The Course

The Course Portuguese Around the World

I started teaching Portuguese to missionary students over than 36 years ago, in 1984, and today, I have more than 5000 former students from different missions, countries and nationalities

GEM, TEAM Mission, SIM, AIM, SIL -Wycliff, MAF, Assemblies of God, Assemblies of the Brethren, World Relief, WEC International, Tear Fund, The Mennonite Church, ABWE, The Swedish Mission, Swiss Alliance Mission, The Nazarene Church, Presbyterian Church, Southern Baptist Church, The Leprosy Mission, OMS International, Youth for Christ, Church of God, Church of Christ, OverLands Mission etc.

This course has been tested and evaluated over the years with the sucess of all my former students who successfully live and work in the mission fields where European Portuguese is spoken:

Portugal, Guine-Bissau, Angola, Cabo Verde, S. Tome e Principe and Mozambique, because it was elaborated based on the the special needs of the missionary student.

Knowing that not everybody has the same skills, opportunities and time to learn the language, I have minimized the factors that might prevent the student from achieving the best results, by offering them personal attention.

My classes are either individual (one student) or for a couple (two students)

According to the student's availability to study Portuguese, 1 class lasts 2x45 MN (90mn-1,5h) or 1 hour, depending on the the availability or preference.

The course is divided mainly in different areas of attention, namely:

Structure

As Portuguese is a Latin Language, its grammar can be quite intriguing and challenging and it needs special attention.

Here the purpose is not to teach Grammar academically, with special terms and labels, but rather help the student to structure and organize what he/she is and will be learning.

After explaining a new issue, it will be practiced with guided exercises, in structures with other subjects. The class is basically geared to teach the structure and to practice it orally. I know the time constraint that the missionary student has to learn the language, so classes are made as practical as possible, leaving the written exercises for homework.

As Language needs consolidation, and very seldom a subject is assimilated when it is taught for the first time, in this program repeatedly I go back to the same structures, reviewing them. As the student progresses, other practical features are introduced, such as writing a formal letter or application, elaborating a speech, or a sermon, organizing a class, or a talk. I also help and guide on the elaboration of different official documents and letters, trying to meet the special needs that the student will face later in the mission field and/or on his/her special field of action.

The Practical Skills

Actually it is also a workout class!

The student is under the spotlight!

The student is actively corrected and guided into a proper pronunciation, using material that will enhance the needs and provide a good practice.

This is also the time for Vocabulary learning, Oral Communication, Translation work, Conversation, reading and discussing several subjects of common interest, and the student is encouraged to cooperate actively in class.

All this not only prepares the student for the oral communication of the language, emphasizing speed, rhythm and correct pronunciation which eliminates most of the common mispronunciation mistakes, but also helps to build his/her confidence on using and hearing the language.

The whole course does not have a specific duration but it may differ from student to student depending on the time that each individual has to learn Portuguese. The best results were achieved within a time of 8 to 10 months, with a schedule of 90mn day, 4 days per week, although I have taught the very same course in 3 months or less, in a condensed version developed for special cases (schedule 3 periods of 45mn/day, 4 days per week), when the student has less time available to learn.

This program covers from Basic Level (Portuguese Around the World 1- (A1,A2) to Intermediate Level (Portuguese Around the World 2-(B1) and Advanced Level (Portuguese Around the World 3 (B2-C)

This class is based on "Portuguese Around the World" my own text and work book as well as on several other books, and audio and visual material, some of them recently introduced for teaching Portuguese as a second language.

The unique feature of this method enables a student who has begun to study Portuguese by using a different school or method, to begin at his current level, and to continue from there.

The ultimate purpose is to take the student up to the "minimal professional proficiency" Level Two plus/ Level Three, by the LAMP evaluation method, where he will be able to live, work and communicate in the foreign country, using Portuguese as a second language. My students that have begun with 0 level in Romance languages have been achieving this level within 9 months to a year. (B1)

Finally, these 90mn (2x 45 mn) have proved to be sufficient and efficient for class time (teaching and correcting and speaking), with the written skills practiced in home-work, later corrected in class.

With only 4 class days a week there is time to review the material and to work on the listening material and audio visuals in the extra day off.

I also strongly encourage my students to engage with the local community and to attend a church on Sunday at least. That will lead to a very busy weekend.

Classes are taught in Portugal either in class, in the student's home or any other location that is convenient.

I also teach classes on line by Skype, Zoom, etc. These classes have the duration of 2 blocks of 45 MN for 2 persons or 60 MN to individual classes.

For tuition fees please send email to

nicacarapeto@gmail.com