I did private lessons several times a week for more than a year with Dora Guedes of Saudade, and I could not have wished for a more patient, kind, and perceptive teacher.

She was always spotting the areas that needed extra work, and taking the time to fix them. Her own Portuguese is particularly clear for the beginner, which helps a lot.

Dora is genuinely curious to get to know her students, which makes even the early, basic conversations seem real, and that’s a great motivator. In general, a learning experience depends a lot on the dynamic between teacher and student(s).

With Dora and Saudade, the teacher side of the equation is taken care of.