BA Politics and Portuguese / Course details

Year of entry: 2024

Course unit details:
Portuguese Language 3

Course unit fact file
Unit code SPLA52030
Credit rating 20
Unit level Level 2
Teaching period(s) Full year
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This course unit consists of language tuition in spoken and written Portuguese and has an intercultural approach preparing students for their period of residence abroad. It focuses on the practice of a wide variety of language and language-related skills which will help learners acquire confidence as independent users of the target language in interpersonal and social contexts as well as in academic and professional ones. Through the study of texts of different genres, students will gain a more thorough understanding of Portuguese grammar and syntax, including differences between variants and registers. On successful completion of this course, students should be able to perform at Level B2+ of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). 

Pre/co-requisites

Unit title Unit code Requirement type Description
Portuguese Language 1 SPLA52010 Pre-Requisite Compulsory

 

Available on which programme(s)? 

Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies single honours; 

Portuguese joint honours; Minor in Portuguese 

Available as Free Choice (UG) or to other programmes (PG)? 

No 

Available to students on an Erasmus programme 

Yes, but only to those studying for a degree in Portuguese at their home institutions and who will be at Manchester for an entire academic year. 

Pre/Co/Antirequisite units 

Pre-requisite: SPLA52010, A-Level Portuguese, OR equivalent language competence.  

Medium of language 

Portuguese and English 

Aims

  • To enable students to gain a broad understanding of intermediate and upper intermediate Portuguese grammar and syntax, as well as develop their four skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing) to a B2+ level. 
  • To enable students to communicate confidently in Portuguese through a range of written, oral, and aural comprehension exercises covering different areas of vocabulary 

  • To prepare students for residence abroad through increasing their cultural awareness  

  • To enrich the understanding of the language and the Lusophone culture through the study of oral and written texts of different genres 

Knowledge and understanding

  • A broad, active knowledge of intermediate and upper intermediate Portuguese grammar as well as awareness of different registers of the language 

  • The ability to communicate with a degree of confidence and accuracy in written and spoken Portuguese, in a variety of situations, and with particular attention to the requirements of the Year Abroad 

  • The ability to understand and produce intermediate-level texts of different genres 

  • Knowledge of aspects of the cultures, communities and societies of the Lusophone world 

  •  Further intercultural awareness, understanding and competence. 

Intellectual skills

This course develops abilities to: 

  • Use language creatively and precisely for a range of purposes and audiences 

  • Contextualise from a variety of perspectives 

  • Extract and synthesise key information from written and spoken sources 

  • Organise and present ideas within the framework of a structured and reasoned argument 

  • Engage in critical and analytical thinking 

  • Develop problem-solving skills 

Practical skills

These include:  

  • Further skills to enhance their language learning through independent study 

  • Use and present material in the target language in written and oral forms in a clear and effective manner 

  • Ability to manage own learning 

  • Use target language source materials (written and oral) appropriately 

  • Write and think under pressure and meet deadlines 

  • Access electronic resources and use information and communication technologies (ICT) appropriately 

Transferable skills and personal qualities

These include: 

  • Communication and presentation skills: oral, written and IT; 

  • The ability to work creatively and flexibly with others as part of a team; 

  • Mediating skills and qualities of empathy; 

  • Self-reliance and adaptability; 

  • - Further intercultural awareness.  

Employability skills

Written communication
In order to promote intercultural awareness, the course syllabus includes a variety of cultural topics based on the Lusophone world and touching on issues of literature, society, technology, and current affairs. It also offers students some training in writing their cover letter, summaries and other useful documents in the target language.
Other
Generally, communication skills are developed through frequent presentations and teamwork; self-management skills are promoted through independent work; problem-solving skills mainly through translation and simulations, and IT skills through web and computer assisted language learning. Finally, creative skills are fostered through creative writing and a task-orientated approach.

Assessment methods

Assessment task Formative or Summative Weighting within unit (if summative)
Written Exam Summative  25%
Written Exam Summative  30%
Oral exam Summative  30%
Short story review Summative  15%
Fortnightly written assignment  Formative  

Resit Assessment

Assessment task
Written exam

Feedback methods

Feedback method  

Formative or Summative 

Regular individual written feedback on completed and marked assignments and oral presentations plus face-to-face discussion if desired. 

Formative 

Global feedback on frequent errors or omissions to indicate problem areas and allow questions and discussion (delivered orally in class/ as a handout) 

Formative 

In-class comments on homework, presentations and other exercises. 

Formative 

Recommended reading

- Anna Klobucka et al., Ponto de Encontro: Portuguese as a World Language. Second Edition. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2013. 

- John Whitlam, Modern Brazilian Portuguese Grammar, A Practical Guide (Routledge). 

- John Whitlam, Modern Brazilian Portuguese Grammar, Workbook (Routledge) 

- Amélia Hutchinson and Janet Lloyd, Portuguese. An Essential Grammar (Routledge).  

- Isabel Coimbra and Olga Mata Coimbra, Gramática Ativa 2 (Lidel) 

 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Seminars 66
Independent study hours
Independent study 134

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Jose Peixoto Coelho De Souza Unit coordinator

Additional notes

 

 

 

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