No More Grammar! – How You Should Learn to Speak European Portuguese in 2026

Was learning a Romance language like Portuguese one of your New Year’s resolutions? How are you getting along?

At Portuguese with Carla & Friends, we are rooting for your success. But we also know that a staggering 94% of people do not stick to their resolutions in the long run. So we want to help!

For example, almost everyone starts with vocabulary when learning a new language. You choose one of the many language learning apps out there and start memorizing new words. But that only works for so long.

That is where most learners turn to classes and textbooks. They might try different methods, like Rosetta Stone, enroll in a language exchange program, or search for language partners. Above all, you need to learn the structure and the grammar of a language to grow your language level. Or do you?

After years of learning how to teach languages, we have developed a science-proven method that we want to share with you. This approach has helped dozens of people learn Portuguese from Portugal, and it can help you too. But here is the kick – it is (almost) grammarless.

The No Grammar Approach, and Why it Works

Not studying grammar might seem like a recipe for disaster. But there is a surprising logic behind it. In fact, our experience shows that students who try to “understand” every aspect of phrase structure progress much more slowly.

The truth is that there is a difference between consciously knowing the rules of a language and being able to speak it fluently. Focusing your efforts on memorizing grammar rules as a primary means of learning a language is just not helpful. How so?

Start by exploring the science behind not studying grammar when learning Portuguese.

The Science

In linguistic studies, it is common to examine patients who have had some sort of brain trauma that affected a portion of the brain. Other times, researchers focus on individuals with language disorders. These studies shine light on how the human brain processes languages.

For example, you might have heard of aphasia, a disorder linked to brain damage. One study showed that explicit knowledge of syntax can remain intact despite impaired fluent language use. In it, people with agrammatic (Broca’s) aphasia performed better on grammaticality judgment tasks than on sentence comprehension or production tasks.

Another study revealed dissociations between fluency and grammatical production. Some of the testees retained grammatical knowledge even when their speech production was nonfluent or impaired. This showed that grammatical competence and everyday production rely on different brain processes.

Of course, there is some benefit in knowing about the grammar. After all, it is the blueprint of a language. This understanding helps especially with language skills like reading and writing. Still, put too much focus on it and you might be wasting your energies. Explore more about how our brains process and learn languages.

More on How Our Brains Work

Take children in their preschool ages. During first-language acquisition, they commonly overapply grammatical rules. A common example would be the use of forms like “eated” instead of “ate,” which shows that the child has internalized the general past-tense rule but not yet the irregular exceptions.

Although adults often correct these errors, their feedback has little effect until years later. Hence, explicit correction does not immediately reshape the internal grammar guiding speech. Instead, children need sufficient exposure to irregular forms, which typically happens around the age of five.

So there is a difference between conscious knowledge about language and actual fluency. This study, also available in Portuguese, shows exactly that. But what does that mean in practice?

How to Go Beyond The Beginner Level

As you saw, there is a considerable difference between the knowledge you are aware of and the knowledge you can apply. The first one you acquire through studying. What about the second one?

In one word: exposure. You need to consume as much content in your target language as possible. In fact, you can say exposure will be your new best friend when learning a new language. Your brain is built to process and learn languages, so it will automatically pick up on patterns.

With time, you will start to know how to conjugate verbs and build phrases instinctively. It does not mean you will never have to study. But it will give you an incredible advantage.

Additionally, whenever you study, you will need a period of consolidation. During this period, you will exercise and apply what you learned. Practicing will be essential to build and maintain your skills.

The Journey – An Almost Grammarless Approach to European Portuguese

The science is clear: learning the structure of a language is important, but acquiring it instinctively is what will get you the best results. That is the principle behind our European Portuguese course – The Journey.

It has interactive lessons that include listening comprehension, listening practice, writing, and speaking exercises. Completing this course corresponds to the level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). But many of the topics approached reach up to a C2 level.

Discover how we apply these ideas in our teaching style to help you learn faster and better. Plus, uncover how The Journey differs from all the courses you can find out there.

Immersing Yourself in the Language

As explained above, our teaching method is based on exposure. Surrounding yourself with the Portuguese language is the best way to improve your skills. That is why we filmed more than 80 induction videos.

These short clips expose you to the language as it is spoken by native Portuguese speakers. They also introduce you to the local culture and present several of the most iconic landmarks in Portugal. You get practical conversations with native speakers in real-life scenarios.

Focus on European Portuguese Pronunciation

We realize the importance of exposure. So we also give much focus to pronunciation. As you probably understood by now, there are many differences between European and Brazilian Portuguese. Because there are many more Brazilian Portuguese speakers, there is much more content available in that variant.

In The Journey, we focus on European Portuguese pronunciation from the start. You learn the alphabet, explore each phoneme of the language, and practice them in a variety of exercises. The pronunciation emphasis is one of the most appreciated aspects of The Journey.

For example, one of our members, Matthew, said: “I do love the focus on pronunciation. I really appreciate how much time I can spend drilling phonetics. I have noticed improvements in my ability to replicate some of the more difficult sounds.”

A Variety of Language Learning Strategies

Variety is another key aspect when learning a foreign language. A 2018 study, for instance, found that learners who used a broader range of strategies tended to have higher proficiency. Curiously, they also had a better attitude toward learning.

With that in mind, we developed a series of video sketches and quizzes tailored to cover specific points. In The Journey, you will engage with a huge variety of exercises that focus on different skills. Each of your Portuguese lessons includes targeted assignments. This way, we help you build a strong foundation in the language.

These methods also help you gain the confidence you need to make Portuguese your own language. For example, we have also created a personal on-site flashcard deck that matches the best language learning apps. This means that you get a personalized platform that updates automatically as you complete the course’s interactive lessons.

You can practice the words and phrases you choose, whenever, wherever, and for however long you want to. One of our students, Charles, said about it: “I love the vocabulary builder, and it has been a huge help.”

Staying Motivated and Consistent

One of the greatest difficulties for learners is staying motivated and being consistent with their studies. That is why we included a variety of community features, including forums. Through them, you can connect with other learners on the platform, share exercises you have completed, and get extra feedback.

Recently, we have also added a brand new feature to The Journey – the Learning Snapshot. Whenever you log into your account, you will open your personal dashboard. There, you will find several useful links as well as a section dedicated to your learning progress.

It shows you a real-time picture of your personal development in specific areas like comprehension, verb mastery, and more. This tool was designed to track your growth and give personalized suggestions. Thus, you will not only be aware of your performance, but you will also know what to do to keep improving.

5 Steps to Learn Portuguese With The Journey

The Journey is an all-in-one platform to teach, guide, and support you as you reach fluency in Portuguese. But how can you ensure the best results?

After working with learners of all ages and backgrounds for quite some time, we have noticed a pattern. There are a few things that students who reach their goals faster do, and we are going to share them with you.

Here is the pattern we have seen in these successful learners:

1. They stay consistent: They log in, complete video and audio lessons, and complete topics regularly.
2. They do not skip lessons: The course was designed to help you progress sustainably. Thus, respect your own pace. What you are learning now will be a stepping stone to what you will study tomorrow.
3. They make the best of the consolidation period: As you have seen above, consolidation is crucial for what you learn to stick in your mind and become practical knowledge.
4. They don’t strive for perfection: Perfectionism is your enemy when learning a new language. It can cause you to spend too much time on a specific section, leaving you frustrated. So do your best with what you have and move on.
5. They expose themselves to the language every day: They listen to music, podcasts, and audiobooks. They also watch TV shows and movies, and read articles and magazines. If you live in Portugal, you can try visiting your local library. Exposure in and outside the course is your best friend. And do not worry if you do not know any Portuguese media! We have an exposure section full of content curated specifically for our members.

Start Learning Portuguese Today!

Most people associate learning a new language with reading massive textbooks and memorizing verb conjugations. But science shows that you can do it differently and get better results! Yes, you can learn European Portuguese while having fun by using the right techniques and resources.

At Portuguese with Carla & Friends, we teach Portuguese from Portugal. You can find plenty of free content to improve all the language skills on our YouTube channel and website. But our course, The Journey, is full of premium features that can take you to an upper intermediate level faster and with less effort.

With The Journey, staying motivated and consistent becomes easy, even with a busy routine. It is user-friendly and built to immerse you in the beautiful language and culture of Portugal. You explore it according to your learning style and practice speaking Portuguese as spoken by Portuguese people.

This way, you develop your understanding, expand your Portuguese vocabulary, improve your listening skills, and practice speaking, writing, and reading. If you are consistent with your learning, you will soon be speaking Portuguese.