That's because, as Liz explains, the fact that Portuguese is a stress-timed language, like English and unlike Spanish, means that shortening words, etc. is actually part of the language, not bad diction. Nobody speaks the way it's written any more than anyone speaks English as it's written....

Thank you for all your help. I am taking Portuguese classes at the local high school and it is not going well. A dozen 50 to 70 year olds all at different Portuguese abilities. The teacher has a very difficult task trying to teach at all levels and some are being left behind.

Bons, There is an excellent course taught at the Museu in Sao Bras de Alportel (aka the little Museum/community centre) in Sao Bras de Alportel - 6 weekly courses usually 2-3 times yearly. (See the Facebook page ' Amigos do Museu') Its called 'Portuguese in Six Weeks'. The same teacher also offers an online course by the same name - I have this one as well and it is also excellent. There is also a Facebook page for the course itself. I agree however - learning is hard when you don't use the language on a daily basis.

Amanda’s course is here:
https://portugueseinsixweeks.com/

Can you speak Portuguese fairly fluently now?

Thanks

Nope! But that's my own fault - I don't practise every day and I don't know many Portuguese people to speak to. However it has given me a very good foundation and now that I no longer have to spend most days house hunting I hope to have more time to get back to learning the language and doing the homework. I still access the online course whenever I remember to try and work on it. I certainly feel better informed than I was before I did the course - and had fun along the way. The sounds now mean more when I hear them - if that makes any sense.

Perfect sense. I'm a bit lazy but I do have my phrases that I can say to people, it's when they speak back at a hundred miles an hour and don't seem to take it on board that I can't speak or understand that much!!