Ask About Portuguese and English Requirements for a Job — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Ask which languages the role uses day to day
Use exigência de idioma for language requirement and no dia a dia for day to day. A language may be needed for reading documents, meetings, or talking with customers; those tasks call for different skills.
Ask the interviewer to describe a typical situation in which each language is used. That gives you a clearer picture than a label such as fluente by itself.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Quais idiomas a equipe usa no dia a dia? | Which languages does the team use day to day? |
| O inglês é mais usado em reuniões, na leitura ou no contato com clientes? | Is English used more in meetings, reading, or customer contact? |
Clarify what the level means for specific tasks
Ask whether the role requires writing reports, presenting, negotiating, or following a conversation. A person may be comfortable reading technical material and still be developing spontaneous speaking; describe your abilities accurately by task.
If the job description uses avançado or fluente, ask for an example of what the team expects someone to do in that language.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Quando vocês dizem nível avançado, que tipo de tarefa esperam que a pessoa faça? | When you say advanced level, what kind of tasks do you expect the person to do? |
| A função exige apresentar projetos em português? | Does the role require presenting projects in Portuguese? |
Describe your current ability honestly
Try Tenho facilidade para ler, mas ainda estou desenvolvendo minha conversação (I'm comfortable reading, but I'm still developing my conversation skills). Pair a strength with the area you are improving, and mention a real example of how you use the language.
Do not claim a proficiency level that does not reflect your current ability. Clear expectations help both you and the employer assess whether the role is a fit.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Consigo participar de reuniões em português e estou ampliando meu vocabulário técnico. | I can participate in meetings in Portuguese, and I'm expanding my technical vocabulary. |
| Leio e escrevo em inglês todos os dias, mas tenho menos prática falando. | I read and write in English every day, but I have less speaking practice. |
Remember: Ask what tasks require each language and describe your speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills accurately.
Check your understanding
Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.
Recall the Portuguese, then say it
Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.
Which languages does the team use day to day?
Show a Portuguese answer
Quais idiomas a equipe usa no dia a dia?
Is English used more in meetings, reading, or customer contact?
Show a Portuguese answer
O inglês é mais usado em reuniões, na leitura ou no contato com clientes?
When you say advanced level, what kind of tasks do you expect the person to do?
Show a Portuguese answer
Quando vocês dizem nível avançado, que tipo de tarefa esperam que a pessoa faça?
Does the role require presenting projects in Portuguese?
Show a Portuguese answer
A função exige apresentar projetos em português?
I can participate in meetings in Portuguese, and I'm expanding my technical vocabulary.
Show a Portuguese answer
Consigo participar de reuniões em português e estou ampliando meu vocabulário técnico.
I read and write in English every day, but I have less speaking practice.
Show a Portuguese answer
Leio e escrevo em inglês todos os dias, mas tenho menos prática falando.
Make the phrase useful to you
Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.
Ask what tasks require each language and describe your speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills accurately.
Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.
Sources and your next lesson
This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Ask About Portuguese and English Requirements for a Job lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.
To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.
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