{"product_id":"conversas-portuguesas-language-culture-course","title":"Conversas Portuguesas — Language \u0026 Culture Course","description":"\u003cp\u003eSo you've figured out how to order a coffee in Lisbon, but what comes next? We are leaving the textbooks and conjugation drills behind and using literature, visual art and music to explore Portuguese culture and identity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLed by Rita Leça, each 90-minute session is designed as an open discussion rather than a lecture. Using Salted’s book curation and cultural references as our starting points, it will focus on real debate, vocabulary expansion and speaking naturally in an informal room.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eNote: Basic Portuguese speaking skills are required (roughly A2 level and up). You don't need fluency, just the ability to hold a basic conversation.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCourse Structure\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach session runs for 90 minutes and is structured around:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThematic immersion:\u003c\/b\u003e Exploring an essential idea in Portuguese culture through a curated piece of literature, music or art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOpen debate \u0026amp; conversation:\u003c\/b\u003e Prompted discussion where everyone speaks and shares perspectives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eVocabulary in context:\u003c\/b\u003e Picking up natural expressions, slang and cultural nuances you won’t find in standard textbooks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Syllabus\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSession 1 | October 1: Saudade\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eFernando Pessoa and Amália Rodrigues\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe begin by demystifying Portugal’s most famous cultural concept. Looking at Pessoa’s poetry and Amália’s fado, we examine what \u003ci\u003esaudade\u003c\/i\u003e actually means in modern Portuguese life versus how it is marketed to outsiders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSession 2 | October 15: Liberdade\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eJosé Afonso, the 25th of April, and Paula Rego\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn exploration of the Carnation Revolution, censorship, and political resistance. We will listen to the protest music of José Afonso, analyze Paula Rego’s subversive visual art and discuss how freedom shaped modern Portuguese society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSession 3 | October 29: Mar\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eLuís de Camões, Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, and the Ocean\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePortugal’s relationship with the Atlantic runs through its history and literature. Through the classic lines of Camões and the stark, brilliant maritime poetry of Sophia, we discuss the sea as both an empire-builder and an enduring national metaphor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSession 4 | November 5: Mudança\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eContemporary Lisbon, Bordalo II, and Modern Architecture\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHow is Lisbon transforming right now? In our final session, we look at contemporary street art by Bordalo II, the changing cityscape, gentrification and the realities of modern Portuguese urban culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Tutor\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRita Leça\u003c\/b\u003e is the founder of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/pt.linkedin.com\/in\/ritaleca\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eMy Portuguese Studio\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, offering private language courses for foreigners living in Lisbon. She holds a degree in Communication Sciences with a background in journalism, cultural production, and curatorial practices, blending cultural literacy with clear, approachable language teaching.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePractical Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDates:\u003c\/b\u003e Wednesday evenings — Oct 1, Oct 15, Oct 29, and Nov 5\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTime: \u003c\/b\u003e6.30 - 8pm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLocation:\u003c\/b\u003e Salted Books, Calçada do Marquês de Abrantes 96, Lisbon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLevel:\u003c\/b\u003e Elementary to intermediate Portuguese (comfortable enough to speak in simple sentences)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eGroup Size:\u003c\/b\u003e Kept small to ensure everyone takes part in the conversation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Salted Books Lisbon","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54757775343962,"sku":null,"price":160.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0987\/8398\/6010\/files\/ConversasPortuguesas.jpg?v=1788992351","url":"https:\/\/saltedbookslisbon.com\/products\/conversas-portuguesas-language-culture-course","provider":"Salted Books Lisbon","version":"1.0","type":"link"}