Course 21G: Global Languages
IAP/Spring 2025

Course 21G Home CI-M Subjects for Undergraduate Majors IAP only Evaluations (Certificates Required)

Taught in English

Chinese

French

German

Japanese

Italian

Portuguese

Russian

Korean

Arabic

Spanish & Special Subjects

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

(

)

Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 21G.802, 21G.852, 21G.855, 21G.880, 21G.S82, 21G.S86
______

Accelerated introduction to the language and culture of the Portuguese-speaking world, with special attention to Brazilian Portuguese. 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.
Staff

21G.801 Portuguese I

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)

(Subject meets with 21G.S81, 21G.S85)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 21G.851
______

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. Designed for students with no knowledge/proficiency in Portuguese. For graduate credit, see 21G.851. Limited to 18.
Consult N. Dominique
Textbooks (IAP 2025)

21G.S81 Special Subject: Portuguese I

(

)

(Subject meets with 21G.801, 21G.S85)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21G.851
______

Experimental version of Portuguese I, which offers a combination of in-person and remote instruction. An introduction for students with little or no previous knowledge of Portuguese. Aims to achieve simultaneous progression of four skills — listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Licensed for Fall 2024 by the Committee on Curricula. Limited to 18 for pedagogical reasons.
N. Dominique

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
Credit cannot also be received for 21G.800, 21G.852, 21G.855, 21G.880, 21G.S82, 21G.S86
______

Continuation of 21G.801. Focuses on expanding communication skills and further development of linguistic competency. Uses a variety of authentic materials, such as the audio, video, web, and printed materials, to help develop cultural awareness and linguistic proficiency. For graduate credit, see 21G.852. Limited to 18.
N. Dominique

21G.S82 Special Subject: Portuguese II

(

)

(Subject meets with 21G.S86)
Prereq: 21G.801 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21G.800, 21G.802, 21G.852, 21G.855, 21G.880, 21G.S86
URL: https://languages.mit.edu/language-placement-proficiency/
Lecture: MWF3 (4-249)
______

Experimental version of Portuguese II, which offers a combination of in-person and remote instruction. Focus on communication with emphasis on basic oral expression. Aims to help students master the core grammar and basic vocabulary of Portuguese, fostering their engagement in everyday conversation with native speakers, as well as reading simple texts, both fiction and non-fiction, with relative ease. Licensed for Spring 2024 by the Committee on Curricula. Limited to 18 for pedagogical reasons.
N. Dominique
Textbooks (Spring 2025)

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, 21G.802, 21G.852, 21G.855, 21G.S82, 21G.S86
______

Accelerated introduction to the language and culture of the Portuguese-speaking world, with special attention to Brazilian Portuguese. Designed for speakers of Spanish (native or bilingual, or those who have completed two college years or the equivalent). Covers essential content of 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. For graduate credit, see 21G.855. Limited to 18.
Staff

21G.803 Portuguese III

(

)

Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 21G.802, 21G.880, or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 21G.S83
______

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.
Staff

21G.S83 Special Subject: Portuguese III

(

)

Prereq: 21G.802, 21G.880, or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21G.803
______

Experimental version of Portuguese III, which offers a combination of in-person and remote instruction. A beginning intermediate language class that aims to expand and consolidate the student's basic linguistic skills, as well as several relevant cultural aspects of the Portuguese-speaking world. Includes a thorough review of grammar through exposure to input from various sources: written texts, movies, multi-media and discussions in Portuguese. Licensed for Fall 2024 by the Committee on Curricula. Limited to 18 for pedagogical reasons.
N. Dominique

21G.804 Portuguese IV

(

)

Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 21G.803 or permission of instructor
Units: 4-0-8
Credit cannot also be received for 21G.S84
______

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.
N. Dominique

21G.S84 Special Subject: Portuguese IV

(

)

Prereq: 21G.803 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21G.804
Lecture: MWF4 (4-249)
______

Experimental version of Portuguese IV, which offers a combination of in-person and remote instruction. Develops linguistic competence and expands students' background knowledge of the history and cultures of the Portuguese-speaking world. Aims to promote cross-cultural understanding through the use of authentic materials such as literary or historical readings, film, music, photography and excerpts from the press. Licensed for Spring 2024 by the Committee on Curricula. Limited to 18 for pedagogical reasons.
N. Dominique
No required or recommended textbooks

Intermediate Subjects in Language, Literature, and Culture

21G.811 Conversational Portuguese

(

)

Not offered regularly; consult department
Prereq: 21G.804 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______

Intermediate-level subject designed to build the student's vocabulary and improve oral communication through discussion of topics related to cultural and social aspects of Portuguese-speaking societies. Provides extensive listening and speaking practice in oral discourse, including dialogues, narrative and description, with great emphasis on everyday-life situations. Conducted entirely in Portuguese. Limited to 18.
N. Dominique

21G.820 Topics in Modern Portuguese Literature and Culture

(

)

Not offered regularly; consult department
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

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)

Prereq: 21G.804 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______

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, Cândido 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. Practice in listening, speaking, reading, and writing is provided, with strong emphasis on developing critical thinking. Taught in Portuguese. Limited to 18.
N. Dominique

21G.822 Portuguese Language through Brazilian Film

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)

Prereq: 21G.804 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
______

Focuses on some of the most representative contemporary Brazilian film productions of the past half century. Topics covered examine their historical, social, political, and social context. Selected films explore aspects such as social inequality, migration, race relations, the role of women in society, as well as major political and historical events that have impacted Brazilian society. Identifies the main Brazilian characteristics and themes in contemporary film production, connecting them to specific historical periods and events, discussing how they reflect different notions of identity, and analyzing cultural production from a transnational perspective. Practice in listening, speaking, reading and writing is provided, with strong emphasis on developing critical thinking. Taught in Portuguese. 18 for pedagogical reasons.
Staff

Graduate Language Subjects

21G.851 Portuguese I

(

)
Prereq: None
Units: 4-0-5
Credit cannot also be received for 21G.801, 21G.S81, 21G.S85
______

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. Designed for students with no knowledge/proficiency in Portuguese. For undergraduate credit, see 21G.801. Enrollment limited.
Staff
No textbook information available

21G.S85 Special Subject: Portuguese I

(

)
(Subject meets with 21G.801, 21G.S81)
Prereq: None
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21G.851
______

Experimental version of Portuguese I, which offers a combination of in-person and remote instruction. An introduction for students with little or no previous knowledge of Portuguese. Aims to achieve simultaneous progression of four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Licensed for Fall 2024 by the Committee on Graduate Programs. Limited to 18 for pedagogical reasons.
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
Credit cannot also be received for 21G.800, 21G.802, 21G.855, 21G.880, 21G.S82, 21G.S86
______

Continuation of 21G.851. Focuses on expanding communication skills and further development of linguistic competency. Uses a variety of authentic materials, such as the audio, video, web, and printed materials, to help develop cultural awareness and linguistic proficiency. For undergraduate credit, see 21G.802. Enrollment limited.
Staff

21G.S86 Special Subject: Portuguese II

(

)
(Subject meets with 21G.S82)
Prereq: 21G.851 or permission of instructor
Units: 3-0-9
Credit cannot also be received for 21G.800, 21G.802, 21G.852, 21G.855, 21G.880, 21G.S82
Lecture: MWF3 (4-249)
______

Experimental version of Portuguese II, which offers a combination of in-person and remote instruction. Focus on communication with emphasis on basic oral expression. Aims to help students master the core grammar and basic vocabulary of Portuguese, fostering their engagement in everyday conversation with native speakers, as well as reading simple texts, both fiction and non-fiction, with relative ease. Licensed for Spring 2024 by the Committee on Graduate Programs. Limited to 18 for pedagogical reasons.
Staff
No textbook information available

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, 21G.802, 21G.852, 21G.880, 21G.S82, 21G.S86
______

For Portuguese Literature and Culture subjects offered in English, see 21G.074.