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Database of Teaching Sources

A database of selected, reviewed, tested, assessed and validated e-learning based language teaching sources addressed to Higher education students for the learning of 18 different European languages.

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Learn Portuguese – useful words and phrases

Date of Publication

2021

Target Group

Lecturers
Students

Domain Area

Business & Communication
International Relations
Tourism

Learning Scenario

Autonomous learning
Classroom Context

Target Language

Portuguese

Language of Instruction

English
Portuguese

CEFR level

A1
A2

Type of Material

Audio
Guiding resources (online course/book)
Reference resources (online Dictionaries/ grammar guides/phrasebooks)

Linguistic Features

Vocabulary
Prosody

Skills

Listening
Speaking
Reading

Description

The resource is a sort of online phrasebook or a pocket online interactive dictionary, focusing mainly on words, phrases and practical expressions people can use in everyday life and useful when travelling. By repeating the words out loud or simply by listening to the sounds of the words, it will make the Portuguese language more familiar. This is adequate for anyone who wants to learn the basics of Portuguese, either for business purposes or simply if you want to go to Portugal for leisure purposes.

The resource is rather complete, as it has an audio conversation guide, with 400 useful expressions and it covers 17 themes ranging from essential words and phrases in Portuguese to "hotel, looking for someone, beach or in case of trouble", plus the possibility of downloading all the vocabulary lists in mp3 or pdf (click on the printable version). Right at the beginning, we have guessing games/activities, focusing on one of the 17 themes: if the phrases are written in English, then the phrases spoken are in Portuguese, and vice-versa (one can easily swap the language in icons below the activity). Then we just need to guess/choose the corresponding phrase.

Case study

This resource has been tested with a group of 15 foreign students attending a Portuguese language course for beginners. Students came from different European countries namely Poland, Spain, Czech Republic and Italy. This resource was used after having some lessons on basic vocabulary (nationalities and countries, languages; family; getting to know others, around the city, etc).
To practice this further, students were asked to go to the website and, on their own, play the games and answer the quizzes indicated by the lecturer (getting to know others, food and drink, directions). In the end, students got a score.
After working for some time on the website (around 30/40 minutes), the lecturer told them to work in pairs and to simulate the following speaking situations: a) they were meeting for the first time; b) they went to the small supermarket and had to ask for the products they wanted to buy (make a list of items); c) they were tourists and they asked for directions.
The students found the website very interactive and engaging.

Guidelines

Even though more suited for autonomous learning, this resource can also be used by lecturers in the classroom. Portuguese is taught as a foreign language, levels A1-A2.
Classroom context:
Warmer: show students some words/phrases in Portuguese (cards or slips of paper) they will find on the resource. Ask them to try to pronounce them and try to guess their meaning. Through spelling, students can easily identify the meaning of the word (eg. Hotel – hotel; “I would like to see the room first”- "Gostaria de ver o quarto primeiro!"!
1. Depending on the type of vocabulary the lecturer wants to focus on, he/she asks the students to check the phrases on that specific theme on the website where the resource is available, read the English version, and then the Portuguese one, or vice-versa. This is a good way of becoming familiar with the words or phrases in writing.
2. Then, students do the exercises right at the top of the page: listen to the words/phrases and then match the sound with the right phrase.
3. Continue the same procedure with the other themes.

Review

Category
Rate
Comprehensive approach
Capacity to match the needs of lecturers and students

4

Added value
The provided tangible improvements

4

Motivation enhancement
The capacity to motivate students to improve their language skills

5

Innovation
Effectiveness in introducing innovative, creative and previously unknown approaches to LSP learning

4

Transferability
Measurement of the transferable potential and possibility to be a source of further capitalisation/application for other language projects in different countries

5

Skills assessment and validation
Availability of appropriate tools for lecturers to monitor students’ progress and for students to assess own progress and to reflect on learning

5

Adaptability
Flexibility of the contents and possibilities for the LSP lecturers to adapt the contents to their and to students’ need

5

Usability
Assess the technical usability from the point of view of the lecturer and the student

5

Accessibility
Assess the accessibility from the point of view of the lecturer and the student

5

Comments:
The resource is easily accessible online and user-friendly. It is very intuitive and, therefore, easy to use. Instructions are very clear.
The resource can be easily explored on an individual level and requires internet access, either on a computer or mobile device. The learner can easily follow the resource as the resource uses English as the mediation language.
This resource also offers courses in 41 different languages: eg. European Portuguese, Norwegian, French, Spanish, Persian, etc. Students are given immediate feedback on their answers. Therefore, they can assess their own progress and reflect on learning.
Website of the Teaching Source:
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