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The Leitorado's Goals
The Portuguese language is spoken by over 270 million people worldwide and is an official language in nine countries: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and East Timor. 
This puts Portuguese in 5th place among the languages spoken worldwide with the most native speakers, and in 6th place among those most used on the Internet and most spoken as a foreign language. Based on this linguistic potential, the Leitorado Brasileiro aims to make the Portuguese language and its different cultures visible, focusing on topics related to Brazil.
With over 213 million inhabitants, Brazil is the fifth most populous country in the world and the largest and most populous country in Latin America. The mixing of the native population with people who have migrated from all parts of the world has resulted in Brazil's extraordinary cultural and linguistic diversity. The Leitorado Brasileiro aims to make this diversity accessible to students at Heidelberg University and to offer them the opportunity to engage intensively with the language and culture of Brazil.
Latest news for the students of the Leitorado Brasileiro
In the 2023 winter semester, the Leitorado Brasileiro will be offering a course dealing with the peculiarities of Brazilian Portuguese and cultural phenomena, with special attention paid to anti-racist practices in our society, the Portuguese-speaking countries of the world, and the German-speaking countries. In addition, we will offer various events that are also open to the public, such as a round table with the linguist Marcos Bagno and the linguist Jorcemara Cardoso; A reading with the Mozambican literary prize winner Paulina Chiziane and the Mozambican philosopher Dionisio Bahule, and workshops for children who speak Portuguese as a heritage language. The Leitorado Brasileiro will offer one course in the winter semester (WS 2023/2024):
The seminar antirracismo e sociedade is aimed at all students of Heidelberg University. The goal of this course is to discuss anti-racist practices as a path to a more just society. The basis of the course is the reading and discussion of the book Pequeno Manual Antiracista ('Little Manual for Antiracism') by the Brazilian philosopher Djamila Ribeiro. The methodology also includes the translation of individual chapters of the book into German (authorized by the publisher). The course allows students to deepen their knowledge of the Portuguese language through a specialist text, but also to disseminate Brazilian academic literature in other languages.
Students may contact lecturer Marília Pinheiro Pereira for more information on this course and certificate of completion, as well as on research and the exchange of knowledge on the Portuguese language and Brazilian culture.
Courses in WS 2023/2024
In addition, Heidelberg University students are welcome to contact Lecturer Marília Pinheiro Pereira for further information on the Portuguese language, Brazilian literature, and culture.
Marília is also available for exchange on topics related to teacher training, Portuguese as a heritage language, and the creation of didactic materials. The Leitorado Brasileiro Heidelberg is also happy to advise on a stay abroad in Brazil. Do not hesitate to contact us!
Goals of the Leitorado Brasileiro in Heidelberg
- The dissemination of Brazilian Portuguese and the Brazilian culture through special courses and extracurricular activities;
- The continuation of ongoing projects related to the Portuguese language and Brazilian culture;
- To broaden the footprint of the Portuguese language at Heidelberg University through joint activities with the HCIAS;
- To strengthen partnerships with Brazilian universities through contact between German and Portuguese students at these universities;
- To promote further education for teachers of Portuguese as a foreign language and as a heritage language in Germany;
- The development of didactic material for teaching Portuguese as a foreign language according to the profile of Portuguese students at Heidelberg University.
