Portuguese for Heritage Speakers (CP and Honors)

Portuguese for Heritage Speakers taught by Jennifer Sousa will be offered at the CP and Honors levels for heritage speakers the 2023-2024 school year. 

World Language Department Head Emily Squires sat down with the Harbinger to answer questions about the class. 

Please note: This interview was conducted via email.

Please describe the new course you will be teaching, including main objectives, projects or focuses. 

“This course is designed for students who speak Portuguese as a heritage language or at the recommendation of the department chair. A heritage speaker speaks and/or understands Portuguese as a result of the language being the primary language of the home. This course is aimed at students who already speak Portuguese and are looking to improve literacy skills in the language. Students will develop their language in an academic setting that is grounded in reading and writing. The goal of the course is to help heritage speakers develop advanced language and literacy skills and connect with their heritage culture. The course will be conducted in Portuguese.”

Why do you think this course is beneficial to have offered at Algonquin?

“We have a significant population of heritage speakers and it is important to acknowledge and foster the connection to their heritage culture.”

Why do you encourage/suggest students take this course? 

“Strengthening literacy skills in a first or heritage language will also strengthen those skills in a second language.”

What are you most looking forward to about teaching this course? 

“[Jennifer] Sousa is going to teach Portuguese for Heritage Learners I. [Pauliny] Smith will also start teaching the Portuguese course the next school year [2024-2025].”