Instructor Insights

Instructor Insights pages are part of the OCW Educator initiative, which seeks to enhance the value of OCW for educators.

Course Overview

This page focuses on the course 21G.820 Portuguese Advanced Conversation and Composition as it was taught by Dr. Nilma Dominique in Fall 2014.

This is an advanced course that aims to build vocabulary competence and improve oral communication through the study and discussion of topics related to cultural aspects in Lusophone societies, primarily from current issues in Brazil. It is designed to give students extensive experience in Portuguese and emphasizes skill development and refinement in the area of critical reading and writing in Portuguese.

Course Outcomes

Course Goals for Students

  • Improvements in grammar through systematic review
  • Building and expanding vocabulary
  • Practice with writing
  • Gain an understanding of contemporary Brazil and other countries of the Lusophone world by examining literature, music and films in Portuguese
  • Gain an understanding of race relations, national identity and inequality

Curriculum Information

Prerequisites

21G.804 Portuguese IV or permission of instructor

Requirements Satisfied

  • GIR
  • HASS

Offered

Every spring and fall semester

 

Assessment

The students' grades were based on the following activities:

The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by class preparation, attendance, and participation. 20% Class preparation, attendance, and participation
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by homework sets. 10% Homework sets
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by short essays. 30% Short essays
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by exams. 20% Exams
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by an oral presentation. 20% Oral presentation
 

Student Information

21G-820_stat-students.png

Breakdown by Year

1/2 juniors, 1/3 seniors, 1/6 grad students.

Typical Student Background

Students had different backgrounds and interests, but all of them had some personal interest in the Lusophone culture, or were heritage speakers. All of them had spent some time in Brazil.

Enrollment Cap

Enrollment is limited to 18 for pedagogical reasons. Preference is given to pre-registered students. Continuing students get first priority, followed, in order, by declared concentrators, juniors, sophomores, freshmen, seniors, grad students, and pre-registered students who did not show up for the first two days of class without warning.

 

How Student Time Was Spent

During an average week, students were expected to spend 12 hours on the course, roughly divided as follows:

In Class/Lecture

3 hours per week

Met 2 times per week for 1.5 hours per session; 27 sessions total; mandatory attendance.

Students were required to:

  • Participate in the class discussion each session
  • Complete three in-class quizzes
  • Present their research to the class
 

Out of Class

9 hours per week

Students were required to:

  • Watch four films outside of class, prior to class discussions
  • Prepare for the upcoming class by reading what was assigned and thinking of questions and comments
  • Complete five sets of exercises
  • Write three short essays
  • Prepare for their oral presentation
 
 
 

Semester Breakdown

WEEK M T W Th F
1 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled.
2 No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled.
3 No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No classes throughout MIT.
4 No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled.
5 No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled; exam held. No session scheduled.
6 No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled; student presentations held. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled.
7 No classes throughout MIT. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled.
8 No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled.
9 No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled; student presentations held. No session scheduled.
10 No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled; exam held. No session scheduled.
11 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled.
12 No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled.
13 No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
14 No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled; assignment due date. No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled; exam held. No session scheduled.
15 No session scheduled. Lecture session scheduled; student presentations held. No session scheduled. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
16 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
Displays the color and pattern used on the preceding table to indicate dates when classes are not held at MIT. No classes throughout MIT
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when lecture sessions are held. Lecture session
Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate dates when assignments are due. Assignment due date
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when no class session is scheduled. No class session scheduled
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when students presentations are held. Student Presentations
Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate dates when exams are held. Exam