At the end of the course: B1+ level of the ¿Common European Framework of Reference for Languages¿ (B2 level for reading comprehension).
The student should be able to:
- Understand relatively long texts written in everyday language related to everyday life and current events; understand the description of events, feelings and wishes.
- Understand the main points of clear standard speech on familiar matters (job, university, leisure, etc.), as well as the main points of many radio or TV programmes on current affairs when the delivery is relatively slow and clear.
- Take part into a conversation on familiar subjects, of personal interest or pertinent to everyday life without previous preparation. - Give a clear, detailed description of events and experiences; explain one¿s viewpoint on a topical issue.
- Write personal letters describing experiences and impressions; write clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to one¿s field of interest.
Main themes
The object of this course is to develop the student¿s communicative competence, and particularly spoken and writing production in standard Portuguese; to consolidate the vocabulary, the grammatical contents and the linguistic exhibitors of basic Portuguese and to extend them; to make students sensitise to the culture of Portuguese-speaking countries (Portugal and Brazil).
The subjects and the functional contents are related to four large fields:
1) describing and comparing countries, cities, cultures and costumes giving personal judgements;
2) expressing argued opinions on familiar topical issues of contemporary problems;
3) telling stories of experiences ;
4) making hypotheses.
Content and teaching methods
The course is centered on the communication and uses a method halfway between the communicative and the notion-functional one. The vocabulary and the grammatical structures are built-in, related to significant contexts and grouped according to functional contents. These contents are practiced with written and oral exercises (drills, role-plays, interviews, discussion in small groups, etc.). The didactic materials are very heterogeneous: songs, plays, debates, articles, advertisements, comical sketches, films, etc.
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)
Prerequisites:
This course is intended for students of all faculties who have registered the course in their study programmes, UCL personnel, free students (from the UCL or not) who have reached the B1 level of the ¿Common European Framework of Reference¿.
Assessment:
Various marks make up the final assessment: Continuous Assessment (homework, attendance and active participation in the class); research work on a free topic (topic chosen by the student: 20-minute oral presentation + 3-page-written document) + 1 written test + a written and oral exam at the end of the 2nd semester.
Course material:
Course book (student book + audio/CD + exercise book); Brazilian and Portuguese songs, DVD (information reports), newspaper and magazine articles, internet material.
References:
A grammar reference book + a bilingual dictionary + ¿Bescherelle¿ of Portuguese and Brazilian verbs.
Training staff
The teacher is available during reception hours and can be contacted by mail.
A list of Web sites and other didactic materials to support the autonomous training are given during the course.
The teacher provides information and support for the autonomous training at de CAA of the ILV.