Portuguese classes · Los Angeles · Since 2006
Portuguese Classes in Los Angeles. Olá.
Private lessons with native-speaking instructors. Matched to your goals, your schedule, and your life. Start any time.
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Why Portuguese?
Four reasons to take Portuguese classes
Speak Across Two Continents
Portuguese connects you to 260 million speakers from Lisbon to São Paulo to Luanda. It's the most spoken language in the Southern Hemisphere.
Tap Into Brazil's Booming Market
Brazil is Latin America's largest economy and a powerhouse in agribusiness, fintech, and energy. Portuguese-speaking professionals have a serious competitive edge.
Enjoy the World's Best Music Scene
From bossa nova and samba to fado and Brazilian funk, Portuguese music is impossibly diverse. Understanding the lyrics reveals poetry you'd never catch in translation.
The Easiest Romance Language for Spanish Speakers
If you already speak Spanish, Portuguese is remarkably accessible with 89% lexical similarity. You can reach conversational fluency faster than in any other new language.
Since 2006
Portuguese in Los Angeles
Strommen has been teaching Portuguese in Los Angeles since 2006, and our students come from all over the city. Some are Brazilian expats in West LA staying sharp with their native language while picking up European Portuguese for business. Some are American professionals preparing for assignments in São Paulo or Lisbon. And some are heritage speakers in the San Fernando Valley who grew up hearing Portuguese at home but never learned to read or write it.
Portuguese is spoken by over 260 million people across four continents — from Brazil to Portugal, Mozambique to East Timor. In Los Angeles, the Brazilian and Portuguese communities are scattered but tight-knit, with pockets in Culver City, the Westside, and the South Bay. Our tutors know this city and they know the language, because most of them grew up speaking it.
Whether you want to prepare for a trip to Rio, communicate with family in Portugal, or add Portuguese to your professional skill set, our instructors are matched to your goals. Sessions are available online or in person across LA, with flexible scheduling. We start where you are and build from there.
No public Portuguese group classes right now — but we can set up a semi-private class for your family, friends, or company with as few as two people. Get in touch.
Portuguese class FAQ
What is the best way to learn Portuguese?
Speaking with a native tutor as often as possible. Portuguese has sounds that don't exist in English or Spanish — the nasal vowels and the way consonants soften between vowels — and you need live correction to get them right. A tutor also helps you choose between Brazilian and European Portuguese early on, since the pronunciation, vocabulary, and even grammar differ enough that mixing them sounds odd to native speakers.
How long does it take to learn Portuguese?
The State Department estimates 600-750 class hours for English speakers to reach professional working proficiency — that's a Category I language, one of the easiest. If you already speak Spanish, you can cut that time significantly. Most students with regular weekly lessons can handle everyday conversations within 4-6 months.
Is Portuguese hard for English speakers?
It's one of the easier languages for English speakers. A huge portion of the vocabulary comes from the same Latin roots, and the grammar, while more complex than English, follows patterns that become predictable. The main challenge is pronunciation — Portuguese has sounds that feel unfamiliar at first, especially the nasal vowels and the way 'r' is pronounced in Brazilian Portuguese (closer to an English 'h').
Can I take Portuguese classes online?
Absolutely. Our Portuguese tutors teach online via video call, and most students choose this option. It's especially convenient for business professionals fitting lessons around meetings or travel schedules. You get the same native-speaking tutor each session, with lessons tailored to your specific goals — whether that's preparing for a trip to Lisbon or negotiating contracts in Sao Paulo.
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Since 2006 · Los Angeles
Start Portuguese classes this week.
Call 323-638-9787 or fill out our form. We match you with an instructor within 24 hours.
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