Portuguese Beginners
| Module title | Portuguese Beginners |
|---|---|
| Module code | FLP1130 |
| Academic year | 2025/6 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Natalia Pinazza (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 10 |
|---|
Module description
Portuguese Beginners is intended for students who have little or no previous knowledge of Portuguese and provides an introduction to the Portuguese language and culture in a general context. It is also suitable for students with a GCSE (Grade C or below) in Portuguese.
The emphasis is on enabling you to communicate effectively about a variety of general, everyday topics. It also provides you with an introduction to the cultures, customs and societies in countries where Portuguese is spoken.Portuguese Beginners can be taken towards achieving ‘with proficiency in Portuguese”, see https://modernlanguages.exeter.ac.uk/flc/undergraduate/courseinformation/
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module is intended for students who have little or no previous knowledge of Portuguese and offers an introduction to the language. This module is broadly equivalent to A1 / low A2 Basic User level of the Common European Framework and aims to:
- Provide students with a solid foundation of the basic grammatical structures of the target language thus enabling them to communicate effectively across the four key language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) at an elementary level on a variety of general topics
- Enable participants to give and understand information and to achieve a confident elementary level of communicative competence in everyday situations
- Provide an introduction to the customs, cultures and societies of the regions/countries in which Portuguese is spoken and to develop student awareness of the general social and cultural background of the language
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate a sound grasp of the basic grammatical structures of the target language
- 2. Understand texts in the two standardised varieties of Portuguese
- 3. Express ideas and opinions orally and in writing in Portuguese
- 4. Give short oral presentations in Portuguese on a defined topic to a small group of listeners and engage in group discussion of the topic presented
- 5. Write letters and other short texts in Portuguese on a limited range of practical and descriptive themes
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Understand the principles of learning a foreign language intensively and organise your learning with guidance from the tutor
- 7. Use available learning aids in a variety of media, such as a reference grammar and bilingual dictionary, to consolidate your learning
- 8. Use reference grammar books and bilingual and monolingual dictionaries to check the structural and lexical accuracy of your writing and expression in Portuguese
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. Communicate at a basic level in the target language
- 10. Express and discuss views individually and/or as part of a group
Syllabus plan
Whilst the content may vary from year to year, it is envisioned that you will work through a course book, covering all essential points of grammar, consolidating skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. You will follow the equivalent of 4 hours per week, in which grammatical structures as well as vocabulary will be introduced in context. You will have the opportunity to practise language skills in class and in set homework in an integrated manner.
There will be opportunity to explore the main differences between the two standardised varieties of Portuguese (Brazilian and European Portuguese).
Teaching methods are based on interactive language development tasks, such as pair / group work and role-playing, and include the study of short texts, oral development work and listening comprehension exercises. Learning activities are supported by various media, including audio, video / DVD, and, where appropriate, computer software. The module is taught as far as possible in the target language.
You will be expected to spend time studying outside the class (between 3-5 hours per week) and we provide guidance, facilities and materials to help you develop your expertise as an independent language learner. For this module, you will be asked to consolidate your class work by learning vocabulary and structures, and by reading, watching or listening to material in Portuguese. You will also be expected to complete the exercise book/workbook on a self-study basis, prepare exercises and activities for the class, to write short assignments and generally acquire a repertoire of effective language learning strategies. You will receive regular feedback on your progress from class activities, homework assignments etc.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 88 | 212 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching activities | 88 | Language classes |
| Guided independent study | 212 | Consolidate class work by learning vocabulary and structures, and by reading, watching or listening to material in Portuguese. Prepare exercises and activities for class, write short assignments and generally begin to acquire a repertoire of effective language learning strategies. Learning activities are supported by various media, including audio, video / DVD, and, where appropriate, computer software. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 6 formative tasks per year (e.g. grammar, writing, speaking, reading, and listening comprehension, vocabulary) | Variable | 1-10 | Written and oral |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 40 | 10 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral examination | 10 | 5 minutes | 1, 3-7 | Written feedback |
| Portfolio | 50 | Regular tasks over 2 terms | 1-10 | Written feedback |
| Written examination | 40 | 2-hour exam | 1-5, 7 | Written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio (regular tasks over two terms) | Portfolio | 1-10 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Written examination (2-hour) | Written examination (2-hour) | 1-5, 7 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Oral examination (5 minutes) | Oral examination (5 minutes) | 1, 3-7 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
You will only be required to retake any failed assessments. Marks for any passed assessments will be carried forward. If you have failed any assessments but managed to pass the module overall, you will not be allowed to retake the failed assessments.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Prescribed textbook: Ponto de Encontro: Portuguese as World Language. Pearson New International Edition - 2nd Edition.
- Clemence Jouet-Pastre, Anna Klobucka, Patrícia Sobral, Maria Luci Moreira, Amelia Hutchinson. Aug 2013, Paperback, 660 pages.
- Collins Portuguese-English/ Inglês-Português Dictionary. (Harper Collins, 2006)
- Hutchinson, A. and Lloyd, J.1996. Portuguese: An Essential Grammar . London: Routledge
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
- Monolingual dictionary: http://www.priberam.pt/DLPO/default.aspx
- Language resources at Instituto Camões: http://cvc.instituto-camoes.pt/area-aprender-a-brincar
Key words search
Portuguese Beginners
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/02/2011 |
| Last revision date | 28/02/2024 |
