ML4189: Beginners Portuguese Language Year 1

School Portuguese
Department Code MLANG
Module Code ML4189
External Subject Code 101142
Number of Credits 40
Level L4
Language of Delivery English
Module Leader Ms Licinia Pereira
Semester Double Semester
Academic Year 2018/9

Outline Description of Module

This is an intensive beginner’s language programme. The course is designed to enable students with no previous knowledge of the language to reach a level of intermediate proficiency by the end of the year, and to build towards the use of the language at a high level. Study focuses on the four major language skills – reading, writing, speaking and listening – through classwork exercises and written work, use of video and audio material, and interaction with native speakers (including Erasmus students hosted by the department).

On completion of the module a student should be able to

  1. Understand the principles of learning a foreign language intensively and organise their learning with guidance with the tutor
  2. Read, understand and speak the target language to at least the level of A2 Common European Framework
  3. Have gained confidence in their ability to express themselves in speech and writing in everyday matters in the target language
  4. Engage with appropriate grammatical correctness and some spontaneity in conversations relating to everyday topics
  5. Write coherent texts in a limited range of registers on everyday topics
  6. Extract data and ideas from a range of written texts
  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)

How the module will be delivered

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 4 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 lanaguge. 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.

Skills that will be practised and developed

  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

How the module will be assessed

E-learning Portfolio  (10%) (Over the 2 semesters)
Coursework Portfolio (20%) (Over the 2 semester)

Class Test (20%) (Semester 1)
Oral Assessment (10%) (Semester 1)

Oral Class test (10%) (Semester 2)

2-hour written Examination (30%) (Spring Exam Period)

The opportunity for reassessment in this module -  

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.

Assessment Breakdown

Type % Title Duration(hrs)
Portfolio 10 E-Learning Portfolio N/A
Class Test 20 Class Test Semester 1 N/A
Oral/Aural Assessment 10 Oral Assessment Semester 1 N/A
Portfolio 20 Coursework Portfolio N/A
Class Test 10 Oral Class Test Semester 2 N/A
Exam - Spring Semester 30 Beginners Portuguese Language Year 1 2

Syllabus content

The course will focus on:

Introducing the fundaments of grammar

Introducing sentence structures

Building a range of vocabulary relevant to daily life, as specified in the European Common Framework of Reference, level A2

Introducing different registers

Introducing 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. 

Background Reading and Resource List

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, 2nd 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, 2nd 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!

Dictionaries:

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

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

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

 

 


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