San Jose State University

Portuguese Language Program

 

Coordinator: Dr. Virginia da Luz Vieira
Sweeney Hall Room 440
TEL: (408)924-4591

The Portuguese-Speaking World

Portuguese is the language of Portugal(inlucing the autonomous regions of the Azores ( Açores in Portuguese spelling),Madeira and Brazil, as well as the official language of the Cape Verde Islands (Cabo Verde, where a Portuguese variant, crioulo , is also spoken). Guinea-Bissau (Guiné-Bissau) São Tomé e Príncipe. Angola and Mozambique (Moçambique). It is also still spoken in Goa, Macau and East Timor. Some four million Portuguese who have emigrated to various countries retain their first language. Galician, spoken in northwestern Spain, is very similar to Portuguese. Altogether, Portuguese is the language of approximately 183,000,000 people. It is the eighth most spoken language and it ranks third, behind English and Spanish,among European languages used around the world.

 

The Portuguese Studies Program has been in existence for many years at San Jose State University. It is a program that offers language instruction and cultural information about the Portuguese-speaking world in Europe. South America, Africa and Asia. The program also offers

the opportunity for the student to get an equivalent minor in the language. Furthermore, there is scholarship money available for students who have taken the basic 1A/1B courses in the program.

 

In the Elementary Portuguese course, students are taught basic conversation and grammar.

In the Intermediate course , the vocabulary and conversation skills are further developed, and more attention is given to reading and writing as students are asked to write short compositions on personal and cultural topics. Finally, in the Advanced Portuguese course, the students will continue their studies of the structure and culture and will read various pieces of Luso-Brazilian literature. The student is also given the opportunity to study the language independently with a book and tapes through the individualized program . The student must consult with the Portuguese lecturer to take these courses.

Student language club - The Lusitania club is linked to the program and sponsors both fun and cultural activities.

Anyone who needs further information about the Portuguese Studies Program, may contact

Dr. Virginia da Luz Vieira in the Foreign Language Department at(408) 924-4591 or the Foreign Language Department at (408) 924-4602.