Portuguese Advanced for language degree students (LL324)
Summary
Level
Prerequisite: prior knowledge of Portuguese
- B2 of CEFR (to be finalised at diagnostic interview)
- Or a high grade at A-level
- Or equivalent in International Baccalaureate
- Or Language Centre Portuguese Intermediate Accelerated
- Or equivalent
Main Objectives
- To communicate effectively in situations ranging from informal conversation to a formal interview or presentation
- To read and understand articles and a varied range of fictional and non-fictional passages
- To facilitate students’ self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses in order to improve their learning skills;
- To develop an analytical approach to Portuguese culture by contrasting perspectives conveyed by a wide range of sources (articles and news reports, essays, films, etc.)
- To present effectively the results of personal research
- To achieve B2+ standard of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference)
Credits
This 30 credit module is also available for 24 credits.
Teaching and Learning
One weekly blended session for 21 weeks, organised as:
- Two-hour face-to-face language class on campus
- One-hour class on cultural topics
- Some independent study will also be set
If health & safety restrictions are required, teaching may move online.
Students are reminded that 1 credit = 10 hours of study, therefore for a 30 credit module, the minimum expected amount of study is 300 hours, which averages over 10 hours per week. A substantial amount of independent study is therefore required. Students can make use of Moodle to facilitate this.
Assessment
Term 1: Portfolio (10%)
Term 2: Culture component assessment (15%)
Term 3: One reading/writing test (40%) + one speaking test (35%)
Tutor
João Pedro Vicente Faustino
Course Texts
The module is taught entirely in Portuguese. Texts in Portuguese, as well as video and audio resources relating to Portugal, Brazil and other Lusophone countries form the basis of an intensive and active learning experience. All course materials will be made available to students via the existing learning platforms.
Course Description
The module aims to enable students to communicate fluently and effectively at an advanced level in speech and writing, in predictable and unpredictable situations. Furthermore, it is designed to help students improve their accuracy of grammar and syntax and to provide an interesting and challenging range of topics for discussion and analysis.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module, students will have:
- Developed competencies in a broad range of complex and non-routine language tasks across a wide and often unpredictable variety of contexts
- Consolidated and expanded grammatical and syntactical competencies
- Become more proficient in using a wider range of register and style both in speaking and writing
- Furthered their awareness and appreciation of Lusophone cultures
- Developed a proficiency in some of the stylistic resources of Portuguese, through an appreciation of literary and non-literary texts
- Conducted independent research into current culture associated with the relevant country or countries, developing the capacity to locate a range of appropriate sources
By the end of the course, students should be able to perform at Level B2+ Independent user (vantage) of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference).
Syllabus
Communicative skills
This module covers items such as: expressing emotions; making hypothesis about the past; giving opinions; expressing agreement and disagreement; presenting information and arguing in formal contexts.
Grammar
This module covers items such as: revision and consolidation of the tenses of the indicative and subjunctive modes (simple and complex); revision of direct and indirect object pronouns; the infinitive (simple and complex); prepositions (collocations); subordinate and coordinate clauses; connectors; textual genres.
Topics
This module covers topics such as: history and society of Portuguese-speaking countries; literature, music, film, and the arts; family and parenting; education: present and future models; LGBTQ+ communities in Lusophone countries; housing; animal rights; artificial intelligence; new models of work; colonial memory.
Subject-specific and transferable skills
- Strategies for understanding gist and specific information
- Strategies to communicate effectively both in writing and orally in Portuguese
- Intercultural Awareness, Professionalism, Digital Literacy, Teamwork, Problem-solving, Critical Thinking
Can count towards the Warwick Award
