Conversas Portuguesas — Language & Culture Course

So you've figured out how to order a coffee in Lisbon, but what comes next? We are leaving the textbooks and conjugation drills behind and using literature, visual art and music to explore Portuguese culture and identity.

Led by Rita Leça, each 90-minute session is designed as an open discussion rather than a lecture. Using Salted’s book curation and cultural references as our starting points, it will focus on real debate, vocabulary expansion and speaking naturally in an informal room.

Note: Basic Portuguese speaking skills are required (roughly A2 level and up). You don't need fluency, just the ability to hold a basic conversation.

Course Structure

Each session runs for 90 minutes and is structured around:

• Thematic immersion: Exploring an essential idea in Portuguese culture through a curated piece of literature, music or art.

• Open debate & conversation: Prompted discussion where everyone speaks and shares perspectives.

• Vocabulary in context: Picking up natural expressions, slang and cultural nuances you won’t find in standard textbooks.

The Syllabus

Session 1 | October 1: Saudade

Fernando Pessoa and Amália Rodrigues

We begin by demystifying Portugal’s most famous cultural concept. Looking at Pessoa’s poetry and Amália’s fado, we examine what saudade actually means in modern Portuguese life versus how it is marketed to outsiders.

Session 2 | October 15: Liberdade

José Afonso, the 25th of April, and Paula Rego

An exploration of the Carnation Revolution, censorship, and political resistance. We will listen to the protest music of José Afonso, analyze Paula Rego’s subversive visual art and discuss how freedom shaped modern Portuguese society.

Session 3 | October 29: Mar

Luís de Camões, Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, and the Ocean

Portugal’s relationship with the Atlantic runs through its history and literature. Through the classic lines of Camões and the stark, brilliant maritime poetry of Sophia, we discuss the sea as both an empire-builder and an enduring national metaphor.

Session 4 | November 5: Mudança

Contemporary Lisbon, Bordalo II, and Modern Architecture

How is Lisbon transforming right now? In our final session, we look at contemporary street art by Bordalo II, the changing cityscape, gentrification and the realities of modern Portuguese urban culture.

About the Tutor

Rita Leça is the founder of My Portuguese Studio, offering private language courses for foreigners living in Lisbon. She holds a degree in Communication Sciences with a background in journalism, cultural production, and curatorial practices, blending cultural literacy with clear, approachable language teaching.

Practical Details

• Dates: Wednesday evenings — Oct 1, Oct 15, Oct 29, and Nov 5

• Time: 6.30 - 8pm

• Location: Salted Books, Calçada do Marquês de Abrantes 96, Lisbon

• Level: Elementary to intermediate Portuguese (comfortable enough to speak in simple sentences)

• Group Size: Kept small to ensure everyone takes part in the conversation