My Language Learning Journey is a campaign from the OLS Portuguese Community. This campaign is designed to offer insights into the mobility experiences of international students, providing you with a glimpse into their diverse language learning journeys. This time I interviewed Liceth, she was an Erasmus+ student in Lisbon, Portugal. Keep reading to learn more about Liceth’s mobility experience and the adaptation to the Portuguese language!
PRESENTATION
Can you present and talk a little bit about yourself?
Hi! My name is Liceth, I’m 29 years old, and I’m from Colombia. I’m currently doing a master’s in Biomedical Engineering in Germany. My hobbies are mainly sports, especially combat sports.
Can you tell us where you did your mobility? How and why did you choose the place to go?
I did my mobility in Lisbon, Portugal. I chose Portugal first because I really love the Portuguese language. I would even say I like it more than Spanish! I saw this as an opportunity to improve my skills. I had studied some Brazilian Portuguese before, mostly vocabulary, and I had spent some time in Brazil. But since I was in Europe, I saw it as a big opportunity to experience Portuguese in its natural environment. Portugal has always seemed charming to me. I love the sea, and I also enjoy water sports, so it felt perfect. The culture and the atmosphere of the country really attracted me. It just felt like the right place to go.
What language did you study and why is it important for you to learn languages?
Learning languages is really important to me because I love to connect with local people. Not everyone speaks English. In Germany, not all older people speak English well, and in Portugal, not everyone speaks English. So, it’s very important to know at least the basics first, to ask for help, and second, to connect with the culture. When you know the local language, people interact with you more openly and warmly.
I speak Spanish, English, Portuguese, and I’m learning German. Portuguese comes more naturally to me because it’s similar to Spanish, but German is much harder. The grammar is difficult, there are cases, three genders instead of two, and it’s challenging to practice, especially if you don’t feel motivated. Motivation is really important. For Portuguese, I was motivated because I like the language, the music, and the culture, which helped me a lot.
*Source: Liceth
LANGUAGE LEARNING EXPERIENCE
How was your experience getting used to the language?
At first, it was challenging because I had learned Brazilian Portuguese, and the sounds in Portugal are very different. People also speak very fast, similar to Spanish. At the beginning, I could barely understand anything, but, over time, I trained my listening skills and got used to it.
It was a really nice experience because it allowed me to get used to the accent and rhythm of Portuguese. I had a boyfriend in Porto, and when I went there, I couldn’t understand the accent at all. So even within Portugal, accents make a big difference.
I was kind of afraid at first to make mistakes. Sometimes I would speak in Spanish really slowly, and people could understand me. Most of the time, I used “Portuñol,” a mix of Portuguese and Spanish, and it worked.
What advice would you give to someone who is starting to learn a new language?
I think the most important thing is practice. Watching videos helps a lot because you can improve both grammar and listening skills. But talking to people is the only way to really remember words and expressions. For example, with German, I can study grammar a lot, but if I don’t speak with someone, I forget the words.
Motivation is also key. For Portuguese, I was motivated by my love for the language and culture, which helped me practice more. When you speak with native speakers, they teach you words and expressions that you won’t find in textbooks. Grammar alone is not enough, speaking and interacting with people is the best way to learn.
Did OLS help you to improve your language level? What do you think about the platform, do you think it is useful, do you advise Erasmus students to use the community?
Yes, OLS was really useful, especially the speaking sessions. I didn’t use the platform very often, because I prefer interaction with people, but the tests were also helpful to know my level. Speaking sessions are my favorite part because they allow you to practice in real situations.
MOBILITY EXPERIENCE
Was it your first experience abroad? How long did you stay there?
It was my first Erasmus experience, but not my first time abroad in general, since I’m from Colombia. I arrived in September and left in February because of the requirements I have here in Germany, so I couldn’t stay longer.
How was your mobility experience?
I really loved the people. They were so friendly, cheerful, and welcoming, that was definitely a highlight for me, their joy, openness, and kindness. The city of Lisbon itself was amazing too, and you can actually feel it. I lived near the bridge close to the Tejo river, and it was very convenient to go to places like Costa de Caparica. I loved the colorful houses and the general atmosphere. Another thing I really enjoyed was the opportunity to experience the university. I liked comparing how teaching is done in Portugal versus Germany and Colombia. It allowed me to see different approaches to education across countries.
For some things, my expectations were high. For example, I thought that finding accommodation would be easier, but it was challenging and sometimes expensive. I had to ask for help to manage them. But some things exceeded my expectations, like the university and the city itself. I didn’t realize that the city and the university would offer so many activities. There was always something to do, and it helped me establish connections with other Erasmus students. My advice for anyone going is to try to keep some free time, because it’s easy to get busy and miss out on experiences. I was working at the same time, so I couldn’t fully enjoy everything, but there’s a lot to explore.
I really loved Azores and the city of Lisbon. One of my favorite spots was by the river, near the main station, where I loved watching the sunset. I also enjoyed Porto, although I didn’t spend much time there. Lisbon was definitely my favorite city, I loved walking around Baixa-Chiado and seeing all the colorful houses.
*Source: Liceth
Any advice you would like to give to someone preparing to go on mobility?
First, try to keep your schedule free so you can participate in as many activities as possible. Time goes by quickly, and there’s so much to see and do. Second, pay attention to accommodation. Many people start looking for a place just a month ahead, and that’s often not enough. It’s one of the first things you should arrange. Another tip is to try to contact Erasmus students who were at your host university before. They might have useful advice or even help you find a room. I experienced some of that with my landlord, sometimes previous landlords leave contacts for new students, which can make things easier.
How did the mobility/volunteering/internship help you to grow?
I think it helped me most in terms of cultural understanding. Portugal has many communities from Brazil, Mozambique, and other countries, so it opened my mind to learning about different cultures, their histories, and why people behave the way they do. It changed my perspective about the world and humanity.
Professionally, it also helped me improve my Portuguese. But personally, the experience taught me more about understanding people, cultures, and the world rather than just academic knowledge.
Would you like to do an interview for the OLS Portuguese Community? Click here and let me know if you would like to participate!
I would like to thank Liceth for her time and great chat! Obrigada!
See you,
Juliane, OLS Community Manager - Portuguese