A2 Portuguese Language Certificate course

Hello,

Can anyone recommend a good online course for the A2 certificate?
I have been recommended :slight_smile: Portuguese Language Course – NIALP
But would love to get a second opinion…

Thanks

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Looks interesting if you can block the 2 hours every day. I would prefer one that allows me to go at my own pace as class hours are during my work hours here in California.

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I am also interested in A2 PT lessons, and also live in California. Following this thread for any recs or ideas, thanks!

Also in California, my plan was just to self study and then take the CIPLE.

I know ciplemaster.com claims to offer a tailored PLA course but at a very high price.

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See Language required for citizenship - GV
Several forum members have completed their online PLA course with Edpro.

The NIALP course sounds exactly like a PLA course if you look at their description.

PLA is not the same as A2, though both certificates are valid for naturalisation.

A2: The advantage is that you study at your own pace. When ready, register for the CIPLE A2 exam, pass exam, get certificate. The disadvantage is that the listening section of the exam is notoriously difficult, exam slots are hard to get outside Portugal, and many people have exam phobia.

PLA: The advantage is that you don’t need to give a big fat public exam, practically everyone passes and gets a certificate, it’s largely based on your regular attendance in class, small tests, interactions during classes. The disadvantage is that the schedule is intensive - you need to set aside 4 hours per day for about 8-10 weeks (4-5 days per week), and you can’t skip too many classes, need webcam on, can’t multitask during class, etc.

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Can anyone find the SPECIFIC part of the law for the language requirement and if so attach it here? I have found that proving language proficiency by passing the A2 CIPLE exam and a certificate from an accredited SIGO (don’t know what that means) language school. There are conflicting requirements about whether 150 hours is required or something less.

this seems to be as clear as there is: Outras informações - Aprendizagem da Língua Portuguesa - A AIMA - AIMA

it is very helpful.

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This is my experience exactly with PLA through edpro. It’s very intenstive, 4 hours per day, but as long as you participate and pass the periodic quizzes and end-of-segment tests, you should be fine. We chose the afternoon 2-6pm Portugal time, since we were going to be back and forth to the east coast of the US, so 9-1 east coast us time.

All of that being said, I don´t think the way the class is set up, with the professor speaking mostly in Portuguese with a running translator, is the best way to learn, at least for me. I feel I would have learned more had the instruction been in English. And the class was so fast that you were on to the next lesson before the current topic had time to sink in.

But we were dreading the exam, so this worked for us. Our professor was engaging and encouraging.

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No matter what, it’s going to just depend on the person. People have different ways of learning. Some want to know all the details and immersion actually hurts them because they don’t understand the structure, some are fine just being immersed. Everyone has to choose what works for them.

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do they check your passport or something at the start of every ciplemaster course? whats to stop someone from paying an actor to sit on zoom for five hours a day?

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I would recommend Practice Portuguese

This has a collection of tutorials and podcasts as well as vocab and grammar lessons. A2 is not really that advanced … basic conversation and situational vocab this course goes beyond that. The two hosts are funny and engaging.
For the more adventurous try iTalki and find a teacher from Portugal. To kickstart your learning the Pimsleur European Portuguese is a great place to start although the vocab is a little formal and it likely just about gets you to A1 .
I hope this helps

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