Portuguese for Social and Development Studies I PORT 1006 (6 credits/90 class hours)

Transcription

1 Portuguese for Social and Development Studies I PORT 1006 (6 credits/90 class hours) SIT Study Abroad Program: Brazil: Social Innovation and Community Development PLEASE NOTE: Because courses develop and change over time to take advantage of unique learning opportunities, actual course content varies from semester to semester. Course Description This 90-hour immersion Portuguese language course is designed to meet the needs of SIT students with minimal or no Portuguese language proficiency. The course focuses on oral expression, comprehension, structure, and grammar. It is a beginners course that integrates the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) using segments of a variety of approaches from the latest approaches in language teaching and learning so that students can develop linguistic competence in the target language. Due to its nature and format classes are taught in Portuguese. Students are encouraged to speak the language from day one in order to fully experience a total emersion atmosphere. Different from being a teacher-centered class, all classroom activities have been designed so that the focus lies on student-centered learning. Course materials are designed by university professors and are used to introduce, expand, and reinforce knowledge of linguistic structures progressively, as students gain competence in the language. Student s learning outcomes are enhanced and reinforced through the utilization of audio and visual aids such as videos, contemporary popular songs, recordings, ads, flyers information sharing among students, and a continuous review of material being simultaneously taught in the thematic seminars and in the research methods and ethics seminar course. In addition, teachers take students on frequent field trips during which they explore and discuss how local communities use a set of specific language habits to foster social interaction. To further foster learning, teachers design their lesson plans to include relevant information about the economy and politics of Brazil and Latin America, myths, societal roles, religion, and literature. Finally, personal tutorials take place once a week. The beginning course content focuses on grammatical structure, greetings, verb Copyright SIT, a program of World Learning 1

2 conjugation and tenses, regular and irregular verbs, prepositions, possessives, definite and indefinite articles, demonstrative pronouns, object pronouns, adverbs, indefinite pronouns, and negative, affirmative, and interrogative forms. Language of Instruction Portuguese Course Objectives The objectives of this course are to: develop and foster Portuguese language skills through intensive instruction and cultural immersion; build basic language skills through listening speaking, reading and writing at the introductory level introduce students to the most useful verb tenses of Portuguese bring all students to a level of Portuguese permitting involvement in Brazilian culture, including acquisition of information from primary sources in Brazil, and basic understanding of lectures, meetings, and seminars given in the host language; promote students vocabulary growth, with a special emphasis on the vocabulary and other specialized terms to be successful in their individual projects and homestays. Course Requirements Students are required to complete approximately one hour of homework assignments daily. The bulk of these assignments consist of written and oral exercises from textbooks supplemented with short papers, interviews, and additional reading. Class attendance, participation, and preparedness are also required. Course Texts Compilation of materials specially designed to meet the students needs. Course Schedule *Please be aware that topics and excursions may vary to take advantage of any emerging events, to accommodate changes in our lecturers availability, and to respect any changes that would affect student safety. Students will be notified if this occurs. The course will be divided into two phases. Module 1 & 2 will be taught in an intensive format for the first two weeks of the program. After the initial two weeks, students will continue with Modules 3-6 throughout the rest of the semester along with their other courses. The total of 90 class hours will be achieved by: Module 1 & 2 will offer four hours a day of intensive Portuguese instruction for a total of 40 class hours. Additional time will be spent in field exercises that will enrich the classroom learning and the ability to function in real life language situations, assimilate everyday life issues, and immerse in the local culture. Field assignments are done both individually and in groups and may include visits to markets and stores, cafes and restaurants and museums. These will add approximately 10 credit hours (20 hours in the field). Copyright SIT, a program of World Learning 2

3 Modules 3-6 (weeks 3-10) will offer one hour of Portuguese per day for 30 days for a total of 30 class hours. Field assignments will continue and add approximately 10 credit hours (20 in the field). In addition, students are expected to spend one hour a night on homework and will have a one hour tutorial each week. Module 1: Week 1 Greetings, Nationalities and Professions Gender and plural of nouns Uses of verbs SER and ESTAR Gerund Question Words Alphabet and Numbers Demonstrative Pronouns Field Trip Activities 1 & II* Interviewing Activity I Video Assignment I (Introduction to Portuguese) and Feedback Module 2: Week 2 Present Tense of Regular and Irregular Verbs Days of the Week, Months, Seasons. Expressions with verb ESTAR Time Expressions Use of A GENTE vs NÓS TER QUE+infinitive form IR+Infinitive (going to - future form) Field Trip Activities III & IV Interviewing Activity II Video Assignment II (Verb Tenses) and Feedback Module 3: Weeks 3-4 PRETÉRITO PERFEITO (Past Tense) Imperfect vs Perfect tense Comparisons - Adjectives - Opposites Prepositions of place Telling Time Journal Part 1 (Volunteer Community Service)* Module 4: Weeks 5-6 Imperative form Superlative form PRETÉRITO COMPOSTO DO INDICATIVO (compound past tense) Past Participles (regular and irregular forms) Journal - Part II (Volunteer Community Service) Module 5: Weeks 7-8 Differen TRAZER vs LEVAR Simple Future Present Subjunctive Copyright SIT, a program of World Learning 3

4 Expressions that require Present Subjunctive Indefinite pronouns Module: Weeks 9-10 CONHECER vs SABER Different Meanings of FICAR Different Meanings of TIRAR Idioms with DAR * Field Trip Activities encompass hours spent outside the classroom with specific tasks to foster Portuguese use/practice in a less structured environment, providing students with real-life every-day experiences with locals. This is a self-conducted activity, taking into consideration the individual level of proficiency of each participant. Interviewing Activities involve direct contact with locals in informal exchanges outside the classroom, according to specific tasks on current issues, family life, routines, social and cultural life, among others. Again, this is a self-conducted activity, taking into consideration the individual level of proficiency of each participant. Journals are written reports that include participants opinions and perspectives about their involvement as volunteers in local community projects. Evaluation and Grading Criteria Description of Assignments: 1. QUIZZES: Regular 1 page quizzes on the content taught: verb tenses, language structure and vocabulary. 2. COMPOSITIONS, HOMEWORK and Community Service Journal: Students are asked to write around 7 compositions throughout the course. Homework usually encompasses not only language content taught but also interactivity with host family members on themed topics of the program, culture, and day-to-day issues. Students are required to keep a journal of their activities in the local community. 3. FULL PARTICIPTATION IN CLASS: Students are expected to engage in every classroom activity be it written or oral. 4. MID-TERM (WRITTEN): The mid-term is applied in the first half of the course. Students are asked to interpret a text, answer questions, write short paragraphs, provide fill-in the blanks answers, complete sentences, write task based answers, and write a one-page composition. 5. MID-TERM (ORAL): Students meet individually with the teacher to answer questions based on the language structure covered in the first half of the course. 6. FINAL EXAM (ORAL): Students are encouraged to do one of the following tasks or a combination of them. A. Make a short presentation of their contributions to the local community service; B. Answer questions based on language content; engage in a conversation or group discussion guided by the teacher; C. Role-play determined situations that reflect their daily activities in the host country; D. Make a short presentation of cultural themes to Brazilian students. Copyright SIT, a program of World Learning 4

5 7. FINAL EXAM (WRITTEN): Students are asked to interpret a text, answer questions, write short paragraphs, create dialogues, provide fill-in the blanks answers, complete sentences, write task based answers, and write a one-page composition. Assessment: Class work and participation on field trips and tasks 10 % Quizzes 08 % Mid term oral exam 20 % Mid term written exam 10 % Final Oral Test 30 % Composition, Homework and Journal 10% Final Written Test 12 % 100 % Grading Scale % A 90-93% A % B % B 80-83% B % C % C 70-73% C % D % D below 64 F Expectations and Policies For the successful completion of the course, participants will be requested to: Attend classes regularly and avoid leaving the room frequently. Full attendance is expected. Be punctual both at the start of the class and when returning from short coffee-breaks. Hand in homework assignments in a timely fashion. Late papers will not be graded in full. Engage actively in classroom and out-of-the-classroom activities. Individual effort in oral production is key to effective learning and an integral part of the evaluation by the instructor. Display a respectful and respectable posture both in terms of dressing code and personal appearance, and attitude while listening to peers and/or interacting with native speakers of any social or ethnic nomination, at all times. Prejudice and demeaning comments of any nature will not be tolerated Please refer to the SIT Study Abroad Student Handbook for policies on academic integrity, ethics, warning and probation, diversity and disability, sexual harassment and the academic appeals process. Copyright SIT, a program of World Learning 5