Portuguese Course Details - Fees, Subjects, Syllabus, Duration, Eligibility, Career Scope
Degrees offered: B.A., M.A., Ph.D, B.A.(Hons), BS
What is Portuguese
Portuguese is mostly spoken in Goa and parts of Daman in India, although it is only used amongst the elderly people. In India, there are many courses which are conducted by different institutes. This course is different from other educational courses. It is solely based on the language part of the studies. Portuguese originated in Galicia and Northern Portugal in the 9th century. It is, therefore, the 6th most spoken language in the world. This indicates that speaking Portuguese is a rare skill in India and abroad, there is a demand for translators/interpreters and teachers.
The courses are offered by Delhi University as part-time courses along with other subjects. Apart from this, there are many other private institutes which offer Portuguese.
Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Portuguese
Portuguese language courses are primarily divided into three main courses in colleges affiliated to Delhi University. These are part-time courses offered with main subjects throughout the university. The eligibility criteria for all the courses are different. Let’s take a look at the demand.
Certificate in the Portuguese Language
Candidates who have passed 10+2 exam of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or any similar examination with aggregate marks of at least 45 per cent are eligible for the Certificate. The admission will be made based on the merit list prepared after judging all the applications.
Diploma in the Portuguese Language
Candidates who have passed the Certificate exams of the University of Delhi or any other recognized examination are eligible to apply for admission in Diploma in the Portuguese Language. Keep in mind that candidates who have acquired a Certificate from any other institution will have to appear for the admission test.
Advanced in the Portuguese Language
Candidates who have passed Diploma in the Portuguese language from the University of Delhi or any other similar university are eligible for applying for the course. Candidates who have acquired a diploma from any other institute will have to appear for an admission test.
Institutes, other than the University of Delhi, also take a course in the Portuguese language. These institutes are only for teaching language. They have their courses, and nomenclature is different. And they don’t ask for any qualification other than 10+2. Some of the famous institutes are.
KVCH
LangEcole
The American Institutes of Languages
IFLAC
Jamia Millia Islamia (accredited to Delhi University)
Entrance Exams for Portuguese Course
There are no entrance exams in this field. The admissions are taken on the merit list prepared based on 10+2 marks. Students should have at least 45 per cent in higher secondary education from any of the recognised universities.
The exams conducted during the course hold importance. Below is the list of all the courses’ exams.
Certificate
Paper I- Communication Grammar
Paper-II- Text Comprehension and Written Expression
Paper III- Oral Expression
Diploma
Paper I- Communicative Grammar II
Paper-II- Text Comprehension and Written Expression
Paper III- Oral Expression
Advanced Diploma
Paper I- Advanced Study of the Language 100
Paper-II- Literature 100
Paper III- Language for Specific Purposes 100
Paper IV- Oral Expression 100
These are all the exams that the student gives during the course to qualify for placements on the campus and continue the studies.
Scope of Portuguese in India and Abroad
Portuguese is the 6th most spoken language in the world. Large parts of Brazil and Europe use this language as a way of communication. Whoever is pursuing one of these courses should keep in mind that the only way it is going to help is through speaking in Portuguese until you are looking to be a translator. Let’s see some of the reasons why this is a wonderful foreign language to learn.
It is a very popular language- While Portuguese is a small country with a very little population, 9 countries around the world use it as their official language. Only Brazil accounts for 230 million people who speak this language.
Enhance your job prospects with Portuguese- Many of the world’s growing economies use Portuguese as their official language, hence someone who is looking for a job in a concerned country can learn this language to enhance his/her CV.
Careers in India after learning Portuguese- Brazil is a Portuguese speaking country, and India shares very close relationships with it. Many of the organizations like IBSA, G-4, BRICS represent the relationship between India and Brazil at international levels. This language is a vital component of communication. Therefore, a translator is needed, and hence it increases the chances of placements.
Course Fees Portuguese
| Minimum Fees | Maximum Fees | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private | Government | Private | Government | |
| UG |
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Data not available
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11.98 K
B.A. in Portuguese at Goa University,Taleigao Plateau, Goa
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Data not available
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11.98 K
B.A. in Portuguese at Goa University,Taleigao Plateau, Goa
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| PG |
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Data not available
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Data not available
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Data not available
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Data not available
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| DIPLOMA |
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Data not available
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7.20 K
Diploma in Portuguese at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
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Data not available
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7.20 K
Diploma in Portuguese at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
|
Course Subjects
The syllabus included in this course is less than other comparatively. The syllabus covers all the basic grammar. The subjects included are Portuguese I and Portuguese II. These two subjects cover vocabulary and grammar. The main goal of the course is to introduce students to communication and basic Portuguese. Special emphasis on speaking skills, reading skills and writing skills is given throughout the semester. But the practice is the main topic of emphasis; it is through practice that students learn new things.
Students will also be taught about Portuguese culture, art, and music. Special books provided to students for better understanding of the culture. Class equipped with screens of Portuguese culture and movies. Dialogues are the best way to learn a new language.
See the list below for the basic layout of the subjects included in the courses.
Practical subjects
Assignment
Oral practice
Reading and writing Portuguese
Examinations
The course is only 1 year-long, and it is also a part-time subject, studied along with main subjects in India. Therefore, there are only two subjects, Portuguese I and Portuguese II. These two subjects are sufficient enough to impart all the necessary knowledge in the students.
Careers in Portuguese
There is soon going to be a high demand for Portuguese language experts in India. Especially in the private sector, many small businesses are scaling up, so they need multilingual experts who can represent their company on an international level.
Some of the industries include consultancy services, customer care, business experts. Students can get placement in any one of these sectors.
Upcoming trends
Globally, many Portuguese economies are coming up. Portugal is a very small country with limited resources and manpower. But, as discussed earlier, there are 9 different countries which have Portuguese as their official language. And few of these countries are popular for their culture and people.
The trends in this industry show very positive effects on job profiles. As Portuguese is the most learned language apart from Spanish in India. This shows that professionals are needed to feed the demand for tutors and trainers. Let’s see some of the trends happening in the industry right now.
Indian Economy is Being Recognised at World Level- Indian Economy is rising year by year in the global market. This is an indication that India’s relationship with other countries is going to be stronger. Portuguese is the 6 most spoken languages in the world; hence translators would be needed in future.
Portuguese ‘was’ an underrated language- New trends show that people are showing keen interest in Portuguese. While many people are speaking this language, many students are learning this language. This only shows Portuguese is going to be the future.
It is the gateway to Portuguese culture- Portuguese originated from Latin and Spanish. These languages are known as romance languages. Those who want to live in Portugal can learn this language, and if you know Spanish or Latin, then this Portuguese is very easy to learn. Portugal has a very rich culture and best food.
Global demands for foreign language and Proficiency- The demand for individuals with knowledge of many different languages has increased significantly. New job profiles have opened, which also provided good salary packages.
Job Profiles and Top Recruiters
Global trends show an increase in the demand of professionals with bilingual backgrounds. Companies look for those who can speak multiple languages at a time. Indian origin companies also demand these professionals as every one of them wants to take their business international.
Let’s take a look at some job profiles available in this industry:
Job Profiles | Description |
Portuguese language expert | Language expert is also known as a linguist. A linguist is a person who knows every aspect of a language, like vocabulary, grammar, and history of the language. He can work in MNCs and industries where a language expert is needed. |
A translator is a person who works as a medium of communication between two individuals who speak different languages. This person is generally employed in government jobs with high profile jobs. | |
Language teachers are employed in colleges and schools to teach and train students about different prospects of the language. | |
Freelancer | A Portuguese freelancer is a person who can play different roles, i.e. he can be a translator, editor, scriptwriter. This is the only job in the list which independent of any recruiter. A Freelancer can earn from 0 to lakhs per month. |
Editor | The main task of an editor is to find the mistakes in a piece of writing. Depending on the experience and industry, the editor can earn huge amount of money. |
Top Recruiters in Portuguese Course
Many small-scale businesses work with Portuguese customers, and they need a language expert for that. You can easily find a job on the internet for this profile.
Here are some of the recruiters present in India.
Institutes of language courses
Consultancy service providers
Government offices
Embassy
Average Salary
The average starting salary for a job in Portuguese is illustrated in the table down below.
Job Profiles | Average Salary |
Portuguese language expert | Rs. 6 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Translator | Rs. 3 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Teacher | Rs. 7 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Freelancer | Rs. 5 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Editor | Rs. 6 Lakhs p.a. (Approx.) |
Required Skillset for Portuguese
Required skill sets for this can be gained over time with practice. Some of the skills are listed below:
Quick learner | Patient |
Hardworking | Consistent |
Reasoning skills | Learning skills |
The skills listed above are very important for someone who wants to learn the Portuguese language. It is a very critical language, and missing even one chapter or class can lead you into trouble.
Course Curriculum for Portuguese
The curriculum for this course is divided into theory at the starting of the course. Practical knowledge is induced into the students when some level of knowledge regarding the language is attained. The courses are sub categorised as Language and Literature. Exams are conducted after completion of the course, once in a year.
The curriculum is designed by the teachers to provide basic to advanced knowledge into the students. Teachers keep a check on participation, involvement, assignments of the students. This is all tested through exams at the end of the course. Students should be looking for good institutes which provide more practical knowledge than just theoretical.
Let’s take a look at some of the colleges who offer this course:
Miranda House
Daulat Ram College
There are also many private institutes. We have talked about them earlier. Students should keep in mind about the authenticity of the institutes, as there are many institutes which provide fake certificates. It is recommended to look for admission in any of the colleges affiliated to Delhi University.
Popular Portuguese Entrance Exams in India
Popular Portuguese Colleges in India VIEW ALL
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: What is the course fee?
Answer :
The course fee varies from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 20,000. Students should keep in mind that this fee doesn’t include the accommodation fee, mess charges and convenience fee.
Question: What is the duration of the course?
Answer :
The duration of the course is typically 1 year. But people can also opt for crash courses or distant courses.
Question: Best colleges to learn the Portuguese language?
Answer :
There are many private institutes which run to teach Portuguese as a language. But the best in the business are government colleges, namely, all the colleges affiliated to Delhi University.
Question: Is Brazilian Portuguese same as European Portuguese?
Answer :
Both the languages are the same, but there are some dis-similarities due to demographic changes and accents changes.
Question: What is the role of a linguist?
Answer :
A linguist is a person who knows different languages, be it spoken language or computer language. Students can learn languages in different institutions and get placements from the campus itself.
Questions related to Portuguese
Showing 9 out of 9 Questions
4 Views
Question : Comprehension:
India is a diverse nation with many different cultures. Although some eating habits are considered staples of Indian cuisine, these habits may not be practiced by all the cultures of India. Cuisine differs across India's diverse regions as a result of variations in local culture, geographical location (proximity to the sea, desert, or mountains), and economics. It also varies seasonally, depending on which fruits and vegetables are ripe. Also, Middle Eastern and Central Asian influences have occurred in North Indian cuisine since the years of Mughal rule. Indian cuisine is still evolving as a result of the nation's cultural interactions with other societies.
Historical incidents such as foreign invasions, trade relations, and colonialism have played a role in introducing certain foods to the country. For instance, potato, a staple of the diet in some regions of India, was brought to India by the Portuguese, who also introduced chilies and breadfruit. Indian cuisine has shaped the history of international relations; the spice trade between India and Europe was the primary catalyst for Europe's Age of Discovery. Spices were bought from India and traded around Europe and Asia. Indian cuisine has influenced other cuisines across the world, especially those from Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, the British Isles, Fiji, and the Caribbean.
Indian food is rich in flavor. However, spices do more than flavor a dish; they are also used to cool and warm the body during hot or cold weather. Yogurt is commonly used to flavor dishes or as a sauce to chill spicy dishes. Many Indian dishes are cooked in vegetable oil, but peanut oil is popular in northern and western India, mustard oil in eastern India, and coconut oil along the western coast, especially in Kerala. Gingelly (sesame) oil is common in the south since it imparts a fragrant, nutty aroma. In recent decades, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, and soybean oils have become popular across India. Butter-based ghee, or deshi ghee, is used frequently, though less than in the past.
Based on the passage above, choose the correct option for the following question.
Question
According to the passage, choose the correct synonym of the word 'catalyst'.
Option 1: Micro
Option 2: Disregard
Option 3: Activator
Option 4: Animosity
24th Jan, 2024
Correct Answer: Activator
Solution : The correct option is the third option.
In the context of the passage, the term 'catalyst' is used to describe the spice trade between India and Europe as the primary factor or force that accelerated Europe's Age of Discovery. Similarly, an 'activator' serves as a synonym in this context, emphasising the idea of initiating or setting into motion a significant historical event.
Therefore, the meanings of the other words are:
- Micro: That depicts something extremely small, about things on a very small scale.
- Disregard: This means to pay no attention; to ignore or neglect.
- Animosity: This means to have strong hostility or antagonism; intense dislike or hatred.
Therefore, the most appropriate synonym for catalyst is activator.
Answer later 2 Views
Question : Name the Indian king who warmly received the Portuguese traveller Vasco da Gama when he landed at Calicut.
Option 1: Asaf Jah Ismail Mulk
Option 2: Deva Raya II
Option 3: Zamorin
Option 4: Krishnadevaraya
16th Jan, 2024
Correct Answer: Zamorin
Solution : The correct answer is Zamorin.
On May 27, 1498, Portuguese Sailor Vasco de Gama crossed the cape of Good Hope and arrived in the Indian city of Calicut. He was greeted by King Zamorin of Calicut. Vasco de Gama left Calicut in 1498 due to a conflict with Zamorin and other traders.
4 Views
Question : Which place among the following was the headquarters of the Portuguese in India?
Option 1: Cochin
Option 2: Goa
Option 3: Calicut
Option 4: Cannanore
16th Jan, 2024
Correct Answer: Goa
Solution : The correct answer is Goa.
The headquarters of the Portuguese in India was Goa. Goa served as the central administrative and political hub for the Portuguese colonial presence in India from the early 16th century until 1961, when India annexed Goa, Daman, and Diu, ending over four centuries of Portuguese rule in the region.
Question : Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer came to India in ___.
Option 1: 1496
Option 2: 1498
Option 3: 1495
Option 4: 1497
23rd Jan, 2024
Correct Answer: 1498
Solution : The correct answer is 1498.
Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer, arrived in India on May 20, 1498. Upon his arrival in Calicut, Vasco da Gama established trade relations with the local rulers and secured valuable spices, such as pepper and cinnamon. His successful journey opened the sea route from Europe to Asia, marking the beginning of direct maritime trade between Europe and Asia.
1 View
Question : Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, discovered the sea route to India in_______________.
Option 1: 1488
Option 2: 1498
Option 3: 1508
Option 4: 1518
8th Jan, 2024
Correct Answer: 1498
Solution : The correct option is 1498.
Portuguese adventurer Vasco da Gama touched down in Calicut, now Kozhikode, India, on May 20, 1498. The first European to arrive by sea at India's profitable trading hubs was Vasco da Gama.
