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PORT20210

Academic Year 2026/2027

Portuguese Today (PORT20210)

Subject:
Portuguese
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Languages, Cultures & Linguis
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Ana Vera
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This language module aims to strengthen students’ oral and aural proficiency in Portuguese while deepening their understanding of Portuguese society and its cultural, social, and political contexts. Through critical engagement with a wide range of written and audiovisual materials, students will enhance their ability to interpret, analyse, and discuss contemporary issues in Portuguese. The module also addresses practical aspects of daily life in Portugal, making it particularly valuable for students preparing for a year abroad as part of their degree programme.
This module is aimed at students who have completed the first and second-year language modules (Portuguese language Ia, Ib, and IIa) or have reached or approached the equivalent standard of Portuguese (CEFR level B1). Students should not take this module if they do not have the required standard. If in doubt, they should contact the module coordinator.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:

- Participate confidently in discussions on contemporary Portuguese cultural, social, and political topics, showing intercultural sensitivity.
- Understand and analyse spoken and audiovisual materials on relevant societal and business-related themes.
- Use a broad and accurate vocabulary to express viewpoints and respond to diverse perspectives in oral exchanges.
- Deliver coherent oral presentations and provide constructive feedback on peers' work.
- Apply effective self-study strategies and reflect on linguistic and intercultural development through authentic materials.

Indicative Module Content:

Topics covered will likely touch upon the following broader issues:
- Contemporary Portuguese society
- Social and political affairs
- Popular culture
- Academic life in Portugal

UNESCO highlights a set of key competencies that support individuals in their development and support society in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCD has adapted these competencies and is combining them with others to form a general framework of learning competencies. This module will help you develop the competencies below to the levels specified. 
Learning Competency Additional Information Level

Collaboration

 The ability to learn from others; to understand and respect the needs, perspectives and actions of others (empathy); to understand, relate to and be sensitive to others (empathic leadership); to deal with conflicts in a group; and to facilitate collaborative and participatory problem solving. Advanced Beginner

Critical Thinking

 The ability to question norms, practices and opinions; to reflect on one’s own values, perceptions and actions. Advanced Beginner

Systems Thinking

 The ability to recognize and understand relationships; to analyse complex systems; to think of how systems are embedded within different domains and different scales; and to deal with uncertainty. Advanced Beginner

Strategic

 The ability to collectively develop and implement innovative actions that further sustainability at the local level and further afield. Novice

Integrated Problem Solving

 The overarching ability to apply different problem-solving frameworks to complex sustainability problems and develop viable, inclusive and equitable solution options that promote sustainable development, integrating the competencies in this list. Advanced Beginner

Self-awareness

 The ability to reflect on one’s own role in the local community and (global) society; to continually evaluate and further motivate one’s actions; and to deal with one’s feelings and desires. Advanced Beginner

Normative

 The ability to understand and reflect on the norms and values that underlie one’s actions; and to negotiate values, principles, goals, and targets, in a context of conflicts of interest and trade-offs, uncertain knowledge and contradictions. Advanced Beginner

Anticipatory

 The ability to understand and evaluate multiple scenarios for the future – possible, probable and desirable; to create one’s own visions for the future; to apply the precautionary principle; to assess the consequences of actions; and to deal with risks and changes. Advanced Beginner

Digital Literacy and Judgement

 The ability to access, evaluate, create and communicate information in digital environments; to engage critically, ethically and responsibly with digital technologies and digital information; to understand their opportunities, limitations, risks and impact on individual’s digital identities; and to exercise informed judgement in digital participation and decision-making. Advanced Beginner

AI Literacy & Agency

 The ability to understand, critically evaluate and responsibly engage with artificial intelligence; to recognise how AI systems are shaped by human values; to assess their ethical, social and environmental implications; and to exercise human judgement, agency and accountability in AI-related contexts. Advanced Beginner

Wellbeing

 Wellbeing is having the resources and skills to meet life's challenges, including attributes such as personal development skills, resilience, stress management, strengths, lifestyle skills, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, alcohol/substance use, academic skills, time management, goal setting, interpersonal skills, group work, communication. Advanced Beginner

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

40
Autonomous Student Learning

50
Lectures

12
Seminar (or Webinar)

12
Total

114

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Interactive lectures and student-led seminars. This module requires students to take active participation in all the learning activities associated with the module, both in class and outside the class. Some work in class will be done in pairs or groups. Class activities are often based on materials (written texts and audio-visual materials) that students have to prepare before the classes. During the trimester students will work on a final project in groups that will be presented to the class.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Individual presentation Week 6 Graded No
20
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Contributions to in-class discussions, debates and presentations Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 Graded No
20
 No
Practical Skills Assessment: Make a podcast/videocast in Portuguese Week 12 Graded No
20
 No
Viva Voce: 15m Oral Exam Week 14 Graded No
40
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Students are not required to purchase any materials for this module. All essential readings are available through the university library. Supplementary resources will be provided during class sessions and/or accessible via Brightspace.

Name Role
Dr Pascale Baker Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Vitor Fernandes Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32 Mon 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 22, 24, 26, 29, 30, 32 Wed 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 21, 23, 25, 31 Wed 11:00 - 11:50
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