One more yearly Study Trip ended on May 8th and now it is time to share some of the pictures we took during that week.
Portuguese wine tasting with a local wine maker, Portuguese food samplying afternoon, Mouraria walk with a Fado singer, Peddy Paper and classes at CIAL. It was a busy week that have certainly contributed to the learning experience of our fellow students!
The primary objective in organising the Study Trips is to offer students a different experience in Portuguese language, in a way that learners can be exposed to at least 8 hours each day to intense use of Portuguese language, be in spoken or written word.
Morning Portugues lessons at CIAL - Lisbon
In the mornings, the group attended intensive classes at CIAL - Portuguese language school, and after lunch we get together again to participate in different and stimulating activities that are designed to bridge the Portuguese language they learn in books to its real-life usage.
When organising the activities, I take into account the different language ability levels and the objectives of each student travelling with us, and, because of that, the students can expect a varied range of language interaction and after-school activities.
Activities are proposed having in mind the linguistic and cultural outcome; as languages reflect people's history and culture, I strongly believe that learners must experience a hands-on contact with the Portuguese culture and try to interact with it, negociating meaning, comparing and contrasting relevant aspects of communication and everyday language.
Peddy Paper Activity in Central Lisbon
Activities such as the Peddy Paper, when students have to follow directions of a route through the centre of Lisbon, the interaction between the learner and the city brings the language to life - Through directions in Portuguese, students had to follow the commands, exploring the lower city in Lisbon, investigating the statues and monuments and negociating meaning.
The core objective was to unveal the historical aspects of Lisbon as students learned new words as they went along.
Wine Masterclass
The wine tasting session was delivered by a professional "enóloga" - in English, an oenologist, or to put it simply, a "wine maker". We learned about the varietites of grapes and how they influence in the final product, we also got some tips on how to evaluate the wine with regards to its colour, aroma and acidity. On the evening, our guide took us to some fine wine bars in Cidade Alta.
The wine tasting session offered us a chance to different local wines recommended by the enóloga. Students could try, for instances, the famous wine Periquita, the first bottled red wine in Portugal and the most consumed wine in Brazil!
Private Fado session in Mouraria
We also took part in a private Fado tour through the maze of little, narrow streets of the bairro Mouraria where Fado music was born.
We saw the houses where Severa and Amália Rodrigues lived and worked, and we were accompanied by a professional fado singer who would sing memorable Fado songs every now and then.
The evening was unforgetable - nothing beats a live presentation of Fado in the streets of Mouraria! As we paused our stroll to hear one more song, the local people would open there windows to admire his beautiful voice! We sure caused a stir in the community!
Portuguese Petiscos Tour
The Gastronomic tour took us to some of Lisbon quaint bars and eateries, where students could sample some of Lisbon's traditional dishes such as bacalhau com grãos, ameijoas, massa tenra etc.
During these special tours we were able to sample different local food and drinks and also get to know wonderful "hidden" places in Lisbon, such as the Casa do Alentejo (pictured below) where we tried a typical Migas à Alentejana, an ancient dish from Portugal's alentejo region.
Past and Future Guided Tours
In 2016 we spent a week in the north of Portugal, in the city of Porto and learned about their culture, their dishes, their music tradition and of, course, participate in a specialist Portuguese course! Check the pictures here.
In 2023 we are returning to Lisbon for a Study Week ! Please check the 2023 Study Week page for more information.
If you would like to join our excursion, don't hesitate to get in touch and subscribe to our newsletters!