Founded 1922
A century of Portuguese teaching in New Bedford, the heart of Luso-American New England.
Discovery Language Academy · Est. 1922
The Portuguese your child needs to talk with avó.
One live Saturday hour for ages 6-10, taught by the New Bedford school that has kept Portuguese alive since 1922. You do not need to speak it yourself. That is what we are here for.
- Teaching in New Bedford since 1922
- CEA accredited
- European Portuguese
Every child joins a crew on their first Saturday
Koalas
Calm and curious
Pandas
Playful talkers
Lions
Brave voices
Saturdays 12-1, starting Sept 19. Live on Microsoft Teams, capped at 10 students so every child speaks in every session. Book and registration fees waived.
Only 10 seats in this class
Saturdays, noon to 1
Ages 6-10, live on Teams. First class Saturday, September 19.
Book and registration fees waived.
- A live teacher every Saturday, not an app or a recording
- European Portuguese, the Portuguese avó actually speaks
- Ten children maximum, so your child speaks every week
- A phrase to try on avó that same evening
Phone is for class follow-up. Both text message boxes on the form are optional. You can reserve a seat without checking either one.
Why families trust this school
A century of Portuguese instruction stands behind this class
CEA accredited
Independently reviewed by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation.
PALCUS award, 2024
Educational Institution of the Year, Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States.
465% enrollment growth
Child enrollment up 465% under Dr. Leslie Ribeiro Vicente since 2016.
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Is this the right class for your family?
The three things parents ask us first, answered honestly.
“My child has never spoken a word of Portuguese.”
This class is built for beginners
Most children arrive understanding a few words from their grandparents and speaking none. We start at the beginning: greetings, family, numbers, colors, food.
“I do not speak Portuguese well enough to help at home.”
You are not the teacher here
Second and third generation parents are most of the families we serve. You sit nearby, we teach. Nothing is asked of you between Saturdays.
“Our weeks are already full.”
One hour, and no commute
One hour, Saturdays, noon to 1, on Microsoft Teams, from wherever you are. No drive, no weeknights, no homework fight on a Tuesday.
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5.0 on Google, from the families who know the school
“Dr Leslie is amazing what a wonderful School congratulations”
“Great school, Great people I love it”
Inside the class
What one Saturday hour actually looks like
The same hour, the same shape, every Saturday. Children this age learn faster when they know what is coming.
First 10 minutes
Greetings and roll call, in Portuguese
The teacher greets each child by name and every child answers aloud. In a class of ten, nobody hides. That is the point.
Next 35 minutes
The week's vocabulary, taught actively
One theme a Saturday, taught through songs, movement and back-and-forth. Children this age learn a language by using it, not copying it.
Last 15 minutes
A phrase to take to the dinner table
Every class ends with one thing your child can say to avó that evening. That is when it stops being schoolwork.
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Your child will not be the only new face
Koalas, Pandas and Lions split the class into small groups, so a shy child has a smaller room to speak up in first.
The curriculum
What your child will be able to say, and when
European Portuguese, as it is spoken in Portugal, the Azores and Madeira.
- 1
Weeks 1 to 8
Greeting the family
Olá, bom dia, como estás. Family words, numbers to twenty, colors. Enough to greet avó and answer a question about themselves.
- 2
Weeks 9 to 18
Talking about their day
Food, animals, weather, favorites. Single words become sentences, and your child starts asking questions, not just answering them.
- 3
Weeks 19 and beyond
Holding a short conversation
Family routines and celebrations, from Festa do Espírito Santo to Dia de Portugal. The goal for the year: a few minutes with avó without switching to English.
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Who teaches your child
Taught by Discovery Language Academy faculty
Not a tutor marketplace. The same faculty who teach at the New Bedford campus.
Dr. Leslie Ribeiro Vicente
Executive Director
Has led the school since 2016, growing child enrollment 465% and accepting its 2024 PALCUS award.
Questions parents ask before enrolling
If yours is not here, call the school at (508) 997-8295.
Children ages 6-10, at any level of Portuguese, including none at all. Most of our families are second and third generation Luso-American: the grandparents are fluent, the children know a handful of words. That is the gap this class closes.
The language stops with the generation that stops learning it.
Only 10 seats in this class. First class Saturday, September 19, noon to 1, on Microsoft Teams. Enrollment closes September 18. Book and registration fees waived.
Reserve a seatOr speak with the school: (508) 997-8295