What follows is a sample syllabus for PORT 051 at the University of Vermont. It is
intended to give you an idea of the objectives and methods of this class. The textbook
listed is subject to change at any time and is NOT indicative of the actual textbook that
will be used should you enroll in the class.
PORT 051: INTERMEDIATE PORTUGUESE I
Bem-vindos! Welcome to the Intermediate Portuguese course!
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Portuguese 051 was designed to provide a communicative learning experience to help you
expand your ability to interact with others successfully in Portuguese, one of the fastest
growing languages in today's world.
In order and to achieve these goals, different approaches will be used to help you master the
four basic language skills: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. We will
devote some of our class time to review complex grammar structures and vocabulary, but
emphasis will be placed on communicative activities that will give you the all-important
ability to make use of Portuguese in your own life, both inside and outside of the classroom.
Considering that language and culture are interrelated, this program incorporates a wide
variety of resources such as readings, music, videos, and games to further enhance your
knowledge of the cultural aspects of Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking (Lusophone)
nations. Since I am a native of Brazil, emphasis will be given to Brazilian Portuguese.
However, this should not prevent your ability to interact in different variants of the language.
Whenever relevant, vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar differences between the speech
of Brazil and that of Portugal will be pointed out.
This course assumes prior knowledge and some experience with Portuguese, therefore
classes will be conducted exclusively in Portuguese. I look forward to a fun and
productive semester sharing my language and culture with you!
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
By the end of Portuguese 051, you will be able to:
 speak with your peers about things you have done or would like to do
 speak informally about your opinions regarding a variety of issues and topics relevant to you
and your community
 listen to and follow the main ideas of extended conversations on familiar topics
 comprehend the main events detailed in cultural or historical interviews, movies, or oral
narratives
 write academic comparisons and reactions with thoughtful use of tense, aspect, and word
choice
 read and comprehend authentic articles, descriptions, and brief stories written about
cultural, social, and personal topics that employ a wide range of grammatical structures and
more sophisticated vocabulary
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
 Viajando através do alfabeto – A Reading and Writing Program for Intermediate to
Advanced Portuguese (ISBN-13: 978-1585103447) Clémence Jouët-Pastré and Patricia
Isabel Sobral, 1st Ed. 2009, Focus Publishing/R.Pullins Co.
 Para a frente!: An intermediate course in Portuguese (ISBN-13: 978-0942566413) Larry
D. King and Margarita Suñer, 2nd Ed. 2004, LinguaText, Ltd.
Free online dictionary: http://aulete.uol.com.br/
Verb conjugations website: http://www.conjuga-me.net/
Videos:Students will watch and discuss episodes from a popular contemporary Brazilian TV
series, A Grande Família, which will be available online at the UVM Language Resource
Center website: http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmlrc/
Blackboard: Additional links and information relevant to the course will be posted on
Blackboard (bb.uvm.edu) throughout the semester. Please check Blackboard frequently.
EXPECTATIONS AND EVALUATION:
Evaluation will be based on the following components:
 Participation in class (attendance; being on time; having the required materials;
actively participating in discussions, activities; and effort to communicate in Portuguese
at all times): 20%
 Homework (comprised of written exercises and some compositions): 20%
 Quizzes (number open; may be unannounced): 10%
 Midterm exam: 15%
 Final oral presentation: 15%
 Final exam (written and oral): 20%
Participation: In this class, active participation includes volunteering answers, answering
questions accurately, staying on task in pair and group work, bringing the required
materials, and respecting the classroom environment rules. Electronic devices may be used
for note-taking or dictionary tools, but your attention should always be clearly focused on the
instructor or task at hand. Please respect your fellow classmates and avoid disrupting both
your own and their learning by web-surfing, texting, or holding English conversations. Such
disruptions will be noted and reflected in your participation grade.
Attendance: This is an absolute requirement for learning a foreign language with emphasis
on communicative skills. More than three (3) unexcused absences (i.e., absences for which
you do not have an official excuse) will lower your participation grade by a third of a grade;
for example, 4 absences will turn a grade of B+ into a B, 5 absences into a B-, 6 absences into
a C+, and so on. Unexcused absences may include light illness, faulty alarm clocks, and
delayed flights. Please use your absences wisely. Frequent tardiness may also negatively
affect your participation grade.
Official excuses may consist of: a. religious holidays (during the first 2 weeks of classes,
you should submit a letter to your instructor with the dates and reasons for your
absences); b. UVM-sponsored events (during the first 2 weeks of classes, you should
submit a letter to your instructor, on UVM letterhead and signed by your supervisor or
coach, with the dates and reasons for your absences); c. Dean’s excuse (contact your
Dean’s Office if you have a serious reason to miss classes or tests and they will email your
instructor).
Homework: Assignments are due on the next day of class, unless stated otherwise.
Homework includes preparing in advance for the following class. Exercises should be
neatly written in loose leaf paper (no ripping off pages of your notebook to hand in, please!).
Compositions should be typed (double-spaced on 12 Times New Roman font). I may at times
collect and grade your homework without previous notice. Late work will not be
accepted, unless the student is facing extenuating circumstances and I am notified in
advance. The University of Vermont respects the Department of Education’s definition of a
credit hour: for every hour spent in a classroom, a student is expected to complete
approximately 2 hours of coursework outside of it. Thus, in PORT 051, a 3-credit course, a
student should expect to work at least 6 hours a week outside of the classroom.
Quizzes: Quizzes given throughout the semester may be unannounced. No make-ups will be
given without an official excuse.
Exams: The partial exam (midterm) will be given on (date); the final exam for this class is
comprehensive and is scheduled for (date). There will be no make-up exams in this class
without an official excuse.
Oral exam: Oral exams are designed to evaluate speaking and listening skills; please refer
to the course schedule for the oral exam dates. No make-ups will be given without an official
excuse.
Final oral presentation: Students will be allowed to choose a topic of cultural relevance
to present to the class. More specific directions will be given during the course. Please refer
to the course schedule for the oral presentation dates.
Accommodation: If you need medical or other accommodation in order to maximize your
learning experience at UVM, please contact the ACCESS Office (A-170 Living/Learning).
Please communicate with me if you have any issues that might interfere with your
participation and performance in this course. I am available during office hours (and by
appointment) to answer specific questions; keep in mind that many of these questions may
be answered by email.
Grading scale used in all Romance Languages and Linguistics courses at UVM:
A = 94-97%
A- = 90-93%
B+ = 87-89%
B = 84-86%
B- = 80-83%
C+ = 77-79%
C = 74-76%
C- = 70-73%
D+ = 67-69%
D = 64-66%
D- = 60-63%
F = 0-59%
Additional resources for language students:
a. The Language Resource Center at the University of Vermont: http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmlrc
b. Free tutoring at the Learning Cooperative: www.uvm.edu/learnco
c. Bailey/Howe Library Media Resources: http://library.uvm.edu/media/
d. UVM has a subscription to SCOLA, the international television service: www.scola.org. To
access SCOLA, use the following information:
User ID:
Password:
e. Meeting times for Bate-Papo, the Portuguese conversation group, will be announced at the
beginning of the semester.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
DATA
AULA
Introdução ao curso;
“Para a Frente”: Lição
preliminar (pp. 4-6)
“Para a Frente” (pp. 7-18):
Revisão Pretérito Perfeito;
Vocabulário (telefone)
“Viajando”: A de Aeroporto
(pp. 1-9);
Introdução à série “A
Grande Família”
TAREFA
(homework is due on the next day of
class unless stated otherwise)
Look over the Syllabus (email me if you have
questions!) and explore the structure of both
textbooks; “Para a Frente”: read explanations
and review conjugations of Pretérito Perfeito
(pp. 7-8); study the vocabulary (pp. 8-9); do
exercises (p. 18)
“Para a Frente”: answer “Perguntas várias”( p.
12) in writing; “Viajando”: read Introdução (pp.
xii-xiv) and think about your answers to each
question; do Parte C (p. xiv) in writing and
bring to class.
“Viajando”: study the irregular verbs, p. 4;
“Para a Frente”: read explanations on adjectives
(pp. 19-24)
“Para a Frente” (pp. 25-30):
Revisão dos Adjetivos
Watch “A Grande Família” (to discuss next
class); “Viajando”: read “B de Briga” (pp. 11-12);
review the Imperfect and do exercise 15 (pp. 1415)
Discussão sobre o episódio
de “A Grande Família”;
Viajando (pp. 14-15):
Prática do Imperfeito
“Para a Frente”: review “O pretérito imperfeito”
(p. 31) and study the vocabulary (p. 32); do
“Exercício escrito e leitura” (pp. 38-40)
“Para a Frente” (pp.33-41):
mais Pretérito Imperfeito;
Vocabulário (hotel)
“Viajando”: read “C de Cemitérios” (pp. 17-19)
and study verb conjugations (p. 20)
Reminder: watch “A Grande Família”
“Viajando”(pp. 17-23): “C de (discussion next class); “Para a Frente”: study
Cemitérios” e Revisão dos
the uses of “Pretérito Perfeito x Pretérito
Pronomes Objeto Indireto
Imperfeito” (pp. 43-45 and 47-48); do exercise
3 “Notícia policial” (p. 46) and exercise 1 (p. 49)
Conversação sobre “A
Grande Família”; “Para a
“Viajando”: review the uses of “Pretérito
Frente”: Revisão do
Perfeito e Pretérito Imperfeito” (pp. 28-29);
Pretérito Perfeito x
review “Pronome Objeto Direto” (pp. 30-31);
Pretérito Imperfeito (pp.
read Vocabulary List (p. 33)
43-52)
“Para a Frente”: study vocabulary for “O banco”
“Viajando”: “D de Diversão”
(p. 54); review “Object pronouns” (p. 53) and
(pp. 25-27)
“Reflexive constructions” (pp. 66-67)
Watch “A Grande Família” and write a one-page
“Para a Frente”: prática dos composition about this episode in Portuguese.
Pronomes Objeto Direto e
Has your family or someone else you know
Indireto e Reflexivos (pp.
experienced a similar situation? Describe it.
63-68)
“Viajando”: review “Pronomes Indefinidos” (p.
37) and do “Prática” (p. 38)
“Viajando”: “E de
“Viajando”: review “Condicional” (pp. 40-41);
Esperteza” and “E de Estilo” “Para a Frente”: review “Os números” (pp. 69(pp. 35-38)
70) and do exercises 3 and 4 (p. 71)
“Para a Frente”: prática de
“Para a Frente”: do “Exercício escrito” (p. 76);
Números; Leitura:
“Viajando”: review “Verbos reflexivos” and do
“Liquidação” e exercícios
exercise 10 (pp. 45-46); read the vocabulary (p.
(pp. 73-76)
47)
“Viajando”: “F de
Review your notes and bring all written
Frustração” (pp. 43-44)
exercises next class
Atividades culturais;
Start preparing for the Midterm; bring
Revisão para o Midterm
questions to class
Atividades culturais;
Continue preparing for Midterm
Revisão para o Midterm
“Viajando”: review “Verbos com alternância de
E para I e de O para U” (pp. 52-53); review
Midterm
“Particípio Passado” (pp.53-54); do “Prática” (p.
55); Remember to watch “A Grande Família”!
“Para a Frente: study “Verbos irregulares no
Discussão de “A Grande
presente” (pp. 77-79) and “O particípio
Família”; “Viajando”: “G de
presente” (Gerúndio) (p. 79); Review the
Gueixa” (pp. 49-52)
vocabulary for “A família” (pp. 80-81)
“Para a Frente”: do “Exercício” (p. 83); review
“Para a Frente”: “Festa de
“Usos do presente” (pp. 84-85) and do
Aniversário” (pp. 81-83)
“Exercícios de verificação” (pp. 85-88) orally –
“Para a Frente”: prática oral
do Presente (pp. 88-89);
Correção do Midterm
the column on the right has the answers
“Para a Frente”: review “Progressive forms”
(pp.89-92); read “Mais sobre o imperfeito e o
presente” (pp. 93-94) and do “Exercícios
escritos” (pp. 94-95); “Viajando”: study the
vocabulary (p. 64) Remember to watch “A
Grande Família”!
Comentários sobre “A
Grande Família”;
“Viajando”: “H de Hotéis”
(pp. 57-60); Revisão e
variantes do Mais-que
perfeito (pp.60-62)
“Para a Frente”: review “O infinito (infinitivo)
pessoal” (95-96) and “As nacionalidades” (p.
97); do “Exercício escrito” (p. 102)
“Para a Frente”: revisão e
prática do Infinitivo
Impessoal (pp. 95-96)
“Para a Frente”: choose one of the “Temas para
redação” (p. 102) and write a one-page
composition (due Friday, 10/18)
“Para a frente”: Leitura:
Nacionalidades (pp. 101);
Revisão e prática dos
Diminutivos (pp. 101-102)
“Viajando”: review conjugation and uses of
“Imperfeito do subjuntivo” (p. 62); do “Prática
16” (pp. 62-63); read “I de Igreja” ( pp. 65-66)
and write a one-paragraph summary to share
during class Watch “A Grande Família”
“Viajando”: checar as
respostas de “Prática 16”
(pp. 62-63); discussão sobre
“I de Igreja” (pp. 65-67);
revisão do Futuro simples
(pp. 67-68); Comentar “A
Grande Família”
“Para a Frente”: “Diálogo”
(pp. 107-109); Revisão:
“Pedindo informações” e
“Imperativo” (pp. 111-112)
Apresentação dos alunos:
“Lar, Doce Lar"
“Para a Frente”: “Até, já e
mesmo” (pp. 119- 120);
Leitura (pp. 120-123)
Discussão sobre “A Grande
Família”
“Viajando”: study “Revisão: diminutivos” (pp.
70-71) and do “Prática 19”(p. 71); “Para a
Frente”: review “o presente do subjuntivo” (pp.
-103-104) and do “Exercícios de verificação” 1
and 2 (orally) (pp. 112-113); review vocabulary
for “O aeroporto” (pp. 104-105)
“Para a Frente”: read “Antes de viajar”, p. 117
and write a short poem or composition about
the theme “Lar, Doce Lar” to share in class
“Para a frente”: review “Haver e ficar” (pp. 117118) and do “Exercício” (pp. 118-119); read “Até,
já e mesmo” (pp. 119-120); Watch “A Grande
Família”
“Viajando”: read “Revisão: diminutivos” and do
“Prática 19” (pp. 70-71); study Vocabulary (p.
72) and read “I de Informações”; Choose the
theme of your oral presentation (groups and
themes due by 10/28)
“Viajando”: “I de
Informações”(pp. 68-71)
“Viajando”: study “Revisão: pronomes
relativos” and do “Prática 12” (p. 75); Groups
and themes for oral presentation due today!
“Viajando”: “J de jantar”
(pp. 73-74); revisão dos
Pronomes relativos e
exercício 12 (p. 75); cidades
que visitamos ou
gostaríamos de visitar (p.
78)
“Viajando”: study vocabulary (p. 80) and read
“J de Jerusalém” (pp. 76-78); do “Parte B” in
writing (p. 79); Watch “A Grande Família”
Discussão sobre atividades
do texto “J de Jerusalém”;
revisão de Por e Para (pp.
84-85); Discutir “A Grande
Família”
“Para a Frente”: revisar os
exercícios 1, 2 e 3 (pp. 136137); “Diálogo: Horóscopo”
(pp. 129-134) 166)
“Para a Frente”: revisão do
Particípio passado (pp. 138140)
“Viajando”: “L de Livrarias”
(pp. 87-90); revisão das
respostas de “Prática 7” (p.
91) e “Prática 8” (p. 92);
Discussão sobre “A Grande
Família”
“Para a Frente”: revisão e
prática de “Que horas são” e
“Outras expressões de
tempo” (pp. 145-147)
“Viajando”: revisão das
respostas de “Prática 9” (pp.
92-93); “M de Museus” (9597); Figuras de linguagem
(p. 99)
Apresentações orais
Apresentações orais
“Para a Frente”: revisão das
Expressões com ter, fazer,
haver, ser e estar (pp. 148149); Leitura: Medida de
tempo (pp. 150-153);
Discussão para o último
episódio de “A Grande
Família”
Revisão; Discussão sobre
similaridades e diferenças
entre celebrações familiares
nos Estados Unidos e no
Brasil
Revisão; Atividades
culturais
Exames orais
“Para a Frente”: review “Usos de ser e estar”
and vocabulary about “O tempo” (pp. 125-129);
do exercises 1, 2, and 3 in writing (pp. 136-137)
“Para a Frente”: read “O que os astros dizem
para você and do “Exercício escrito” (p. 135)
“Viajando”: review “Números cardinais” (pp.
90-91); write down all the numbers in “Prática
7” from a through f (p. 91); do “Prática 8” (p.
92); read the vocabulary (p. 94); Watch “A
Grande Família”
“Para a Frente”: do “Exercício escrito” (p. 140);
review “Que horas são?” (pp. 141-142) and do
exercise 2 orally (p. 143);
“Viajando”: study “Revisão: presente do
subjuntivo” and do “Prática 9” (pp. 92-93)
“Para a Frente”: read “Expressões com ter,
fazer, haver, ser e estar” (148-149) and do
exercises 2 and 3 in writing (p. 149-150)
Oral presentation – final touches
Write a paragraph about each of today's
presentations
Write a paragraph about each of today's
presentations
“Para a Frente”: do “Exercício escrito” (p. 153);
Choose one of the “Temas para conversação ou
redação” (p. 153) and write a one-page
composition (due Monday, 12/02);
Exames orais
Exames orais
Exames orais
Exame final
Policy on academic dishonesty: Offenses against academic integrity are any acts which
would have the effect of unfairly promoting or enhancing one's academic standing within
the entire community of learners. Such acts are serious offenses, which insult the integrity
of the entire academic community of the University. Any suspected violations of the policy
will not be tolerated and all allegations will be forwarded to the Center for Student Ethics &
Standards.
Please refer to http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmppg/ppg/student/acadintegrity.pdf
for a complete description of what is and is not acceptable.
The previous is a sample syllabus for Port 051 at the University of Vermont. It was
intended to give you an idea of the objectives and methods of this class. The textbook
listed is subject to change at any time and is NOT indicative of the actual textbook that
will be used should you enroll in the class.