Modern Language Centre
Evening Language Courses
Course Description
Portuguese (Brazilian) false
beginners
How long does the course last?
3 x 10 week terms with 10 classes per term. Lessons take place once a week and last 1.5 hours each. This gives
a total of 45 hours tuition.
Who is the course for?
The course is aimed at a wide range of students with a general interest in Portuguese with the following:
 one or two terms of Level 1 of the MLC Evening Language Courses or equivalent
 a pass at GCSE/O level obtained more than four years ago
 a recent GCSE/O level grade C or below
What are the objectives of the course?
To improve and consolidate knowledge of grammar and vocabulary acquired previously and to achieve the
equivalent of A1 level of the CEFR, entry level of the NQF.
By the end of the course you will:
 be able to communicate effectively in everyday life situations, including using greetings, talking about daily
activities, finding your way, telling the time and date, making purchases, ordering a meal, booking a hotel,
etc.
 be able to understand simple oral passages and written texts and infer specific information from simple texts
 have developed basic writing skills
 have developed an insight into Portuguese-speaking life, culture and society
How is the course taught?
 A communicative approach is used. All four skills (speaking, reading, listening and writing) are practised,
with the main emphasis on speaking.
 Students engage in interactive language activities, participating in group and pair work according to a
syllabus based on systematic grammatical progression.
 Students will also be offered guidance in self-study and be set optional homework tasks.
What form of Portuguese do you teach?
Contemporary Portuguese comprises several dialects and sub-dialects, often very distinct,
and two internationally recognized standards (European Portuguese and Brazilian
Portuguese). This class will teach Brazilian Portuguese (written and spoken).
What course can I do next?
After completing all three terms of False Beginners, students should be able to join a Level 2 or Level 3 class.
Students should consult their tutor, who will be able to advise them on the best level to proceed to.
Course outline
Term 1
Topics
First contact
At the restaurant
Invitations
Food
Hotel reservations
At the hotel - complaints
Orientation in the city
Traffic
Numbers up to a billion
Functions
Meeting people
Introducing oneself
Asking for information and expressing thanks
Expressing desire, preferences and doubts
Asking for locations and directions
Confirming something and complaining
Grammar
Possessive pronouns
Contrasting: ser/estar
Verb: saber (present tense)
Demonstrative pronouns
Verbs: gostar de and preferir
Verbs: estar, querer, fazer and preferir
The gerund
Comparative with mais
Imperative
Contracting: em + este/a: neste(s), nesta (s), and em + aquele/a naquele (s), naquela (s)
Precisar, precisar de
Há, daqui a
Interrogative pronouns
Antes de, depois de
Por/ pelo(s) / pela(s)
Term 2
Topics
Houses and flats
At the estate agent
Decorating
In the classroom
Housing
Functions
Describing and identifying things
Expressing contentment and discontent
Comparing things
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Locating objects
Grammar
Simple past regular tense of verbs ending in: ar, er and ir
Comparative
Prepositions of places
Term 3
Topics
Daily routine
Brazilian calendar
Poetry
Brazilian Art
Some important facts of Brazilian history
Functions
Reporting activities in the past
Talking about day-to-day activities
Comparing and discussing different world calendars
Understanding some aspects of Brazilian culture
Relating some important facts of Brazilian history
Grammar
Simple past (irregular verbs): ser, ir, estar, ter, fazer, querer, poder and dar
Personal pronouns direct object: o, a, os, as, lo, la, los, las
Adverbial phrases of time
Prepositions por and para
Contracting preposition Por + definite articles
Pronouns indirect object: lhe, lhes
Personal pronouns: mim, comigo, conosco
Reciprocal or reflexive pronouns
Learning resources
Textbook and exercise book:

Novo Avenida Brasil 1 – Curso Básico de Português para Estrangeiros (Emma Eberlein Lima) ISBN10: 8512545208
Students are expected to purchase their own textbook. An exercise book may also be recommended. The
teacher will supply additional material, both tailor-made and taken from other sources (textbooks, newspapers,
and new media).
Recommended additional material:


Falar, Ler, Escrever Português
Gramática Ativa 1 (Versão Brasileira) – Lamartine Bião Oberg (segundo o novo acordo ortográfico)
For a list of bookshops where you may be able to purchase text books please see our web page:
www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/mlc/about/facilities/shops.aspx
Online language learning resources:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/mlc/lrc/language-resources/portuguese.aspx
www.bbc.co.uk/portuguese
www.oglobo.com.br
http://www.sonia-portuguese.com/
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Independent Study
Research indicates that successful language learners revise new material and review their progress on a regular
basis. The Language Resources Centre (LRC), situated in room K-1.072 in level minus one of the Strand
Campus, houses a wide collection of learning material including text and grammar books, magazines and
newspapers, CDs, DVDs, satellite television and self-access e-learning language programmes.
For details on LRC opening times, please see our website:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/mlc/lrc/index.aspx
Date of last revision: July 2015
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