Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

Level B or equivalent. Students are advised not to proceed to level C unless they achieve at least 40% in POR2010.

Co Requisite Comment

None

Aims

Focus on further developing students' written communicative and oral /aural competence in the foreign language gained in POR2010 and during their intercalary year (including fluency, grammatical and lexical accuracy and range; register and pronunciation).

Facilitate students' ability to establish and maintain effective social and working relations with speakers of the foreign language in written and spoken media.

Teaching in weekly language classes will focus on communication and on the formal structures of the language. All four skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking) are fully integrated in the language classes and will be assessed.

Outline Of Syllabus

Training in grammar, vocabulary and communicative competence through use of class textbooks and other materials. Further practice on summary and composition, listening and oral presentations. Focus on literary texts by contemporary Lusophone writers (short stories, short novels).

THIS COURSE WILL BE TAUGHT AND ASSESSED IN PORTUGUESE.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

By the end the course, students will have had opportunity to learn about:
1. the use of appropriate sentence, lexical and text structures for a range of text types.
2. all areas of grammar, vocabulary and background knowledge related to the skills listed below.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Subject specific skills:
By the end of the course, students will have had the opportunity to learn about:
1. using more complex lexical and grammatical structures in spoken and written communication.
2. synthesising information from a more complex aural and written input.
3. close reading using material of appropriate complexity and length.
4. extended writing in the target language.
5. analysing and using authentic spoken media sources including multiple speakers, the exposure to different regional accents, intonations, speeds of delivery, background noises etc.
6. conversing, discussing directly with target language speakers and producing/giving presentations in Portuguese using an appropriate range, on agreed topics.
7. how to study grammar systematically.

Cognitive/Intellectual Skills:
Students will further develop their ability:
1. to locate, make use and critically evaluate materials for this course other than those provided by the teacher.
2. to critically evaluate their own performance and the performance of others.
3. to apply a range of strategies for language learning appropriate for this level and module.
4. to work independently and confidently on their own or in a group, either within or outside the classroom.
5. to conduct research using the internet and other sources in order to contribute their own materials to the course.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

1. Teaching in the language seminars will focus on oral communication skills (speaking and listening) while reading and writing skills are mainly developed in the preparation of and the associated work after the language seminar.

2. Independent learning and learner autonomy are further developed through the means of structured homework and research activities, grammar-related activities, online guided tasks, pair and group work, assessment preparation, and self-study at home, via the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and in the Language Resource Centre. Particular initiative is expected from students at this level, e.g. course participants will be asked to contribute their own materials to the classes and activities and be very pro-active in their language study.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The oral examination (50%) will take place at the end of Semester 2. It will test students’ ability to conduct independent research, critically evaluate authentic material, and to produce and present their own output orally in a clear and structured manner. It will also assess their ability to speak freely, understand aural and/or audio visual input, and interact in a discussion on these findings and on general matters.

The final written exam at the end of Semester 2 (50%) will take place during the exam period and will test the students’ ability to produce and present a well-structured text or texts in the target language based on the comprehension and analysis of written source material. Students may be allowed to type their own answers provided that spell check / grammar check has been disabled. This formal examination provides summative information to staff and student on student's achievement in reading and writing in the target language at the end of this module.

General Notes

N/A