This module builds upon the linguistic and cultural knowledge of the Portuguese language acquired through family heritage and practical experience. The emphasis is on consolidating existing language skills in both English and Portuguese, and on progressive language learning for academic purposes, reflected through continuous assessment of learning. It integrates the study of a number of key cultural issues with a deepening study of the structures, vocabulary, sounds and varieties of Portuguese and English. Students will manipulate information from spoken and written texts in both English and Portuguese. Students will develop their competencies in using language-learning technologies to support their linguistic progress

1. Understand the principles of bilingualism and of speaking two languages to an advanced level, and organise their learning with guidance from the tutor
2. Read, understand and speak the target language to at least the level of B1 Common European Framework
3. Engage confidently and with appropriate grammatical correctness and spontaneity in the target language, in a variety of contexts and across registers
4. Write coherent texts in a range of registers on a range of topics with appropriate grammatical accuracy
5. Extract data and ideas from a range of authentic written texts
6. Translate accurately and sensitively between Portuguese and English
7. Have extended and refined vocabulary and skills by engaging with the Independent Learning Portfolio
8. Be able to engage with appropriate language learning technologies
9. To be able to identify, assess, and make good use of appropriate reference materials (e.g. dictionaries; online resources; self-study tool)

Teaching, learning and assessment are designed to enable students to achieve the learning outcomes described above. While part of any class session is likely to involve direct teaching, the emphasis is on student participation and students will be expected to take part actively in discussions and in tasks such as small group and pair work, role play, and individual or group presentation.

There will be 3 hours of language seminars per week.

Independent Learning: You will be expected to spend a significant amount of time studying outside the class. Materials will be provided on Learning Central which will help you develop your expertise as an independent language learner. You will be asked to consolidate your class work by learning vocabulary and linguistic structures, and by reading, watching and/or listening to material in the target language. You will also be expected to prepare exercises and activities for the class, to write assignments and generally begin to acquire a repertoire of effective language learning strategies. Independent Learning logbooks will be provided on Learning Central to help structure your language learning outside class time.

Students will develop:

1. Subject-specific language skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) in the target language at the appropriate level
2. The ability to use language creatively and precisely for a range of purposes and audiences
3. The abilities to extract and synthesize key information from written, spoken and other sources
4. A greater awareness of how languages (including the mother tongue) function
5. The skills to be effective, independent  and self-aware Iearners, including active reflection on learning processes and preferences so as to independently develop appropriate strategies and linguistic skills to ensure progression
6. The ability to work creatively and flexibly with others as part of a team
7. Skills in intercultural awareness, understanding and competence, including a critical understanding of other cultures and practice other than one’s own
8. Enhanced skills in effective communication, presentation and interaction
9. Enhanced digital literacy skills

Coursework (10%): e-learning portfolio, ongoing over both semesters

Class Test  (20%): Autumn Semester 

Oral assessment (10%):  Autumn Semester

Coursework (20%): coursework portfolio, ongoing over both semesters

Class Test (10%): oral class test (Spring Semester)

2-hour Written Exam (30%): Spring Semester Exam Period

Students who fail the oral assessment and class test will be strongly advised to switch to a different module in semester 2.

At the end of semester 2, students who gain an overall pass in the module will not be required to re-sit any failed components.

If no overall pass is attained, students will submit a coursework portfolio in the August re-sit period.

The course will focus on:

Consolidating and building on knowledge of grammar points already studied

Developing more complex sentence structures

Developing the range of vocabulary relevant to contemporary society, as specified in the European Common Framework of Reference, level B1

Developing a sense of different registers

Developing an awareness of the cultural contexts of the target cultures

Making the most of independent learning and learning technologies

Essential Reading and Resource List

Set texts:

All texts to be used in class will be provided to students in hard copy and/or through Learning Central. 

Recommended reading:

Students may also wish to purchase a grammar book and a bilingual dictionary. We recommend the following:

Grammar books:

Amélia P. Hutchinson and Janet Lloyd, Portuguese: An Essential Grammar, 2^nd edn (Routledge, 2003)

• This grammar book will see you through all four years at university. It explains the grammar clearly and in a way that is easy to understand, and it contains useful sections outlining the key differences between European and Brazilian Portuguese. This is the best grammar book available for day-to-day usage.

R. C. Willis, An Essential Course in Modern Portuguese, revised edition (Nelson Thornes, 1998)

• This book is an in-depth and very comprehensive traditional grammar which includes thorough explanations of grammatical functions and has translation exercises at the end of each chapter. This is a very good book for the detailed explanations of particular points, and is suited to people with an interest in linguistics.

John Whitlam, Modern Brazilian Portuguese Grammar: A Practical Guide (Routledge, 2011)

• This book focuses on usage of Portuguese in Brazil (particularly in and around Rio de Janeiro). It is a useful additional resource for students wishing to focus particularly on Brazilian Portuguese. Some of the explanations are quite in-depth and linguistics-focused. There is an accompanying workbook that gives additional exercises for practice, although these can be repetitive.

John J. Nitti and Michael J. Ferreira, 501 Portuguese Verbs, 2^nd edn (Barron, 2005)

• This book is a useful resource for the conjugation of many, many verbs in Portuguese. Learn one a day to improve your range of vocabulary!

Students are also expected to engage with the materials and resources included in the Independent Learning Portfolios on Learning Central.

Dictionaries:

Collins - Portuguese Dictionary and Grammar (2013) – bilingual, easy to use and easily available.

Porto Editora - Dicionário de Português-Inglês (2012) – kindle edition available