Vrouw op een plein in Lissabon
Vrouw op een plein in Lissabon

Language course Portuguese for beginners (A1)

If you already have some basic knowledge of Portuguese, and you can introduce yourself and you have already started learning about Portuguese grammar, this Portuguese A1 course will help you to further develop your knowledge of the language so that you can achieve A1 level.

    General

    Entry level

    This course requires some basic knowledge of Portuguese: you should already be able to introduce yourself in Portuguese and say how old you are and talk about your hobbies and family. You should also be familiar with grammatical concepts like the formal and informal forms of address and different personal pronouns, and you should be able to conjugate verbs in the present tense.

    If you completed the preceding Portuguese halfway to A1 course for absolute beginners, you will automatically be able to progress to this course. If you are unsure whether this course suits your level, you can make an appointment for an intake by phone. You can also enrol in a Portuguese language course without an intake.

    After completing this Portuguese language course, you will be able to:

    • understand simple words, expressions and sentences;
    • ask and answer simple, short questions;
    • follow a simple conversation;
    • write simple, short sentences about personal matters;

    The course focuses primarily on verbal communication, as well as reading, listening and writing skills. You will also learn more about Portuguese culture.

    To receive a Radboud in’to Languages certificate, you need to attend 80% of the classes.

    After completing this course, you will have reached language level A1.

    Why take a group course at In’to?

    • You notice rapid progress thanks to the fast pace
    • You learn by doing with plenty of interactive exercises – also in our online courses
    • You practise speaking a lot and learn how to really use the language
    • You learn about the culture and the nuances of the language so that you can really connect
    • Learning from and with each other in a group is effective and fun
    • Our teachers are your best motivation: they give you feedback and share both their knowledge and their love for the language and culture 

    Would you prefer individual classes, or a shorter, more intensive course? Check out our tailor-made courses.

    Starting date

    21 January 2026, 7:45 pm
    This course ends on 18 March 2026. Each session takes 1.5 hours.
    Costs
    €340
    Discount
    50% (RU students), 10% (RU & Radboudumc staff and alumni; WUR students and staff)
    VAT-free
    Yes
    Educational method
    On-site
    Main Language
    Dutch-English
    Number of sessions
    8
    Intake
    Yes
    Maximum number of participants
    18

    Factsheet

    Type of education
    Course
    Level
    Beginner
    Result
    Certificate

    Contact information

    Do you have a question? Or would you like to discuss which course best suits your needs and starting level? Feel free to contact us. We are happy to help you out.

    Contact us

    024 - 361 21 59
    info [at] into.ru.nl (info[at]into[dot]ru[dot]nl)

    This course takes place from 21 January until 18 March 2026. There is no class in the week of 16 February because of the Spring break.

    • Class day and time: Wednesdays from 7.45 - 9.15 pm.
    • Location: On campus in Nijmegen
    • Number of participants: min. 6 - max. 18

    Approach and content

    Portuguese is spoken as much as possible during classes, with Dutch and English as the supporting languages. This means that in most cases, you can take this course if you do not speak Dutch. Please contact our Service Centre for more information.

    You should count on about three to four hours of individual study per week.

    What do the classes cover?

    Skills

    • inviting someone to something and accepting or declining invitations
    • making appointments
    • ordering in restaurants
    • asking for prices and materials
    • saying what you want to buy (or not)
    • asking for and answering questions about opening times
    • asking for directions and describing the way to someone

    Grammar

    We cover a range of topics in this Portuguese A1 course, including:

    • Using ser and estar
    • Using and the difference between ter de/que and precisar de
    • Using querer/poder as forms of politeness.
    • Indicating qualities using quente, frio, sujo, limpo, caro, barato
    • Indicating preferences using preferir
    • Using the present tense with the verbs querer (want), poder (can/may), ir (go)
    • Verbs and prepositions ficar em / ser de / ir a / ir para

    Course material

    • Português no Mundo, textbook and workbook, ISBN: 9789460308376.
      This textbook nominally teaches European Portuguese, but it also focuses on Brazilian Portuguese.

    The course material can be purchased at Roelants bookstore. Course material is not included in the course fee.

    Costs

    • Regular fee: € 340,-
    • RU students: € 170 (50% discount)
    • RU and Radboudumc staff & alumni : € 306,- (10% discount)
    • WUR students & staff: € 306,- (10% discount)

    Would you like to make use of your discount as RU alumnus, or as WUR student or employee? Please enter this information in the ‘reference’ field on the registration form, or email us once you have registered at info [at] into.ru.nl (info[at]into[dot]ru[dot]nl).

    Determine your level with a free intake

    If you did not complete the previous level with us, you may find it useful to have a free telephone intake before you register. That way, you can be sure that the course is a good match for your level. Contact our Service Centre to schedule an intake. 

    Registration

    Register now

    This course starts every year in January/February, April/May and October. If you would like to take this course, but is it fully booked or your desired start date has not yet been listed, let us know that you would like to be kept informed, and we will let you know when you can sign up for new dates.