Advanced Portuguese

Catalog description

This is an advanced level course designed to expand students’ lexical and grammatical understanding of the language. It also introduces students to the fundamental principles of expository writing and oral expression through the analysis of videos, examples from visual arts related to fashion, gastronomy, soccer, and music, as well as short stories, poems, and essays on culture, sociology, and history. The core goal is to discuss and analyze the constitutive elements of Luso-Brazilian society in the first decades of the 21st Century. Special attention will be devoted to the evolution of Contemporary Luso-Brazilian societies in the light of social and artistic phenomena. We will read essential pieces, see images and videos produced by the most sophisticated cultural authors and critics, and compare their views on art and society. This approach is designed to encourage students to discuss course materials, stimulate creative thinking, and enhance their ability to express complex ideas fluently in both written and spoken Portuguese. Upon completing the semester, students will have the necessary linguistic skills for advanced-level Portuguese.