BA Spanish and Portuguese

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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). 

• 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 

• 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. 

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 

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 

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.  

Resit Assessment

- 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)