News
Fundão: Learning Portuguese for Integration
"Are you ready?" asks Joana Diniz, the teacher leading one of the Portuguese Host Language classes at Agrupamento de Escolas do Fundão, organised by Centro Qualifica and held twice a week after work hours. It's 7:30 p.m., and the class is about to begin. There are about half a dozen students in the room. They are eager to learn Portuguese, which is a crucial factor for integration.
Most of them can now express themselves in Portuguese without significant difficulties and rely less on English, which everyone speaks to varying degrees of proficiency. This group represents the most advanced level among the 120 foreigners learning Portuguese in Fundão. According to the teacher, the class consists of adults from diverse nationalities, which presents an enriching professional challenge.
In the classroom, different worlds are represented, with students from Algeria, South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany, India, Afghanistan, and more learning the language of Camões. Most came to Portugal to work, from computer engineers to agricultural workers. However, some have left bustling metropolises in other parts of Europe in search of tranquillity and the renowned Portuguese sun.
