Intensive Beginning Portuguese for Spanish Speakers

This course sequence focuses specifically on issues that arise when Spanish-speakers learn Portuguese. Because of the similarity between the two languages, typically Spanish speakers progress through Portuguese language classes at an astonishingly fast rate. In addition, with work on vocabulary and specific structures, they are able to communicate at a higher proficiency level in a shorter period of time. In this program, students not only have proficiency-oriented instruction to develop their communicational skills, but they are also constantly challenged to improve their pronunciation and intonation in the target language. As they develop their sensitivity to recognize the differences between Portuguese and Spanish, they become more and more conscious of the need to sustain communication in a ‘patrol/controlling’ mode. Therefore, they are constantly stimulated to use the language with more confidence, aiming at fluency and, at the same time, accuracy. Depending on their proficiency, students with some limited formal instruction in Portuguese may also place in this level. Based on previous Portuguese School summers, the majority of students completing this level achieve “Intermediate High” to “Advanced Low” levels in the final oral assessment.

Basic Bibliography: Pastreau, C. et al. Ponto de Encontro: Portuguese as a World Language. 2nd. Edition, Prentice Hall, 2012.

Set with Textbook, SAM, answer key and a Spanish-Portuguese dictionary. SAM and answer key may be Brazilian Port. or European Port., depending on the variant student wants to emphasize.