Hello Jessie,
I'm studying Portuguese, and am intermediate level. I have teachers here on italki. I can't imagine going back to self-study. They make it so much easier for me. And I have someone to TALK to each day!
I have Portuguese and Brazilian teachers, and I go with the flow. If I'm online to Brazil I do the Brazilian accent (cha cha cha!) and if my teacher is Portuguese I say it short and curt, the way they do. Well, I try!