Admission requirements
This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies programme.
Description
This is a starter Portuguese language course, which develops written and oral communication skills through an intensive programme of language acquisition. Grammar and language structures are taught around a schedule centered on practical/concrete situations, such as speaking about oneself, getting to know people, finding one’s way round town, communicating present and past situations, etc.
Course objectives
This course enables the student to achieve a good level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).
This is the first in a series of three language acquisition courses within the International Studies program. The final objective of this course series is to obtain an intermediate level of proficiency in Portuguese, aimed at communication with people in the region in everyday social situations and enabling students to follow current affairs in the region via various media.
| Skill | CEFR Level |
|---|---|
| Reading | A2 |
| Writing | A1 |
| Listening | A1+ |
| Speaking | A1 |
Timetable
The timetable is available on the BA International Studies website.
Mode of instruction
Tutorials
Three two-hour tutorials every week, with the exception of the midterm exam week. Attending all tutorial sessions is compulsory. If you are unable to attend a session, please inform your tutor in advance, providing a valid reason for your absence. Being absent will result in a lowering of the participation grade with 0.5 for every absence after the first three (3) times.
Course Load
Total course load for this course is 10 EC (1 EC = 28 hours), which equals 280 hours, broken down by:
Attending classes (6 hours per week over 12 weeks): 72 hours
Preparing for classes, exams and extra activities: 202 hours
Assessment hours (exams and other assessment): 6 hours
Assessment method
Assessment
Exam 1 - 1-2 hours (week 3)
Exam 2 - 1-2 hours (week 6) - Midterm exam
Exam 3 - 1-2 hours (week 9)
Exam 4 - 1-2 hours (week 12) - Final exam
Oral Exam - 7-15 minutes (week 12)
Quizzes + Assignments (weekly)
Exams include grammar exercises (e.g., fill-the-gap, short answer, etc.), reading comprehension, listening comprehension, open questions, and short essays. Oral assessment consists of a question/answer session. Quizzes and assignments are weekly tasks
Weighing
| Partial grade | Weighing |
|---|---|
| Reading | 20% |
| Writing | 20% |
| Listening | 20% |
| Speaking | 20% |
| Participation | 20% |
End Grade
To successfully complete the course, please take note that the End Grade of the course is established by determining the weighted average of the in-class oral and listening performance, and written exams.
The End Grade needs to be a 6.0 or higher to pass the course.
Resit
If the End Grade is insufficient (lower than a 6.0), there is a possibility of retaking the full 80% of the exam material (exams, quizzes, projects, etc.). No resit for the tutorial (participation or homework) is possible.
Retaking a passing grade
Please consult the Course and Examination Regulations 2018 – 2019.
Exam review
How and when an exam review takes place will be determined by the examiner. This review will be within 30 days after official publication of exam results.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for this course. Students are requested to enroll on Blackboard, but only after correct enrolment in uSis.
Reading list
Vailati, Tecia E. Apostila 1 (Reader). This reader will be available for free download on Blackboard.
Isabel Coimbra and Olga M. Coimbra, Gramática Ativa 1. (Porto: Lidel). There are two versions of this book: the European Portuguese (also applicable to African Portuguese) and the Brazilian Portuguese. Choose the one related to your area of studies.
Registration
Enrolment through uSis for Tutorials is mandatory.
Students will be enrolled for Exams by the Administration Office, as long as they have a valid Tutorial enrolment.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable.
Contact
When contacting lecturers or tutors, please include your full name, student number, and tutorial group number.
Remarks
Passing this course is an additional requirement for a positive Study Recommendation at the end of the year.
This course uses an integrated communicative language learning method. Therefore active participation in the classroom activities is essential for successful learning outcomes.