Faro is a manageable Algarve base for European Portuguese. Its value lies in combining structured class with ordinary use, not in replacing teaching with tourist conversation.
The first session should establish level, give you a short exchange, correct one or two points and let you try again. Ask how speaking turns are shared, whether hours are taught hours and whether a short-stay learner can join the current group.
A prepared task in a café, shop or market can extend the class when the teacher explains it first and reviews it later. Unstructured exposure is useful life experience, but it is not a contact hour.
Choose the school by its actual Faro address and timetable. A regional label may hide a venue elsewhere in the Algarve, turning a compact study week into a daily drive.