How to Stay Consistent and Succeed in Learning Portuguese (or Any Other Language)

Learning a new language is an exciting and fulfilling experience. But let’s be honest—it can also feel overwhelming at times, and it’s easy to lose motivation once the initial excitement fades.

There’s no shortage of language learning advice out there. But if I had to give just one tip, it would be this: consistent practice—daily exposure to your target language over time.

Consistency is key because it keeps you motivated, builds momentum, and ensures steady progress. Whether you’re learning Portuguese, Mandarin, or Somali, regular exposure helps you retain what you learn and build upon it. It really is that simple.

Getting Started

tarting is often the hardest part. Finding time to practice and fully committing to the process can be a challenge. Ask yourself:

• Do I truly want to learn Portuguese?
• Am I willing to make it a priority?

These are important questions. But here’s the thing—wanting to learn isn’t enough. I know plenty of people who say they want to learn Portuguese, yet they keep putting it off. What’s stopping them?

Procrastination.

Whenever we take on something new—whether it’s learning a language or starting a big project—it can feel like a giant, roaring bear is coming straight at us. The task seems so big that we avoid it altogether.

But here’s the truth: you don’t have to do it all at once. Just start small.

Daily practice doesn’t mean studying for hours. Even 15 to 30 minutes a day is enough to build a strong foundation. The most important thing? Just start.

But once you’ve started, how do you make sure you stick with it?

Sticky Habits

Some say that setting clear goals is the key to consistency. I disagree.

Setting goals is easy. If writing down a goal was enough, everyone would be successful at everything. There’s more to it than that.

The real key? Sticky habits.

So how do you create habits that actually stick?

James Clear, in his book Atomic Habits, suggests that successful habits follow three principles:

1. Make it easy
2. Make it obvious
3. Make it enjoyable

Let’s say you want to build a habit of daily Portuguese exposure. You already have a routine of checking the news while having breakfast. A simple tweak—spending five minutes reading a Portuguese news site—can seamlessly integrate into your routine.

Here’s why this works:

✅ Easy – You’re already checking the news. It’s just a small shift.
✅ Obvious – It’s right there on your phone, no extra effort needed.
✅ Enjoyable – If you like reading news, it’s relevant to your interests.

And the best part? You don’t even need to add a new habit. You can simply tweak your existing environment. For example, switching your phone and apps to Portuguese instantly increases your exposure—without changing your routine at all.

In sum, if I could give just one piece of advice, it would be this: commit to consistent, daily practice. And the best way to make that happen? Build small, sustainable habits that fit into your life.

Another excellent strategy to learn Portuguese is to immerse yourself in in-context resources (ICRs). Not only do they help you stay engaged, but they also boost vocabulary retention and make learning feel more natural. Learn more here: Learn Portuguese Faster with In-Context Resources.