Portuguese: Elementary - Consolidation



Overview

This 10-week consolidation course is based on the syllabus of the previous two terms (most recently - Portuguese: Beginners - Part 2) and is primarily tailored to meet the needs of students who completed the weekly class, but new students who are at the appropriate level of proficiency are also welcome. Students who missed some classes during the first two terms and wish to catch up for the next level up in the next academic year are encouraged to join.

The class activities will focus on listening, speaking and the exploration of culture; and students will be encouraged to practise reading and writing skills in their own time. There will be plenty of opportunities to interact in the target language, leading to the development of the four language skills as well as learning basic grammar structures.

Programme details

Course begins: 24 April 2025

The weekly course schedule below is intended to give an overview of the main topic(s) likely to be covered in each session. Please note that these may sometimes change, at the tutor’s discretion, to reflect the interests of course participants.

Week 1: Vou viajar! Preparing a trip: booking hotels and services.

             Making phone-calls, writing emails. Filling in forms. Dates and timetables. Ser vs.

             Estar; “Ir + Infinitivo”; Present vs. Preterite as Conditional (for polite requests).

Week 2: Estou a chegar! On the plane; at the airport; in the taxi; on the underground.

              Checking timetables and destinations. Checking seats.

              Asking for tickets. The time; numbers.

Week 3: Desculpe...? At the hotel; at tourist information; at the underground station.

              Asking for information and directions. Buying tickets.

               Prepositions and prepositional phrases of place.

Week 4: Olá! Boa tarde, muito prazer! Meeting family, friends and/or work colleagues.

              Formal and informal greetings. Addressing and introducing each other. Scheduling

              meetings. Talking about routines and present activities. Routines and hobbies.

              Verbs in the Simple Present vs. “Estar a + Infinitive”.

Week 5: Silêncio, que se vai... apresentar! Students’ (voluntary) presentations (1).

              Discussing cultural topics relevant to the Portuguese speaking countries and                              communities, based on students’ choices.

Week 6: Silêncio que se vai... apresentar! Students’ (voluntary) presentations (2).

              Discussing cultural topics relevant to the Portuguese speaking countries and                              communities, based on students’ choices.

Week 7: Almoçamos? Lunch at work. Dinner with friends and family.

              Inviting colleagues, friends and family. Ordering meals at the restaurant.                                      Discussing and sharing recipes. Modal/ising verbs + Infinitive.

Week 8: Revisões. Revisions.

Week 9: Vamos às compras? Shopping.

              Asking for help in shops and services. Making requests.

              Expressing preferences, likes and dislikes. Adjectives: comparatives and                                      superlatives.

Week 10: Um piquenique de despedida. A farewell picnic. Linguistic and cultural games.

Background Reading

Coursebooks are advised, but not compulsory for this term. Supplementary course material will be provided by the course tutor.)

Certification

Digital badge

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add your badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.

Fees

Description Costs
Course Fee £275.00

Funding

If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:

Concessionary fees for short courses

Tutor

Miss Ângela Sarmento-Dingsdale

Ângela Sarmento-D. is an experienced teacher of Portuguese language and culture,  and of English as a foreign language. She holds a degree in Modern Languages and Literatures (Portuguese and English Studies) and a Masters in Portuguese and Brazilian Studies, from the University of Porto. During the curricular stage of her PhD, for two semesters, she attended courses at Sorbonne Nouvelle (Paris), where she developed work in the field of Comparative Literature and Interartistic Studies. She is currently teaching Portuguese Language and Culture at the University of Oxford, and is a research member of ILC-ML [Margarida Losa’s Institute for Comparative Literature]. She collaborated in directing and/or acting in short films, and has done translations for subtitles, namely for the film Pina Bausch: Lissabon Wuppertal Lisboa (2010, Midas Filmes) by Fernando Lopes and for Unreported World, by Channel 4.

Course aims

  • Consolidate what has been learnt throughout the first two terms, and
  • Revise more challenging aspects of the language that are appropriate for level

Course Objectives:

  • To develop the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing for simple interaction in Portuguese
  • To equip students with basic information about the culture and daily life of the Portuguese-speaking countries
  • To familiarise students with basic vocabulary and grammar structures to understand simple short texts

Teaching methods

You will learn through a communicative teaching approach with the emphasis on actively engaging in classroom activities in the target language. These are likely to include role-plays, pair- and small group-work, and conversational practice conducted in a supportive, friendly and informal learning environment.

The course has been structured to help you primarily to develop your speaking and listening skills and to gradually gain an insight into the culture and daily life of your target language. You will also consolidate Portuguese grammatical structures in a communicative context and will be encouraged to develop your reading and writing skills in your own time.

Learning outcomes

The following are brief indicators of what students should be able to do in each of the skills

Speaking (S), Listening (L), Reading (R), and Writing (W) by the end of the individual stages:

STAGE 1

S Participate in simple everyday conversation made up of familiar language

L Understand simple messages and conversations

R Obtain specific information from simple written texts

W Produce simple short texts using limited structures and vocabulary items

Assessment methods

You will be set short, optional assignments to consolidate your learning and to allow you to progress at your own pace.

Application

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an application form.

Level and demands

Find your language level

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support