Escola Caravela

Joana has been a brilliant teacher, good at balancing speed and content in an intensive course for people with different linguistic backgrounds and learning abilities. I particularly liked the effort to have us repeat and (re)write things by hand such as verbs and adjectives, also as part of excercises. I also appreciated that she could share additional material and exercises with those of us who had time and capacity to process more work during a session. It also helped a lot that Joana’s English is excellent and she also knows/understands other languages - this makes explanations so much better for the students.
So all in all a great experience. If I had more time to spend in Portugal I’d definitely take level A2 too. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be back at some point and sign up : )

Joana does a great job keeping this intensive class moving with opportunities for repetition to consolidate learning. It is a challenging course but helps to boost my level and confidence by the end.

Joanna is incredible!! She makes learning Portuguese fun. She never makes you feel silly for asking a million questions (like I did). She is so warm and approachable. Her approach is great - I loved how she taught the course.
(Someone who just completed A1 and A2)

Joana delivered an amazing class that provided a wonderful foundation for my start in the learning Portuguese path. I am glad we found this class as our first step. Thank you again.

I really enjoyed the experience of learning Portuguese at Escola Caravela. My husband and I started this course just 2 months after arriving in Porto. It was our first experience with learning the language in a group setting and it exceeded our expectations. Our instructor, Joana Meireles, was so knowledgeable about how the language is structured and was able to easily convey how words are to be used to successfully communicate in Portuguese. I now have a good foundational understanding that I can use as a building block for my learning, going forward. Thank you to the school, my classmates and Joana!

Loved it! Following A1 course, this was perfect to cover most bases I’ll need and motivates to keep going
Thanks again

Far exceeded my expectation for a language course. Both Joanna and Sofia are amazing and classes are not crowded, and pace is manageable, to match the class average. I’ve learned a lot in my first 2 weeks so far :)

Joana is a wonderful teacher. The group size is small and allows for lots of practice speaking and writing Portuguese. The school is located in a very convenient part of Matosinhos too. I will be studying there again soon!

Joana brings the energy, challenges you (respectfully) and teaches in a structured and diverse way. Couldnt have wished for a better teacher

Excellent course in terms of structure and intensity. The rapid pace gets us where we need to be at the end of the first level. The class atmosphere is very good. Dynamic and stimulation teacher ! :) The only suggestion I would make is to have a bit more speaking exercises amongst students, in small groups, 2 x 2. Presentations in front of the class are also good, but it can be useful and playful to practice under less pressure, in pairs.

I took A1 classes in the first week of June under Joana. She’s an amazing teacher and will really make sure you learn, especially if you’re aiming to speak & understand basic Portuguese. I highly recommend her classes! 10/10!

Joana’s teaching style and personality made learning fun and interesting. She adaptive exercises continuously in order to cater to students at various learning styles and levels of proficiency. 10 stars on a scale of 1-5!

Queria agradecer a Joana para as aulas tão divertidas e interessantes. Não ter medo de comunicar é o que me faltava muito. Gostava de abordagem e o ambiente da escola em geral. 🥰

It loved the course and Joana! My knowledge of portuguese has greatly improved. I will definitely look into taking another class at the Caravela school!

I am 100% satisfied with the school and this intensive course. Joana is an exceptional teacher—she makes everyone feel comfortable while being strict yet always encouraging. She knows how to motivate her students and pushes us to succeed. Her little sweet treats throughout the day are a great touch to keep our energy and focus up!

The course is perfectly structured and, for once, truly intensive. Thanks to effective learning techniques, such as repetition, the information really sticks in our memory. And that’s not all—Joana provides exercises, a podcast, and other valuable resources to help us keep improving.

Thank you, Joana! Looking forward to coming back in two weeks for the next level!

Joana is such a fun and amazing teacher. I can’t believe how much I learned in only two weeks of the intensive course! I will definitely be attending the next level. Thank you so much for all you do!

Joana is a wonderful, enthusiastic and compassionate teacher. I highly recommend this school. It is easy to get to, the classes are small, and is a wonderful way to connect with others in the community.

Joana is the best teacher

once again very pleased with Joanna’s teaching. kind, patient and very knowledgeable about the subject. :D

I am looking forward to the next level

I am very happy that I have chosen this intensive course. The lessons were engaging, fun, and intense but in the best way possible - those three hours a day went by really fast. The atmosphere that Joana was able to create there was really friendly and relaxed, and I was excited to continue learning. I would strongly recommend continuing on the next courses offered here as the intensive course for beginners is a great start but to get fully started speaking Portuguese confidently, a person needs more practice.

Joana is a great teacher! The classes are fun and varied…and I learned a lot. I’ll be back in January for the next level!

Thank you, Joana, for having such great patience with us! 😂
See you for the next level.
Richie

the teacher Joanna is very professional, patient and provided explanations in a very understandable way for everyone. the materials were up to par and exceeded expectations. i definitely recommend her for any foreigner who wants to learn in record time the portuguese language.

Very great experience. Steep learning curve and good teachers (Joana and Vanessa). I like the small intimate size of the class. It allows space and time for everyone to clarify doubts and to recieve help. My grammar and vocabulary has only improved. Looking forward to A2.

I have learned a lot! Joana is an amazing teacher. I like the way the course is structured. It is the right pace for me to learn. Thank you very much.

Joana is an excellent teacher! This is my 3rd attempt at A1 and it finally made sense to me. No one else had explained it as well as Joana. She is personable, patient and perceptive - all inportant characteristics for a great teacher!

Once again, Joana provided a great environment for learning the language.
Highly recommended course and tutor

I highly recommend Joana as your next and only teacher for learning Portuguese, classes were very dynamic, a lot of grammar and vocabulary and speaking as well, the amount of students in the class is perfect so you have full attention of her and my classmates were all very good students! Nothing better than sharing the same enthusiasm to learn a new language :) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Absolutely enjoyed the class with our fabulous teacher Joana. She made learning fun and interesting yet challenging. Look forward continuing with her!!

Tha Caravela school and Mrs Joana have provided me with an excellent update regarding my knowledge of the Portuguese language. The approach, documentation and level of knowledge was excellent to continue being motivated learning the language. Thank you.

Highly recommended. Thoroughly enjoyed the course and made a lot of progress (I think). Signed up for the follow up class. Obrigado Joana

Joana is the best teacher! It was a great experience learning Portuguese with her.

Joann is a wonderful teacher, full of energy, smiles, and teaching skills. Vanessa is great too. After just two weeks I feel my ability to read, speak, and understand basic Portuguese is surprisingly strong and I feel well-prepared for further steps towards fluency. Muito Bem!

Obrigado Joanna!