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Portuguese I in Portugal

Portuguese I in Portugal is the perfect course for those who want to combine language studies with a journey of discovery in Portugal. You will learn Portuguese from the ground while gaining a unique insight into Portuguese culture, all in an inspiring environment. Additionally, you will explore how Portuguese is spread and used around the world.

You do not need any prior knowledge of the language to take the Portuguese I course in Portugal. During the course, you will improve your language proficiency through text reading, oral communication practice, and written exercises, while systematically going through grammar. You will study four different units: Text and Language Structure I, Oral Proficiency and Interaction, Text and Language Structure II, and Portuguese as a World Language. Together, these four course units will provide you with a solid foundation in and knowledge of Portuguese and Portuguese-speaking countries. Additionally, you will have excellent opportunities to practice your Portuguese outside of the scheduled lessons during your time in Portugal.

The course content corresponds to Portuguese I, 30 credits, at Stockholm University. Upon completion, you will be eligible for Portuguese II.

  • Course structure

    The overarching document for a course is the syllabus. You can find the syllabus in the menu on the right.

    This course description explains how we run the course in practice. The syllabus should provide good guidance, but is not exhaustive. Further clarification, either verbal or written, will be provided by the teacher during the course.  Do not hesitate to ask the teacher if you have any questions about how to carry out various tasks. To find out which teachers are teaching the course, and for information about the schedule and examination dates, please see ‘Schedule’. For information on literature lists, see ‘Course literature’.

    Modules

    The course consists of four course units:

    Text and Language Structure I, 7,5 credits

    Oral Proficiency and Interaction, 7,5 credits

    Text and Language Structure II, 7,5 credits

    Portuguese as a World Language, 7,5 credits.

    Teaching format

    The course unit Text and Language Structure I includes a review and systematic practice of the basic language structure of Portuguese. You will practice your written language proficiency, and reading simple texts will help build a basic vocabulary and gain insight into the cultures of Portuguese-speaking countries. The aim of the course is to provide you with basic proficiency in the Portuguese language, as well as to give you a theoretical foundation for understanding the language at a deeper, metalinguistic level. By the end of the course, you are expected to have a basic knowledge of Portuguese grammar and to have acquired a basic vocabulary. You should also be able to understand and write simple texts.

    In the course unit Oral Proficiency and Interaction, you will learn the basics of speaking and understanding spoken Portuguese. The course begins with a review of Portuguese pronunciation patterns. You will then practice your oral proficiency and listening comprehension through oral exercises, pronunciation exercises, reading texts and practising grammar. By the end of the unit, you should be able to understand and use simple everyday phrases, words and sentences. You should also be able to create dialogues and participate in conversations. The teaching is conducted through seminars and lessons, where you are expected to participate actively.

    In the course unit Text and Language Structure II, you will continue to develop and practice your knowledge of Portuguese grammar as well as your ability to write and read in Portuguese. You will read simple texts from various genres to expand your vocabulary and gain insights into the culture of Portuguese-speaking countries. You will also learn to describe events in the past and in the future tenses. The teaching is conducted through seminars and lessons. We will work practically with written exercises both during class and as homework assignments. Class time will also include discussions related to the exercises.

    In the course unit Portuguese as a World Language, you will gain insight into how and why Portuguese has spread globally, and where the language is spoken today. You will not only explore the language itself but also examine cultures and societies in regions where Portuguese is an official language. The course highlights cultural encounters in both contemporary and historical sociocultural contexts and prepares you to approach Portuguese-speaking environments from an intercultural perspective. To get the most out of the course, it is important to actively participate in the lessons and come well-prepared.

    The University

    The course is offered at Universidade do Porto: Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Letras  (FLUP).

    The University of Porto is the second largest University in Portugal with approximately 30 000 students. It was founded in 1911 and is ranked among the top Portuguese universities. For more information, Read more

    The Universidade do Porto has several campuses, and the Faculty of Arts (Faculdade de Letras) is located in the Boavista/Campo Alegre area, west of Porto’s city center. The nearest metro station is “Casa da Música”, from which it is about a 10-minute walk to the campus.

    By bus or metro, you can easily get into the city and to Porto's historical center.

    Assessment

    The course unit Text and Language Structure I is assessed through written assignments and a written exam. The exam tests your knowledge of Portuguese grammar. You will demonstrate both practical and theoretical skills that you have studied and practised during the course unit.

    The course unit Oral Proficiency and Interaction is assessed through individual oral presentations where you will demonstrate your oral proficiency.

    The course unit Text and Language Structure II is assessed through written assignments and a written exam. You will be asked to demonstrate how you have developed your practical and theoretical skills.

    The course unit Portuguese as a World Language will be assessed through written assignments and a written examination. You will be required to demonstrate your understanding and ability to discuss and problematise the content taught in the course.

    Take-home assignments (i.e. essays, short independent projects and other assignments) must be written in your own words and based on your own reflections on the topic. All quotations must be properly cited with quotation marks and indication of source. A text must not consist mainly of quotations. These should only be used to illustrate your own reasoning. If sources are missing or very incomplete and the teacher discovers plagiarism, this may lead to a report. Remember to use your own wording even in oral presentations. If there are assignments in the course, they will be checked by a text-matching tool. For general information about cheating and plagiarism, see Stockholm University’s regulations for examination and guidelines for disciplinary matters at Stockholm University.

    Examiner

    Hugues Engel
    Laura Alvarez Lopez

  • Schedule

    The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.
  • Course literature

    Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.
  • Course reports

  • More information

    Learning and collaboration platform: Athena

    Accommodation

    The University can inform students about how and where to find different types of accommodation. Information about accommodation is sent to admitted students upon selection 1.

  • Contact