Why Study Portuguese?

Cristo Redentor - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Speaking Portuguese increases your marketability, as more businesses, government agencies and nongovernmental organizations seek tri-lingual (English-Spanish-Portuguese) speakers to cover Latin America.

• Portuguese is the most widely spoken language in South America, with over 180 million speakers in Brazil. Before his interview with Brazil's president in March 2009, Fareed Zakaria of CNN referred to Brazil as "the country that is most important, about which you know least."
• In Africa, two Portuguese-speaking nations, Mozambique and especially Angola, are experiencing rapid economic growth after the end of civil conflicts as production of their oil and minerals increases.
• St. Mary's has two study abroad options in Brazil: During Summer Session I (Southern Cone Studies Program) or Semester study at the Catholic University of ParanĂ¡ during the fall or spring. Internships are also available. St. Mary's also hosts students from the Catholic University of ParanĂ¡ for one semester and is the University's most active exchange.

Why Study Portuguese?

Any student planning a career with an international component, for example, those majoring in international business, international relations, multinational organization studies (MOS), economics, anthropology, sociology, Spanish or any other language should consider this opportunity. In particular, students fluent in Spanish should consider the minor in Portuguese, or at least one course at the advanced level in order to demonstrate English-Portuguese-Spanish ability. Students majoring in International Business can fulfill the Area Studies requirement of the major in advanced level Portuguese classes. The lower-level courses in Portuguese fulfill the St. Mary's foreign language requirement for all majors.

What Courses are offered?

St. Mary's offers instruction from beginning to advanced levels of Portuguese:
Introductory Portuguese for Spanish Speakers (PR 2317 and PR 2318)
Introductory Portuguese for students not fluent in Spanish (PR 1311 and PR 1312)
Spanish speakers begin at the sophomore level and reach the advanced level of study after only one year, instead of two.
Topics of advanced courses in Portuguese (3000 level and above) include Literature and Cinema in Brazil, Gender and Sexuality in Brazilian Literature, and Introduction to Brazilian Culture, among others.

Brazilian Cultural Events

• Presentations by Brazil experts:

The Different Paranás," Mario Figueiredo, Ph.D., and Sandra Teresinha da Silva, Ph.D.,Tuiuti University, Curitiba, Brazil, March 23, 2007

"Brazil: Hidden in Plain Sight," Mark Lokensgard, Ph.D, March 27, 2006
"Marketing in Brazil," Romeu Telma, Ph.D., Universidade Federal do Parana, Curitiba, Brazil, professor, November 20, 2002

"Brazil: Economic, Political and Cultural Insights," Tomasz Lenartowicz, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin assistant professor, March 30, 2001

• Performances of samba and capoeira (a Brazilian dance and martial art) by local groups at freshman orientations and for International EducationWeek.
• Screenings of Brazilian films followed by panel discussion with business leaders and academics. Films shown include "Central do Brasil/Central Station," "O que e isso, companheiro?/Four Days in September," "Eu Tu Eles/Me You Them," "O Homem que Copiava/The Man Who Copied," "Orfeu Negro/Black Orpheus," and others.

Student Groups/Activities with Ties to the Portuguese Program

• Foreign Language Club
• International Business Club
• Model Organization of American States

Students and Faculty touring a coffee plant in Curitiba, Brazil

Did you Know...

• Brazil has the world's ninth largest economy.
• Brazil is the world's fifth largest country by territory.
• Brazil is one of the most frequent users of the Internet among developing countries.
• Brazil's growing trade with its Latin American neighbors through the MERCOSUL (South American trading block) has led to increased demands for employees who speak English, Portuguese and Spanish.

Iguaçu Falls, at the Brazil-Argentina-Paraguay border