usually completed in 4 terms. (8 weeks each)
To start in this level you will need to have completed the Elementary level or have been placed at Pre-Intermediate through our level test. Please click here if you need to book a free level test.Â
At the end of this level you will be able to use the language in a more structured way and be able to use more tenses like the Future, the Conditional and the Future Perfect of regular and irregular verbs. Students will be able to talk about predictions and plans; engage in debates and present arguments as well as learn vocabulary on a variety of topics such as health, travel and work.
Following the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), in this level you are at A2/B1.
Intermediate
The Intermediate level is usually completed in 4 terms. (8 weeks each)
At the end of the level you will be able to understand complex sentences and frequently used expressions. You will be able to talk about previous personal experiences and related consequences as well as giving recommendations and advice. Students can talk about facts and experiences using reported speech and more complex vocabulary using links between sentences which make communication more natural. You can use the four past tenses with minimum hesitation.
To start in this level you will need to have completed the Pre-Intermediate level or have been placed at Intermediate level through our level test. Please click here if you need to book a free level test.Â
Following the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), in this level you are at B1.
Upper-Intermediate
The Upper-Intermediate level is usually completed in 3 terms. (8 weeks each).
To start in this level you will need to have completed the Intermediate level or have been placed at Upper-Intermediate level through our level test. Please click here if you need to book a free level test.
By the end of the upper-intermediate level you will be able to understand and talk about hypothetical situations in the past, present and future as well as engaging in longer and more natural debates. Students can write argumentative compositions about imaginary situations and hypothetical questions and have gained more naturality in speech construction and intonation.
Following the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), in this level you are at B2.
Advanced
This level is divided into 3 sub-stages: Advanced low, Advanced Mid and Advanced High, each of which is usually completed in 4 terms i.e. 12 terms in total. (12 terms of 8 weeks each).
At the end of the Advanced level students have a great understanding of the language and can hold discussions with confidence. You will work on good pronunciation and use a more natural intonation as well as making good use of the language structure, tenses and grammar points, making only minor mistakes. Students learn popular sayings, proverbs, idiomatic expressions and slang, bringing their speech towards fluency.
To start in this level you will need to have completed the Upper-Intermediate level or have been placed at Advanced level through our level test. Please click here if you need to book a free level test.Â
Following the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), in this level you are at B2/C1.
Pre-Fluency
To start in this level you will need to have completed the Advanced level or have been placed at Pre-fluency level through our level test. Please click here if you need to book a free level test.
Students at pre-fluency level can be said to have a good command of the language and understand almost all linguistic structures. You are pursuing your studies in Portuguese to maintain your level comparable to an educated native speaker.
Following the guidelines of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), in this level you are at C1/C2.