Level A1
Description of the Curricular Unit
The curricular unit of Portuguese Language for Foreigners is systematized according to the the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for language learning, teaching and assessment (CEFR), namely to the level A1.
Actually, the students will have 120 hours and approximately 123 hours of individual work (homework). The students will integrate the work of the following skills: understanding (listening and reading), speaking (spoken interaction and spoken production) and writing.
The curricular unit is structured in two modules (level A.1.1 and level A.1.2)
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GENERAL OBJECTIVES
The student will be able to understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type; to introduce himself/herself and others and ask and answer questions about personal details, such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has; to interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
UNDERSTANDING: LISTENING:
The student will be able to: recognize familiar words and very basic phrases
concerning himself/herself, his/her family and immediate concrete surroundings when people
speak slowly and clearly; understand everyday expressions dealing with simple and concrete
everyday needs, in clear, slow and repeated speech; follow speech which is very slow and
carefully articulated, with long pauses for him/her to get the meaning; understand questions and
instructions and follow short, simple directions; and understand numbers, prices and times.
READING: The student will be able to: understand the general idea of simple informational texts
and short simple descriptions, especially if they contain pictures which help to explain the text;
understand very short, simple texts, putting together familiar names, words and basic phrases,
by for example rereading parts of the text; follow short, simple written instructions, especially if they contain pictures; recognize familiar names, words and very simple phrases on simple notices in the most common everyday situations; and understand short, simple messages, e.g. on postcards.
SPEAKING: INTERACTION & PRODUCTION:
The student will be able to: interact in a simple way, provided the other
person is prepared to repeat or rephrase things at a slower rate of speech and help him/her formulate what he/she is trying to say; ask and answer simple questions in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics. - SPOKEN PRODUCTION: The student will be able to: use simple phrases and sentences to describe where he/she lives and people he/she knows.
WRITING: The student will be able to: write simple notes to friends and relatives; describe where he/she lives; fill in forms with personal details, for example entering his/her name, nationality and address on a hotel registration form; write simple isolated phrases and sentences; write a short simple postcard; and write short letters and messages with the help of a dictionary.
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SYLLABUS
In summary, the main themes to be approached are:
Greeting other people, answering greetings/saying goodbye, introduction of oneself, family, nationality, calendar, weather, the time, shopping and making telephone calls, among others. A stimulating part of the education process will be the presentation of vocabulary used in typical everyday communication (internet chats, e-mails).
Module 1: Level A. 1. 1 60 hours
Sociolinguistic, Cultural and Communicational Competences:
• Advise and give instructions
• Agree / disagree
• Apologize
• Ask and tell the time (hours, minutes, etc.)
• Ask prices
• Book a hotel room
• Compare countries and habits
• Describe locations and people
• Express preferences
• Give information of personal description
• Go shopping
• Go to the doctor
• Greeting
• Invite / accept / decline
• Localize
• Make plans
• Place orders in the cafe / restaurant and in other shops
• Present himself/herself
• Request information about places
• Request items in shops
• Say goodbye
• Suggest
• Talk about actions of everyday life
• Talk about current events
• Talk about free time activities
• Talk about hobbies and vacations
• Talk about the weather
• Write a letter
Lexical Areas / Vocabulary:
• Actions of day-to-day
• Address
• Adjectives
• At the Doctor
• At the Post Office / in the Bank / in the Pharmacy
• Cardinal Numbers (up to 20; up to 100; from 101-1000)
• Clothing
• Colors
• Countries / Cities / Towns / villages
• Days of the week and months
• Food and beverages
• Furniture
• Hobbies
• Holiday Seasons
• Vacations, leisure and hobbies
• Hotel
• Hours
• House
• Invitations
• Jobs
• Meals
• Means of transportation
• Medical specialties and symptoms
• Name
• Nationalities
• On the phone
• Ordinal numbers
• Parts of the day
• Physical and psychological descriptions
• Prices
• Relationship Status
• School
• Seasons
• The family
• The menu
• Weather
Grammar:
• Phonetics: alphabet, vowels and consonants, diphthongs and other specific sounds of
the Portuguese language
• “Estar a” + Infinitive
• Adjectives
• Affirmative / negative / interrogative sentences
• Comparatives and Superlatives
• Definite and indefinite articles
• Demonstrative pronouns: “isto” / “isso” / “aquilo”
• Expression “Como está? / Como estás?”
• Expressions of time: “há”, “desde”, “sempre”, “nunca”, “às vezes”
• Imperative
• Indirect object pronouns
• Interrogative pronouns and adverbs
• Irregular verbs (present tense): “ser”, “estar”, “ter”, “haver”, “ir”,“poder”, “querer”, “saber”,
“ver”, “ler”, “vir”, “fazer”, “dizer”, “trazer”, “sair”, “cair”, “pedir”, “ouvir”, “dormir”, “pôr”, “dar”
and “doer”
• Modal verbs: “Precisar de”, “ter de”, “dever” …
• Personal pronouns - subject pronouns
• Polite expressions: "Podia…?”, "Queria...”
• Possessives
• Preposition “com” + personal pronoun
• Prepositional Expressions of place
• Prepositions of time
• Prepositions: “de”, “em”, “com”, “para”, “a”, “por”
• Reflexive Verbs
• Regular verbs (present tense) in -ar, -er and -ir
• Verb “ir” + Infinitive
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Module 2: Level A. 1. 2 60 hours
Sociolinguistic, Cultural and Communicational Competences:
• Advise
• Analyze the difficulties of adapting to a new country or culture
• Argue and defend viewpoints
• Define appropriate professional profiles
• Describe a city
• Develop listening comprehension
• Express pleasure or displeasure
• Face an interview
• Follow a map
• Indicate directions
• Make and answer inquiries on the street
• Plan a party
• Present professional features
• Recognize instructions
• Report past and present events
• Send invitations
• Talk about of personal experiences
• Talk about past events
• Talk about professional experience, objectives and concerns
• Talk about the usual actions in the past
• Talk of popular parties and traditions
• Use appropriate polite expressions
• Write a letter
Lexical Areas / Vocabulary:
• Actions related to the past
• Advertising
• Biographical Stories
• Bullfighting
• Curriculum Vitae
• Directions
• Events
• Festivals and traditions
• Formulas of politeness
• Habits
• Household items
• An interview
• Inquiries
• Instructions
• Invitations
• Life Experiences
• Opinions
• Problems of adaptation to a new country or culture
• Professional characteristics
• Professional Profile
• Travels
• Usual actions in the past
Grammar:
• “andar a” + infinitive
• “Costumar” + infinitive
• “haver de” + Infinitive
• Adverbs in “-mente”
• Adverbs of time: “antigamente” and “antes”
• Customary actions in the past
• Direct object pronouns (with exceptions)
• Expressions of time: “já”, “ainda não”, “nunca” …
• Imperative (regular verbs)
• Indefinite pronouns and adjectives
• Paronym words
• Passivating Particle: “se”
• Imperfect Tense: regular verbs in –ar, -er and –ir and some irregular verbs
• Prepositions + Pronouns
• Relative Pronouns
• Perfect tense (PPS): regular verbs in –ar, -er and -ir
• Perfect tense (PPS): some irregular verbs "ser", “estar”, “ter”, “haver”, “trazer”, “fazer”, “dizer”,
“ver”, “ir”, “vir”, “pôr”, “dar”, “conseguir”, “saber”, “poder”,“querer”…
Level A 2
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Description of the Curricular Unit
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The curricular unit of Portuguese Language for Foreigners is systematized according to the the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for language learning, teaching and assessment (CEFR), namely to the level A2. Actually, the students will have 120 hours and approximately 123 hours of individual work (homework). The students will integrate the work of the following skills: understanding (listening and reading), speaking (spoken interaction and spoken production) and writing.
The curricular unit is structured in two modules (level A.2.1 and level A.2.2)
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GENERAL OBJECTIVES
The student will be able to understand sentences and frequently use expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment); communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters; and describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
UNDERSTANDING: LISTENING:
The student will be able to: understand phrases and the highest frequency vocabulary related to areas of most immediate personal relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local area, employment); catch the main point in short, clear, simple messages and announcements; understand enough to be able to meet needs of a concrete type provided speech is clearly and slowly articulated; follow speech which is very slow and carefully articulated, with long pauses for him/her to assimilate meaning; generally, identify the topic of discussion around him/her amongst native speakers, when it is conducted slowly and clearly; listening to announcements and instructions, catch the main point in short, clear, simple messages and announcements and understand simple directions relating to how to get from X to Y, by foot or public transport; listening to audio media and recordings, understand and extract the essential information from short, recorded passages dealing with predictable everyday matters which are delivered slowly and clearly.
READING: The student will be able to: read and understand short, simple texts on familiar matters of a concrete type which consist of high frequency every day or job-related language, including a proportion of shared international vocabulary items; find specific, predictable information in simple everyday material such as advertisements, prospectuses, menus and timetables and understand short simple personal or standard routine letters and faxes (enquiries, orders, letters of confirmation etc.) on familiar topics; understand everyday signs and notices: in public places, such as streets, restaurants, railway stations; in workplaces, such as directions, instructions, hazard warnings; identify specific information in simpler written material he/she
encounters such as letters, brochures and short newspaper articles describing events;
understand regulations, for example safety, when expressed in simple language; understand simple instructions on equipment encountered in everyday life – such as a public telephone;
identify the main point of TV news items reporting events, accidents etc. where the visual supports the commentary; follow changes of topic of factual TV news items, and form an idea of the main content;
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SPEAKING: SPOKEN INTERACTION: The student will be able to: interact with reasonable ease in structured situations and short conversations, provided the other person helps if necessary; manage simple, routine exchanges without undue effort; ask and answer questions and exchange ideas and information on familiar topics in predictable everyday situations; communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters to do with work and free time; handle very short social exchanges but is rarely able to understand enough to keep conversation going of his/her own accord; understanding a native speaking interlocutor, understand enough to manage simple, routine exchanges without undue effort; generally, understand clear, standard speech on familiar matters directed at him/her, provided he/she can ask for repetition or reformulation from time to time; and understand what is said clearly, slowly and directly to him/her in simple everyday conversation; establish social contact: greetings and farewells; introductions; giving thanks; generally understand clear, standard speech on familiar matters directed at him/her, provided he/she can ask for repetition or reformulation from time to time; participate in short conversations in routine contexts on topics of interest; express how he/she feels in simple terms, and express thanks.; handle very short social exchanges but is rarely able to understand enough to keep a conversation going of his/her own accord, though he/she can be made to understand if the speaker will take the trouble; use simple everyday polite forms of greeting and address; make and respond to invitations, suggestions and apologies; say what he/she likes and dislikes; in formal discussion and meetings, generally follow changes of topic in formal discussion related to his/her field which is conducted slowly and clearly; exchange relevant information and give his/her opinion on practical problems when asked directly, provided he/she receives some help with formulation and can ask for repetition of key points if necessary; and say what he/she thinks about things when addressed directly in a formal meeting, provided he/she can ask for repetition of key points if necessary.
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SPOKEN PRODUCTION: The student will be able to: use a series of phrases and sentences to describe in simple terms his/her family and other people, living or working conditions, daily
habits and routines, plans and arrangements, past activities and personal experiences, likes /
dislikes, educational background and his/her present or most recent job.
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WRITING: The student will be able to: write short, simple formulaic notes and /or messages relating to matters in areas of immediate need; write a very simple personal letter, for example thanking someone for something; write about everyday aspects of his/her environment, e.g. people, places, a job or study experience in linked sentences; write very short, basic descriptions of events, past activities and personal experiences; write a series of simple phrases and sentences about their family, living conditions, educational background, present or most recent job; write short, simple imaginary biographies and simple poems about people.
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Module 1: Level A. 2. 1 60 hours
Sociolinguistic, Cultural and Communicational Competences:
• Advise
• Analyze a map
• Argue
• Compare the Portuguese culture with his/her own country and culture
• Comprehend information, instructions and explanations in different service areas
• Formulate questions expressing doubt
• Give an opinion and defend it
• Give and ask for personal information, professional nature and leisure time
• Make comparisons
• Make descriptions of the past
• Make predictions for the future
• Make requests politely
• Present himself/herself
• Reproduce what someone said (indirect speech)
• Talk about events that began in the past and continue to this day
• Talk about habitual actions in the past
• Talk about the weather and its consequences
• Tell the story of a movie
• Understand and analyze graphic information
• Understand announcements and advertising brochures
• Understand broadcast programming
• Understand information about the weather
• Understand interviews in the media
• Understand menus
• Understand written newspaper articles related to various topics
Lexical Areas / Vocabulary:
• Activities during leisure time
• Advertising
• Announcements, rules and instructions
• Balanced nutrition and health
• Cinema
• Everyday habits
• Extreme Sports
• Food wheel and food pyramid
• Horoscope
• Interview
• Maps with the weather forecast
• Names and functions of useful objects
• Natural disasters
• Personal identification and characterization
• Physical and Character Descriptions
• Portuguese Music: Fado
• Predictions for the future
• Program of Television
• Qualities and defects
• Restaurant
• Services
• Shows
• Social Habits damaging health: Tobacco and alcohol
• Sport Activities
• Sports and the health
• Stress (causes and consequences)
• Superstitions
• Vegetarian food
• Ways to overcome stress
• Weather
Grammar:
• Prefixation of Portuguese words
• Expressions of doubt: “Será que” …?
• Conditional Mood
• Future Tense
• Future Perfect Tense
• Imperfect tense
• Past participle (regular and irregular)
• Personal Infinitive
• Pluperfect Tense
• Indirect Speech
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Module 2: Level A. 2. 2 60 hours
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Sociolinguistic, Cultural and Communicational Competences:
Lexical Areas / Vocabulary:
• A day in the shopping center
• African Countries of Portuguese Official Language (PALOP)
• African Markets
• Alternative Medicines
• Cape Verde: the morna and the cachupa
• Cooking Recipes
• Different types of written text
• Dream holidays
• Habits and Consumer Rights
• In the clothing store
• In the doctor's office
• In the hotel
• In the restaurant
• Informational text on expenses of the Portuguese
• Legends
• Medical specialties
• Most prominent topics in the news
• Opinions about the health care system
• Parties of popular saints
• Payment Methods
• Portuguese Health care system
• Shopping facilities
• Short newspaper articles about daily events
• Survey on quality of service
• Traditional and modern jobs
• Unemployment
• Written and oral messages
Grammar:
• Collective Nouns
• Double Participles
• Gerund
• Passive Voice
• Invariable relative pronouns: “que”, “quem”, “onde”
• Variable relative pronouns: “cujo/a/os/as”, “o/a qual”, “os/as quais”
• Placement of the Personal Pronouns
• Possessives without article
• Pronominal Contraction
• Pronominal position
• Suffixes: “-aria“, “-eiro“, “-or“, “-ista“
• Use of “você”
• Verb “Estar” + Gerund
• Verb “Ir” + Gerund
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