At Thrifty Explorations, we are passionate about making language learning accessible and enjoyable for children of all ages. Our mission is to introduce children and their families to European Portuguese in a way that is both fun and effective.

Our books are specifically designed for beginners, with simplified English phonetics to bridge the gap between the English and Portuguese languages. Each book contains a parental pronunciation page which helps to explain some of the more unfamiliar sounds used in Portuguese. We understand that learning a new language can be intimidating for learners of any age, which is why we focus on providing a supportive and engaging experience.

Why choose our books?

  • Phonetic Simplicity: Each book includes simplified English phonetics to make pronunciation easy for young readers.

  • Inclusion of Stress Time Syllables: Every word is broken down into syllables with the stressed syllable easily identifiable in capital letters.

  • Ideal for Families: Perfect for parents and children to learn together, making language learning a family activity.

  • Beginner-Friendly: Written for children and beginners, our books introduce European Portuguese in a simple and fun way.

Bringing European Portuguese to young learners

About

Thrifty Explorations, LLC

Our mission

At Thrifty Explorations, our mission is to inspire the next generation of language learners by making European Portuguese accessible, fun, and engaging for children. Through our unique collection of children's books with simplified English phonetics, we aim to bridge the gap between cultures and empower young learners to embrace a new language with confidence. We believe that learning should be an enjoyable experience, so we strive to create educational tools that bring families together, enrich cultural understanding, and foster early bilingualism. Our goal is to spark curiosity, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning in every child.

Our vision

Our vision is to create a world where every child, no matter their background, has the opportunity to discover and embrace new languages and cultures. By making European Portuguese accessible through engaging, phonetic-based learning tools, we strive to be a catalyst for bilingualism in young learners worldwide. We aim to empower future generations with the language skills to connect, communicate, and thrive in an increasingly globalized world. We envision a future where language learning is not a barrier but a bridge — one that unites families, cultures, and communities through the joy of learning.

About the author

Virginia Thrift is the book author and President of Thrifty Explorations, LLC. A former product development manager who embarked on an exciting adventure by moving from the United States to Portugal with her husband, two young children, and their lovable furry friend. As they prepared for this new chapter, Virginia realized that none of the language books available provided pronunciations. So, she decided to take matters into her own hands!

With her background in product management and development, Virginia is working on creating books that cater specifically to English speakers looking to learn European Portuguese. Her goal is to provide a supportive guide for families like hers who are embarking on a new language journey.

Virginia understands the challenges of navigating a new language, especially when it comes to pronunciation. That's why she's put together fun and simple pronunciations for each word or phrase as well as a Parental Guide to assist parents in navigating their new language with confidence.

So, welcome to Virginia's classroom! She's glad you're here, and she looks forward to helping you on your language learning journey.