Spoken by more than 240 million people, Portuguese is the sixth most widely spoken language in the world.
It is the official language in eight countries on four continents. The United States is also host to important Portuguese, Brazilian and Cape Verdean communities, especially in New England, where Portuguese is the third most widely-spoken language after English and Spanish. An estimated 1.3 million native Portuguese-speakers live in the United States.
The MIT Portuguese Program was created in 2010 to provide a solid foundation in the language and cultures of the Portuguese-speaking world. We offer elementary, intermediate and advanced level classes, as well as an intensive language course for Spanish speakers.
Our courses are designed to enable students to communicate effectively with native speakers as well as to acquaint them with the culture and civilization of the Portuguese-speaking world, and in this way prepare them to function successfully in a Portuguese-speaking environment. In our classes, students are encouraged to actively participate in a variety of small and large-group interactive activities. Through the study of authentic cultural readings, art, music and films, students become proficient in the Portuguese language and engage in critical analysis and discussion of the Portuguese-speaking world.
We offer a wide array of activities throughout the year for students to immerse themselves in Portuguese beyond the classroom, including lectures, cultural events, film screenings, and our monthly Portuguese roundtable Solta a Língua, open to the entire MIT community, which provides an opportunity to share a typical Brazilian meal in a relaxed setting, while speaking in Portuguese.
Portuguese
The subjects below are taught in Portuguese and include offerings in language, literature, and cultural studies.
The indication of prerequisites for specific Portuguese offerings does not apply to students who have already completed equivalent work. For further placement advice, consult one of the field advisors in Portuguese.
Fundamental Language Subjects
21G.800 Accelerated Introductory Portuguese
(New)
(
) 
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 21G.855, 21G.880
Accelerated introduction to the language and culture of the Portuguese-speaking world, with a focus on Brazil. For students with little or no previous knowledge of Portuguese. Introduction to understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Portuguese. Covers essential content of complete first-year Portuguese in one semester. Maximal use of fundamentals of grammar in active communication. Audio and video based language laboratory program coordinated with and supplemented to class work. Conducted in Portuguese. Limited to 18 for pedagogical reasons.
Staff
21G.801 Portuguese I
(
)
(Subject meets with 21G.851)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Introduction to the language and culture of the Portuguese-speaking world, with special attention to Brazilian Portuguese. Focuses on basic oral expression, listening comprehension, and elementary reading and writing. Students develop their vocabulary and understanding of grammatical concepts through active communication. Coordinated language lab program. Designed for students with no knowledge of Portuguese. Conducted entirely in Portuguese. For graduate credit, see 21G.851. Limited to 18.
Staff
21G.802 Portuguese II
()
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 21G.852)
Prereq: 21G.801 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Continuation of 21G.801. Focuses on expanding communication skills and further development of linguistic competency. Uses a variety of authentic sources, such as the Internet, audio, video, and printed materials, to help develop cultural awareness and linguistic proficiency. Coordinated language lab. Conducted entirely in Portuguese. For graduate credit, see 21G.852. Limited to 18.
Staff
21G.880 Accelerated Introductory Portuguese for Spanish Speakers
()
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 21G.855)
Prereq: 21G.704 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 21G.800
Accelerated introduction to the language and culture of the Portuguese-speaking world, with a focus on Brazil. Designed for speakers of Spanish (native or bilingual, or those who have completed two college years or the equivalent). Covers essential content of complete first-year Portuguese in one semester. Builds on the similarities and differences between both languages in grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation for speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Conducted entirely in Portuguese. For graduate credit, see 21G.855. Limited to 18.
Staff
21G.803 Portuguese III
(
)
Prereq: 21G.802, 21G.880, or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
http://mitgsl.mit.edu/subjects/21G.803
Lecture: MTRF12 (16-668)
Expands the breadth and depth of students' skills in understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Portuguese while continuing to provide exposure to the history and cultures of the Portuguese-speaking world. Uses short stories, films and music to study issues of historical and current interest. Conducted entirely in Portuguese. Limited to 18.
N. Dominique
Textbooks (Fall 2018)
21G.804 Portuguese IV
()
Prereq: 21G.803 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Continued study of the language and culture to improve fluency, accuracy and style in both oral and written communication. Students discuss current news articles, short literary texts, films, music and web-based materials dealing with issues relevant to the Portuguese-speaking world. Coursework also includes grammar review. Conducted entirely in Portuguese. Limited to 18.
Staff
Intermediate Subjects in Language, Literature, and Culture
21G.820 Topics in Modern Portuguese Literature and Culture
() 
Prereq: 21G.804 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Close study of history and criticism of Portuguese literature, focusing on a specific group of writers, a movement, a theme, a critical or theoretical issue, or an analytic approach. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Taught in Portuguese.
N. Dominique
21G.821 The Beat of Brazil: Portuguese Language and Brazilian Society Through its Music
()
Prereq: 21G.804 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Lecture: TR10-11.30 (14N-313)
Presents an overview of Brazilian history, art, and culture from the late 19th century to the present day. Topics covered are woven into the larger theme of popular Brazilian music, and include the Modern Art Week of 1922, Candido Portinari's paintings, the Tropicalist art movement, and the role of artists and intellectuals during and after the military dictatorship. Identifies and distinguishes the main Brazilian musical styles, connecting them to specific historical periods and events, discussing how they reflect different notions of identity, and analyzing cultural production from a transnational perspective. Focuses on listening and speaking, and reading and writing, with strong emphasis on developing critical thinking. Taught in Portuguese. Limited to 18.
N. Dominique
Textbooks (Fall 2018)
Graduate Language Subjects
21G.851 Portuguese I
()
(Subject meets with 21G.801)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-5
Introduction to the language and culture of the Portuguese-speaking world, with special attention to Brazilian Portuguese. Focuses on basic oral expression, listening comprehension, and elementary reading and writing. Students develop their vocabulary and understanding of grammatical concepts through active communication. Coordinated language lab program. Designed for students with no knowledge of Portuguese. Conducted entirely in Portuguese. For undergraduate credit, see 21G.801. Enrollment limited.
Staff
21G.852 Portuguese II
()
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 21G.802)
Prereq: 21G.851 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-5
Continuation of 21G.851. Focuses on expanding communication skills and further development of linguistic competency. Uses a variety of authentic sources, such as the Internet, audio, video, and printed materials, to help develop cultural awareness and linguistic proficiency. Coordinated language lab. Conducted entirely in Portuguese. For undergraduate credit, see 21G.802. Enrollment limited.
Staff
21G.855 Accelerated Introductory Portuguese for Spanish Speakers
()
Not offered regularly; consult department
(Subject meets with 21G.880)
Prereq: 21G.704 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-5
Credit cannot also be received for 21G.800
Accelerated introduction to the language and culture of the Portuguese-speaking world, with a focus on Brazil. Designed for speakers of Spanish (native or bilingual, or those who have completed two college years or the equivalent). Covers essential content of complete first-year Portuguese in one semester. Builds on the similarities and differences between both languages in grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation for speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. Conducted entirely in Portuguese. For undergraduate credit, see 21G.880. Limited to 18.
Staff
For Portuguese Literature and Culture subjects offered in English, see 21G.074.
