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).

1. Explain the principles of learning a foreign language intensively and organise their learning with guidance with the tutor
2. Read, understand and speak the Portuguese language to at least the level of B1 Common European Framework
3. Engage confidently and with appropriate grammatical correctness and spontaneity in everyday conversation in the Portuguese language
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. Be able to engage with appropriate language learning technologies
7. To be able to identify, assess, and make good use of appropriate reference materials (e.g. dictionaries; online resources; self-study tool)

The module will be taught through a blend of live online classes and guided, interactive online tasks and activities, designed to fulfil the learning outcomes. These will be delivered remotely, and on-campus if the University deems it safe and practicable.

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 Portuguese 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.

Students will develop:

1. Subject-specific language skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) in the Portuguese 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

The method(s) of assessing the learning outcomes for this module are set out in the Assessment Table, which also contains the weightings of each assessment component.

Reassessment

You may be required to resit one or more of the assessments in this module if you fail the module. The Examination Board will advise you which assessments you need to resit during the August resit period. Resit assessments that are not supported by extenuating circumstances will be capped at the pass mark applicable to your programme.

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 Lusophone culture.
• Making the most of independent learning and learning technologies.

Students will be provided with coursekits containing indications of essential reading and materials that will be required in class.

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

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.