though only a small amount of Portuguese speak English as a native language, English is important and a major language in tourist areas throughout the country. The majority of English speakers are academic and other professionals, and compared to Spain, there are more English speakers in Portugal than Spain. The growth of the English language in Portugal is related to the country’s small size, thus opening it up to external influence, contact with American media, and proximity to England. The language is often taught as a second language in schools, and is gaining popularity among young people.
- Spanish and French – Spanish and French are Romance languages, so it makes Portuguese easy to understand as a French and Spanish speaker. Portuguese speakers can also understand both French and Spanish very easily as well. Approximately 10% of the Portuguese population speak Spanish. In Portugal, the use of French has diminished over the years, with the majority of the population choosing English over French. In the 19th century, French was introduced in Portugal, and remained popular until the 1970s. At present, French is spoken mainly by the elderly parts of the population.
- Mirandese – Mirandese is an Indo-European and Astur-Leonese language spoken as a first and second language by a small minority (about 15,000 people). The language is spoken in three towns in the northeastern part of the country. These towns are Vimioso, Miranda do Douro, and Mogaduro. Alongside Portuguese, Mirandese is recognized as a co-official regional language. The language has three distinct dialects: Border, Central, and Sendinesse Mirandese.
- Portuguese Sign Language – Portuguese Sign Language is recognized in the Constitution of Portugal. The deaf community numbers about 60,000 people, who communicate using this sign language.
Is English Necessary in Portugal?
As a tourist, Portugal is becoming a hotspot destination for tourists each year. Portugal receives at least several million English-speaking visitors each year, and that number continues to increase. When traveling around Portugal, it will be easy to find English speakers at tourist hotspots throughout the country, plus at airports, bus and train stations, you should have no problem speaking English. If you plan to travel to less establish regions, then prepare to learn some Portuguese phrases, or maybe even Spanish might be helpful.
As a local, English is taught widely in schools. Outside of Lisbon, younger people will have demonstrate good English proficiency. English predominately features in television, movies, and other media with most media broadcasts in English language movies and shows in their original English and overlaid with Portguguese subtitles. This exposure to English makes it easier for the younger generation to pick up. If you go to any larger or tourist cities, then English will be in the fabric of the daily life. While you may struggle to find English speakers in less built-up areas like Trasos-Montes, Chaves, and Bragnaca, Portuguese people are renowned for politeness, warmth, and hospitality.
English Teaching in Portugal
Teaching English in Portugal offers teachers an exciting experience. Teachers get to live and work in a Mediterranean climate with many sandy beaches and great cuisine.
In Portugal, English teachers are in demand primarily because of the tourism success in Portugal. Local people are trying to learn English in order to improve their chances in the tourism industry, and make them a more ideal candidate to companies. In addition to the high demand, the Portuguese government recognizes the importance, so they have made it part of the education curriculum for students starting in first grade.
Due to those two reasons, English teaching draws English teachers to Portugal. Many of Portugal’s English teachers come from England or Ireland mostly because they do not need work permits to teach in Portugal. After Brexit though we will still need to see how those demographics change. For residents outside the European Union, it might be harder to find an English lan