This website is just a little hobby really.  Although there are some adverts on it to cover the running costs, the intention of this site is not to make a profit.  To earn a living, I develop software (mainly nBill - a billing component for the Joomla Content Management System), and provide Joomla hosting services.

I am married, and our daughter was born in February '07.

Why did I decide to learn Portuguese?  My wife and I are Jehovah's Witnesses, and we volunteered to learn Portuguese so that we could talk to our ever increasing number of Portuguese neighbours about the Bible. 

Most Portuguese people are nominal Catholics, and some are very devout.  In general they have a great respect for the Bible, and we enjoy talking to them in their own language - they are often surprised and pleased that someone has gone to the trouble of learning their language, especially as many speak little English (with satellite TV, working for gangmasters, and a thriving Portuguese community including shops and pubs, it is not always necessary for them to learn English).

How did I learn Portuguese?  I bought a second-hand linguaphone course, which was the main tool I used for learning the language.  Before long, a Portuguese group was formed among Jehovah's Witnesses in our town (Peterborough), and we have meetings every week in Portuguese - so we get plenty of practise at meetings and in our ministry, and we have lots of Portuguese-speaking friends and Portuguese literature to read. Update: As of 1st September 2009, we are no longer in the Portuguese group of JWs, but have returned to the English ministry for various reasons.

How did I find time to write the content of this website?  I wrote the contents of this site as a document while I was on holiday in the Algarve (ok, it might be a bit sad to spend holiday time working like that, but I enjoy writing, ok?!).  It wasn't intended to be a website to start with - it was more for my own benefit really, to document what I had learned and highlight any gaps in my understanding.  One or two friends also wanted a copy, but while on holiday again a couple of years later I decided to build it into a website so that I could keep it up-to-date more easily.  Since then it has grown a bit, and I've been able to add more features (like sound files and photos).

My other interests include classical guitar, photography, films ('movies'), weight-lifting, and various other things that I don't get time for these days!

Comments

Written by Julie on 2007-02-18 22:40:23 IP: 72.140.255.101 WOW, thanks for this web site. I googled and ended up here. It's a great piece of info and very helpful. I am learning Portuguese with the intention of moving to Mozambique. Keep it up. Congrats on the baby coming in March. Tchau!

GREAT JOB!! Written by KK on 2007-02-26 19:50:31 IP: 207.10.54.33 This is honestly one of the most selfless, amazing sites I've seen on the web. You are providing such an incredible resource for others! I am currently in the process of learning Castellano, but will later pick up Portuguese. Your techniques are globally useful even for those of us who are not yet ready to begin learning the language.    Bravo & Kudos!! Best of luck to you & your wife, and congratulations on the new addition to the family!

Awesome !!! Written by Saad Suleman on 2007-03-08 11:25:10 IP: 202.133.74.57 I have found this website to be truely amazing and awesome!!! You sir, have done wonders to my Portuguese for which I am truly grateful.

Thanks for a wonderful site and congrats Written by Claire on 2007-04-11 19:42:27 IP: 86.129.15.100 Thank you so much for such a useful, well put together and easy to navigate site. The content is brilliant and explained in a way even my simple mind can understand. I'm currently revising for my second year uni exams (I study Portuguese and Brazilian studies) and this site is really helping me to get to grips with the stuff that I should definitely already know by now!     Best of luck to you and your family - I hope the baby is well, she looks absolutely adorable judging by her pictures :-)    Claire

Wonderful Written by Niels on 2007-05-02 00:54:32 IP: 190.40.103.38 I am glad to see that people like you put this kind of effort in helping other people, as far as I saw your web page is very good and as I am starting to learn Portuguese, this is one of the most useful web pages I have found over the Internet and believe me there are only a few of them which deserve this sort of merit.    Thanks for all your help.

Congratulations! Good job! Written by Carlos Augusto Curi on 2007-05-28 12:03:39 IP: 201.48.122.16 Parabéns pela qualidade de tudo com o que você nos brindou. Um exemplo de boa vontade para com os povos de Lingua Portuguesa. Apesar de ser despretencioso este documentário está impregnado de muito carinho pelo que observamos. Em meu nome e no de minha esposa Andréa vos cumprimentamos. Parabéns e que sejam sempre muito felizes.    [Ed - Rough Translation: Congratulations on the quality of everything you have presented us with. An example of goodwill towards the people of the Portuguese language. Whilst unpretentious, much care/fondness has gone into this site, from what we can see. In my name, and that of my wife Andréa, we greet you. Congratulations, and may you always be very happy.]

Written by Mary on 2007-06-17 22:53:41 IP: 195.93.102.10 I am in my 70s and finding Portuguese extremely difficult! However, your site is wonderful and has been extremely helpful. Obrigada

ótimo trabalho Written by Nour on 2007-08-27 09:23:38 IP: 81.192.188.151 Muito obrigado pelo seu esforço. Tentei aprender Português porque estou namorando uma brasileira. achei seu site muito interessente. Um forte abraço.

Good job! Written by Daniel on 2007-09-13 11:53:09 IP: 195.14.65.67 I am teaching my friend Portuguese and just came across your website - very helpful and informative. I shall use it as a reference for home-teaching.    Well done!

Portuguese Films? Written by Steve on 2007-11-28 14:07:51 IP: 62.254.210.79 Hi, I was wondering if you know of any European Portuguese spoken films with English subtitles I can buy on DVD in the UK? I'm self studying and having lessons now, and thoroughly enjoying it all but I think I will benefit from hearing more spoken Portuguese so thought that watching some films may help? What do you think??    Thanks, Steve

DVDs Written by Administrator on 2007-11-29 09:13:54 IP: 80.3.252.130 Watching films in Portuguese with English subtitles, or even in English with Portuguese subtitles can be helpful - I learned a few phrases by watching films in Portugal and Brazil (well, on the cruise ship off the coast of Brazil!) - including a few swear words!     You are likely to find English films with Portuguese subtitles on DVD fairly easily in UK high street shops, but Portuguese soundtracks are a little more hard to come by, and you will probably have to get them by mail order.    Try these links:    www.europeanbookshop.com/languagebooks/subject/POR/m7  www.moviemail-online.co.uk/countries/Portugal  www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_d_h_?url=search-alias%3Ddvd&field-keywords=portuguese&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

Written by Micky on 2008-03-10 03:03:24 IP: 116.228.36.130 Thank you so much for so much sharing and i am learning Portuguese myslef. This website could be my best teacher. Millions of thanks.

Thank you for lovely web site. Written by Hajime on 2008-06-28 20:24:52 IP: 77.54.106.182 Such a great web site!!  I really appreciate for your beautiful work.  Thank you!!

Thankyou! Written by Helena on 2008-09-15 14:48:47 IP: 81.155.66.219 Thankyou very much for creating this website. Finally, I have found a site which exists to help people as opposed to making a profit! I haven't started learning portuguese yet (will do in a couple of weeks) but this will definitely be on my favourites list! I am in my second year of A levels so was wondering whether this will be too much of a challenge...

Also thanks! Written by cloud on 2008-12-13 20:18:18 IP: 202.103.207.38 Thank you very much for your effort, because through your website, I could learn English and Portuguese together.

Thanks! Written by Ivan on 2009-01-30 10:46:29 IP: 83.224.212.33 I'm an Italian boy with friends in Brazil and your site is so useful!! Unfortnately I've found it only after having bought some expensive course-books...uff, however you are great! Thanks again!

thank youu! Written by Sophia on 2009-02-07 21:26:34 IP: 76.192.96.63 i've just begun self-learning portuguese, and have been finding it difficult to find sources on european portuguese, which i'm more interested in. i live in the states, and most of the learning aids i've found were on brazilian portuguese. i'm so glad to have found your site, and i greatly appreciate the work you've put into this!

mr Written by doron on 2009-06-03 23:42:14 IP: 86.162.151.6 This site is amazing! I'm really greatful that you have gone to the trouble of producing this it, and free of charge as well!!    Thank you xx

So much fun Written by Linda T. on 2009-06-18 01:10:37 IP: 69.242.107.199 I always like to surprise people living in the USA from other countries by speaking a few words from their native country. You should see their shocked faces when I say a few words in Turkish, Spanish, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, etc. ... and now, I have a chance to say a few words in Portuguese when I visit a local spa owned by a lovely Brazilian woman! I am sure she will be delighted! Thank you so much--I have learned enough to at least say a few words and maybe have a chance to learn more from her! Your story is lovely and I enjoyed it so much...

European Portuguese Written by Arturo Mendez on 2009-11-07 13:41:34 IP: 66.98.6.104 Dear Russell:    I googled for European Portuguese and yours was the first site that popped in the search; I like it very much. My grandfather was Portuguese, and I am interested in learning European Portuguese as pure as possible. I have nothing against Brazilian Portuguese, it is just that I would like to learn the European version. It has been difficult to find material pertaining just to European Portuguese. May you please inform me some useful software, a good grammar book, and other related books, that deal only with European Portuguese? Thank you very much for your advice.    Best regards, Arturo Mendez, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

European/Brazilian Written by Administrator on 2009-11-07 13:44:18 IP: 81.103.153.54 I cannot recommend any specific books, software, or courses, as I have not looked at anything like that for a long time. However, I doubt you will find anything comprehensive that does not deal at all with Brazilian Portuguese, as even if you are learning European Portuguese, you still need to know about Brazilian alternatives. Even if you are a purist, a little knowledge of Brazilian is useful.

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Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article. Please keep your comment SHORT and to the point. If I think your comment might cause offense, or does not add any value, I will not publish it. If you are a Brazilian who wants to learn English, please DO NOT post a comment here. Please don't use comments to plug your web site. If you enter your e-mail address it will NOT be published on this site, but it will enable us to contact you if necessary.
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