With about 260 million speakers worldwide, Portuguese is one of the top ten most spoken language in the world and an official language of Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe and East Timor. Studying this language will give you something unique to add to your resume since relatively few students in the US learn it.
Knowing this language will open doors for you in international markets, as Brazil alone represents the largest economy in South America. It will also help you to understand the beautiful music of samba, fado, batuko, and kizomba; the martial art of capoeira; the festive performances of carnaval and much more.
If you already know another Romance language, such as Spanish, French, Italian or Romanian, you will find many similarities in Portuguese vocabulary and grammar. People who speak English also find this language a joy to learn.
If you have any questions about this course, contact Professor Laurie Lomask at llomask@bmcc.cuny.edu.
- This is an introductory course to Portuguese language and the cultures where it is spoken. This course aims to develop a communicative competence at a basic level where speaking, writing, reading, and listening are emphasized in varied and contextualized settings. This course is for students who have had no previous background in Portuguese. (If you already know Portuguese or have previously studied the language, please contact the Modern Languages Department to sign up for a class that may be better suited to your proficiency level.) With the goal of meaningful communication, students are expected to interact with each other since day one, acquire and practice new vocabulary, explore strategies for communicating effectively in a variety of academic and social situations, and analyze the structures of language (its pragmatic function in common social discourse structures). Activities will be largely devoted to providing practice through task-based and communicative activities. Grammar is taught inductively and simple texts are read. Speaking, reading and writing are emphasized.
