A new language school and cultural community in Lagos. Learn European Portuguese through conversation and culture. Our first term schedule is set, and we're now accepting applications for classes starting 21 September 2026.
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Grammar drills only get you so far. At Patio Language School you'll learn the way people actually talk: in conversation, over a coffee, among friends. Part language school, part cultural community: a warm, welcoming place in Lagos to learn European Portuguese and get to know the culture around it, with no pressure and no fear of getting it wrong.
Learn alongside a handful of others, with more conversation, more connection, and more fun.
Relaxed, low-pressure sessions focused on speaking and listening, so you build real fluency and the confidence to use it.
Workshops and events that bring the language to life and connect you with the culture around it, because culture is half the fun.
Here's what a week at Patio looks like from 21 September to 18 December 2026: group courses, conversation, and themed workshops in European Portuguese, with private lessons on request. Not sure where you fit? Apply and we'll help you find your level.
Beyond Portuguese, we now run small-group, face-to-face AI courses in Lagos: guided, hands-on practice with the everyday and business uses of AI, with no technical background required. Two courses, each four weekly two-hour sessions.
Everyday uses of AI for beginners: email, research, documents, images and more.
Practical applications for business owners, freelancers and professionals.
Courses are being planned now. Tell us which course and time suits you, and we’ll email the details.
Whether you're 28 or 78, just arrived in the Algarve or years in, split between here and home or simply in love with Portugal, you'll find a place at the table. We meet you where you are, in the city that inspired the school.
"Um café, dois dedos de conversa, e um bocadinho de gramática, nessa ordem."
(A coffee, a bit of a chat, and a little grammar, in that order.)
Patio Language School was created to bring people together through meaningful learning and shared experiences. Reading, writing, listening, and speaking are the foundations of language learning, but we believe language comes alive through conversation, culture, and community.
Our patio is more than a name. It is the idea at the heart of everything we do. A patio is a natural meeting spot, open and unhurried, where people gather and share a coffee, a story, and a laugh. We wanted to build exactly that, a warm, welcoming space where you can learn Portuguese and step into Portuguese culture without fear or hesitation.
Patio Language School was founded by Sofia Nabais and Claire Lehto, who bring together their academic background and real-world experience of learning a new language and building a life in a different culture.
Sofia Nabais
Sofia leads Patio's academic programmes, designing courses that are practical, engaging, and rooted in real-life Portuguese. She holds a degree in Mathematics and is certified in pedagogical skills, with many years of teaching experience. Sofia lived in Barcelona and Frankfurt from 2014 to 2023, an experience that gave her a deep, personal understanding of what it takes to master the language of your host country. Since returning to Portugal in 2023, she has dedicated herself to teaching European Portuguese to foreign residents and visitors, drawing on her own experience abroad to help students navigate learning a new language and find their place in Portuguese culture.
Claire Lehto
Claire leads operations and the overall student experience at Patio, making sure everything feels welcoming and organized. She holds a BA in Cultural Geography from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Public Administration from Bowie State University. Having lived in five countries, Claire's path has taken her from serving Girl Scout communities in Alaska, to teaching English online to children in China, to leading educational programmes in US National Parks. That curiosity and cultural fluency now shape Patio's programming and community.
"Learning a new language can be overwhelming. Sofia makes it easier. She is a knowledgeable and patient teacher, who adapts her lessons to what the class needs in the moment. She truly enjoys teaching and seeing her students make progress."
Nancy Lee
"My wife and I have completed 4 months of private lessons with Sofia Nabais and we would recommend her. She uses formal, but relaxed professional teaching methodology and speaks excellent English."
Simon Mahon
"Sofia represents everything that is great about Portugal. She is a kind and caring teacher who goes above and beyond to ensure her classes learn effectively. Her lessons are both enjoyable and fun, but also challenging! The perfect person to introduce you to learning Portuguese."
Alison and Bill Forder
"I greatly value my private lessons with Sofia Nabais. She works systematically with excellent materials, and explains tricky grammar with patience and clarity. She happily follows the questions that come up, and loves pointing you to the culture too: writers, architecture, regional food, concerts. Professional and deeply personable, she leaves me motivated after every lesson."
Wolfgang Helmut Pump · Germany
"Sofia is a deeply caring and committed teacher who knows exactly when to push my edge (and when to ease up!) as I learn Portuguese. She takes genuine delight in watching all of her students become more proficient and, best of all, I cannot remember one single class over the last year in which we did not laugh uproariously. She makes the challenge of learning a brand-new language fun. Who could ask for more?"
Karin Liiv
The schedule is set and applications are open. Group courses, conversation practice, and themed workshops in European Portuguese, right here in Lagos. Apply now and we'll help you find your level and save your place.
Ready to apply for a place, or just curious about learning Portuguese with us? Message us here, on WhatsApp, or by email, whichever works best for you, and we'll help you find your level.