You have found a job in Portugal where you will speak French, German or Dutch with customers, but the ad asks for “good English”. What does that actually mean? Here is the good news: the English level to work abroad in a native language role is far more achievable than most candidates think. Your customer conversations happen in your mother tongue, and English is used internally, with colleagues from all over the world. This guide explains the European language levels in plain words, the level employers usually expect, what the English part of the recruitment looks like and how to improve in just a few weeks.
The CEFR scale in plain words
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) splits language skills into six levels, from A1 to C2. It is used across Europe, so a recruiter in Lisbon instantly understands your level, whether you learned English in Lyon, Hamburg or Utrecht. Each level describes what you can actually do in real life, not a school grade.
| Level | What you can do | Learning hours (approx.) | Enough for internal English? |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 (beginner) | Introduce yourself, understand very simple sentences | 90 to 100 h | No |
| A2 (elementary) | Talk about your routine, order food, ask for directions | 180 to 200 h | Borderline |
| B1 (intermediate) | Follow a simple meeting, describe an experience, ask questions | 350 to 400 h | Yes, in most cases |
| B2 (upper intermediate) | Discuss with ease, give arguments, understand native speakers well | 500 to 600 h | Yes, comfortably |
| C1 (advanced) | Express yourself spontaneously on complex topics | 700 to 800 h | More than enough |
| C2 (proficient) | Understand almost everything, including nuances | 1,000 to 1,200 h | More than enough |
These cumulative hours are estimates often quoted by exam boards. If you studied English for several years at school, you are very likely already at A2, often B1, without realising it.
Which level do you need for a job in your native language?
As a customer advisor or content moderator for the French, German or Dutch market, you talk to customers in your native language. English comes in elsewhere: internal tools and procedures, team meetings, chats with your team leader or HR, and coffee breaks with colleagues from Italy, Poland or Brazil. The level usually expected sits between B1 and B2.
In practice, a solid B1 is enough if you understand what you are told and can make yourself understood, even with mistakes. Nobody expects you to write a flawless report. What matters is following a meeting, asking a question when you are stuck and holding a simple conversation. Your accent is not an issue: in an international team, everyone has one.
What the English check looks like during recruitment
Many candidates picture an academic exam with grammar drills and essays. In reality, the check usually happens during the video interview: at some point the recruiter switches to English for a few minutes to see whether you understand and answer naturally. To prepare the rest of the call, read our guide to the video interview for a job in Portugal.
The questions are simple and fairly predictable:
- Can you introduce yourself?
- Why do you want to work in Portugal?
- Tell me about a previous job or experience.
- How would you handle an unhappy customer?
- What do you like doing in your free time?
Depending on the role, a short online test may complete the conversation. Nobody expects perfect answers: the goal is to check that you can work day to day with an international team. If you do not understand a question, just say “Sorry, could you repeat that, please?” It shows good communication skills, not weakness.
How to assess your level for free
Before applying, take twenty minutes to place yourself on the scale. Step one: the CEFR self-assessment grid available on Europass, the official portal of the European Union. For each level, it describes what you can do in listening, reading, speaking and writing. Tick what matches you, then add that level to your Europass CV.
Step two: a free online test such as EF SET, which gives a CEFR aligned result in under an hour. Take it somewhere quiet and without a dictionary to get an honest score. Then state your level clearly in your CV for jobs in Portugal: recruiters prefer a clear “English: B2” to a vague “good level”.
Your 4 to 6 week improvement plan
Moving from a shaky A2 to a comfortable B1, or from B1 to B2, is mostly about consistency. Thirty to forty five minutes a day beats three hours on a Sunday. Here is a simple, free plan you can follow while you prepare your move.
| Week | Goal | Activities | Time per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wake up your listening | A series in original version with English subtitles, one episode of 20 to 30 minutes | 30 min |
| 2 | Get used to different accents | Short podcasts for learners, 2 episodes of 10 to 15 minutes | 30 min |
| 3 | Talk about yourself | Write a one minute introduction, say it out loud and record yourself | 40 min |
| 4 | Customer service vocabulary | Learn 10 standard phrases a day: apologising, rephrasing, reassuring | 40 min |
| 5 | Mock interview | Answer the 5 typical questions with a friend or in front of your camera | 45 min |
| 6 | Consolidate | Retake the online test, watch a series without subtitles | 45 min |
If you are leaving soon, squeeze the plan into four weeks by combining weeks 1 and 2, then weeks 5 and 6. The key is speaking out loud from week three: speaking is usually what holds people back, while understanding is already there.
Useful phrases for everyday work with colleagues
At work, internal English revolves around a handful of situations that come up every day. Knowing these phrases will give you confidence from your very first week.
| Situation | What to say | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| Asking someone to repeat | Sorry, could you say that again more slowly? | Shows you are listening, not lost |
| Asking for help | Could you help me with this ticket? | Polite and specific |
| Checking an instruction | Just to be sure, do you mean…? | Avoids mistakes on procedures |
| Running late | I’m running five minutes late, sorry. | Short and professional |
| Suggesting a break | Coffee break in ten minutes? | An easy way to bond with the team |
| Saying thanks | Thanks a lot, that really helped. | Builds good team spirit |
On site, your English improves fast
Immersion remains the best teacher. In Lisbon or Porto you speak your native language with customers, but much of your social life happens in English: colleagues from a dozen countries, flatmates, evenings at the beach or on a sunny terrace. Many people who arrive with a hesitant B1 feel at ease within a few months. And since you are surrounded by Portuguese, you can start learning Portuguese in Portugal at the same time.
It is also a real asset on your CV: professional experience in an international company, English used every day and a third language in progress make a profile that stands out.
At Expat-U, we recruit French, German and Dutch speakers for these customer roles in Portugal, and the job itself is done in French, German or Dutch. You need to be an EU citizen, hold at least a high school diploma (baccalaureate level), speak French, German or Dutch as your native language and have decent English for internal use. Accommodation is provided for the entire contract, your flight is reimbursed for French speakers or paid directly by the company for German and Dutch speakers, the 12-month fixed-term contract is renewable, initial training is paid and language classes are offered on site. You can browse our jobs in Portugal. For official information about working in another EU country, the European job mobility portal EURES is the reference.
FAQ
Can I get hired with A2 English?
It is harder, because most roles ask for at least B1 for internal use. If you are close, follow the six week plan before your interview: a solid A2 can reach B1 with daily practice.
Do I need an official certificate like IELTS or TOEIC?
Usually not. For this type of role, your level is checked during the English conversation in the recruitment process. A free test result or your level from the Europass grid is enough for your CV.
Will I speak English with customers?
No. Customer conversations happen in your native language: French, German or Dutch. English is for internal use, with your team, your team leader and other departments.
