Margarida’s School was founded in 1981 by Margarida Alberty, who has dedicated more than 30 years to making learning Portuguese an enjoyable experience for newcomers in Portugal. Margarida developed her own unique way of teaching Portuguese, which sets Margarida’s school apart from other traditional language schools.
It all began with her passion for mastering many languages which led her to be fluent in seven. At age 17, influenced by her mother, a Latin and French teacher, Margarida started to give Portuguese lessons to foreigners. She continued teaching while taking a degree in Germanic Languages at the Faculdade de Letras in Lisbon.
Margarida initially found students using her contacts at the German School and Embassies : “When I was 20, I was teaching 60 Germans. The then Norweigan ambassador was one of my first students. This led to an agreement with the Norwegian Embassy which lasted for years” she says. The school grew as satisfied students spread the word about her fun, dynamic and innovative method.
Over three decades later, Margarida’s School has around 600 students a year, and 20 teachers teaching 18 different languages. Going beyond the textbook is what makes learning at Margarida’s School unique. Creative teaching tools, such as board games and flash cards are used to reinforce grammar and vocabulary. Fun activities are organised to help students learn about Portuguese history, poetry, music, customs and culture while having a great time.
Although Margarida has retired from teaching, her method continues present through the instructional workbooks she has authored that are used in the small group classes. Today, she has found a new passion for teaching. Every few months out of the year Margarida travels to Cambodia where she teaches English to the underprivileged children of Siem Reap and surrounding areas.
Ana Margarida Alberty, has dedicated her life to education in languages, Art and Performing Arts and humanitarian causes. In 1981 she founded Margarida’s School-Estoril’s Language School and for more than 40 years has built a successful business by making learning Portuguese an enjoyable experience for newcomers in Portugal. Margarida developed her own unique way of teaching Portuguese, which sets Margarida’s school apart from other traditional language schools.
It all began with her passion for mastering many languages which led her to be fluent at seven. At age 17, influenced by her mother, a Latin and French teacher, Margarida started to give Portuguese lessons to foreigners. She continued teaching while taking a degree in Germanic Languages at the Faculdade de Letras in Lisbon.
Today, Margarida’s School has around 300 students a year, and 14 teachers teaching different languages. Going beyond the textbook is what makes learning at Margarida’s School unique. Fun activities are encouraged to help students learn about Portuguese history, poetry, music, customs and culture while having a great time. Although Margarida has retired from Portuguese language teaching, her method continues present through the instructional workbooks she has authored that are used in the small group classes.
In 2012 she discovered a new passion for teaching but this time in English. Following a trip to Cambodia where she volunteered at an orphanage, Ana Margarida Alberty began a new journey teaching underprivileged children English, sewing and arts & crafts by travelling village to village on a tuk-tuk. From this experience, in 2016, Butterfly Educational Centre, Ana Banana’s Tuk-Tuk School and the Mobile Library were founded, providing free English classes in Art, Sewing, Music, Traditional Dance and IT. Today, Butterfly Educational Centre has evolved into 10 Tuk-Tuk Schools that travel to villages on the outskirts of Siem Reap. At the local pagoda in Wat Damnak village regular music, sewing and traditional dance classes are continuously offered to all the local children and are 100% free. www.helpchildrencambodia.com
Margarida Alberty’s passion for education has also reached beyond language education. Her lifelong dream of being a ballet dancer has manifested into a musical theatre group Pátio dos Artistas that all began with an English Summer School program at Margarida’s School. This led to a first performance of “Hansel & Gretel”. Following the enormous success and demand for this type of activity for children and adult volunteers, Margarida has produced an additional 15 musical theatre productions to date, including “The Grinch”, “Aladdin”, “Urashima Taro” and most recently “Annie”, “The King & I”, and a “A Frozen Christmas”. The profits from these fundraising performances were in support Help Children Cambodia.
Presently, Margarida has happily merged all her passions into one. Margarida’s School of Language and Arts in Estoril is a unique place that encompasses a language school, specializing in Portuguese, an Art Studio, that provides mixed art classes and a Sewing Studio, that teaches sewing techniques and provides clothes alterations, custom made clothing and textiles. As part of Margarida’s School, ALMA Studio in Monte Estoril is a dance studio and Musical Theatre Academy that offers a variety of dance and fitness classes in Ballet, Hip Hop, Pilates, Belly Dance among others. It’s here that Pátio dos Artistas, is rehearsing two big musical theatre productions for 2021, “The Greatest Showman” and “Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory”.
ADMINISTRATION
Margarida Alberty (Founder & School Director)
PORTUGUESE TEACHERS
Teresa Palmeirim
Guida Gonçalves
Margarida Neto
Madalena Pestrello Bastos
FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHERS
Sara Tamulonis (English US)
Carol Gavinho (English UK)
Gabriella Quay (German)
Etsuko (Japanese)
Grace Yu (Chinese)
“Great teacher, competent, well prepared, adapted well to each students level, very good at explaining grammar, very pleasant and great atmosphere, interesting classes.”
“The lessons were really well prepared and the teacher always had a clear plan for each class. I really liked the personalised curriculum and interesting exercises.”
“The great thing about the teaching is that it is made to be fun and engaging! The emphasis on learning grammar is very important in learning Portuguese.”
“I really like the school. It has a nice atmosphere. All the teachers and staff are always in a good mood and ready to help.”
“The school is small but comfortable, great atmosphere to learn and a peaceful environment with no pressure. 5 star staff always available and helpful.”
For the last few years Margarida has set up a multi-educational learning centre, Butterly Educational Centre, on the outskirts of Siem Reap with a mission to provide children educational opportunities not offered in state schools.
If you would like to learn more about this initiative visit www.helpchildrencambodia.com.
