UChicago Portuguese

UChicago Portuguese Welcome to the page of the Portuguese Language program at the University of Chicago!

With the end of this academic year, we are also saying farewell to our dearest Ana Flávia Boeing Marcelino.Ana Flávia ar...
05/29/2026

With the end of this academic year, we are also saying farewell to our dearest Ana Flávia Boeing Marcelino.

Ana Flávia arrived at UChicago as a ‘leitora’ and research assistant through the partnership between the Portuguese Program at UChicago and the Instituto Guimarãe Rosa, through the Brazilian General Consulate in Chicago. Over the last four years, she contributed immensely to the program through her creativity, dedication, intelligence, charisma, and commitment to building community.

Ana Flávia helped the Portuguese Program in countless ways. We were incredibly lucky to share our daily work, conversations, and experiences with her, and she will be greatly missed by all of us.

We are deeply thankful for everything she has done for our program and our students, and we are excited to follow the next steps in her academic and professional journey. We are certain that she will continue to make a meaningful impact wherever she goes.

Below are a few words from her colleagues, who had the privilege of working alongside her throughout these years.

Ana Flávia, your contribution to our Portuguese program has been magnificent. Your energy and creativity shaped our initiatives and made them even more engaging. Thank you for your kind, cheerful, and always professional presence. I hope your next chapter will be fruitful and rewarding. I wish you all the success in the world, both in your professional and personal life as well. We will miss you very much! - Ana Lima

Ana, thank you for all the wonderful moments we shared working together. Beyond being an excellent professional—dedicated, intelligent, and creative—you are also a wonderful person, and it was truly great to have a friend like you in the program. I wish you much success, and I’m sure we will see each other again many times. I will always be happy whenever we meet. - Juliano

Muito obrigado, Ana Flávia

Spring Quarter was just as much fun—if not more—than the rest of the year, and it gave us the perfect way to close anoth...
05/28/2026

Spring Quarter was just as much fun—if not more—than the rest of the year, and it gave us the perfect way to close another incredible chapter together.

We started strong with the visit of Manuel Heitor, former Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education of Portugal. It was an enriching conversation that invited us to think about higher education, innovation, and the future of learning while giving students the opportunity to engage directly with his experiences and ideas.

We also hosted our biggest event of the year: the Illinois Portuguese Language Connection. With traditional food, capoeira, games, and activities, we celebrated Lusophone cultures while reconnecting with our friends and colleagues from UIUC and Northwestern. More than an event, it became a moment to bring students, families, and our broader community together.

As always, our conversation tables continued to be full of energy, bringing students together week after week to practice Portuguese, meet new people, and create community through language.

And to round out the quarter, we visited the Smart Museum of Art right here on campus. With their support, we explored art through Portuguese and took part in engaging activities that reminded us that language learning can happen anywhere.

Spring Quarter gave us conversation, culture, friendship, and many moments to remember. Thank you to everyone who was part of it and helped make this year so special.

Obrigado to each and every one of you for making this year so special.

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Winter Quarter may have been cold, but our hearts were warm. As we continue our Year in Review, we look back at a quarte...
05/27/2026

Winter Quarter may have been cold, but our hearts were warm. As we continue our Year in Review, we look back at a quarter filled with community, culture, and memorable moments together.

We celebrated Carnaval with workshops, activities, and opportunities to experience one of the most vibrant traditions of the Lusophone world. We also had a very special moment celebrating Ana Flavia’s birthday with the visit of her mom and sister.

Our students explored campus in new ways by taking class to the ISAC Museum, putting their Portuguese into practice while engaging with history, and new perspectives outside the classroom.

The highlight of the quarter was our visit to Sinhá, where we enjoyed a delicious Brazilian meal, learned more about the religious and cultural influences present in different dishes, and even played a game together. It was a wonderful opportunity to experience language and culture through food and shared conversation.

To close out the quarter, Ana Lima and Juliano represented the Portuguese Program at Open Education Week at UChicago, sharing some of their work with open educational resources in Portuguese and contributing to conversations about language teaching and accessibility.

Winter may have brought low temperatures, but it also brought many moments that reminded us why community is at the center of everything we do.

This week, we’re taking a moment to look back and celebrate everything we experienced together throughout the year. To s...
05/26/2026

This week, we’re taking a moment to look back and celebrate everything we experienced together throughout the year. To start, we’re revisiting Autumn Quarter.

We kicked things off with our traditional Meet & Greet, where everyone received their Portuguese Program T-shirt and had the chance to reconnect and welcome new faces.

We also had the opportunity to attend the closing ceremony of Mostra Film Festival, an evening filled with culture and celebration. We watched the film ‘Manas’, enjoyed traditional food, and even danced samba together.

Throughout the quarter, there were many opportunities to connect beyond the classroom, from our conversation tables to special guests who visited classes and shared their experiences and perspectives with our students (thank you, Samantha and Patrick).

Our staff also traveled to New Orleans for the ACTFL conference, where they learned from colleagues, shared their own experiences, and, of course, made time to explore the local cuisine. Let’s also not forget that this was when Juliano was voted the person who ate the most beignets… a title that may or may not be supported by scientific evidence.

Thank you to everyone who made Autumn Quarter such a memorable start to the year. Stay tuned as we continue our Year in Review and revisit more moments together.

É esse o post: boa sorte nos exames finais!Like this post for good luck on your final exams! 🍀
05/25/2026

É esse o post: boa sorte nos exames finais!

Like this post for good luck on your final exams! 🍀

Some Brazilian exports go far beyond the economy: they become part of everyday life and culture around the world.Brazili...
05/22/2026

Some Brazilian exports go far beyond the economy: they become part of everyday life and culture around the world.

Brazilian café has long been one of the country’s most important products, helping shape its economy and cultural identity. Today, Brazilian coffee is enjoyed all around the world, from traditional espresso blends to specialty coffees. Another globally recognized product is açaí, the Amazonian berry that became popular internationally for its unique flavor and use in bowls, smoothies, and desserts.

There are also the iconic Havaianas, the colorful flip-flops that went from simple everyday footwear to an international symbol of Brazilian style and summer culture.

And beyond physical products, Brazil exports something equally powerful: sports culture. Brazilian football, its legendary players, and the country’s passion for the game have influenced global sports culture for generations. Names such as Pelé, Marta, and Neymar became international symbols of talent, creativity, and the joy associated with Brazilian sports.

After so many vibrant posts, today we will cleanse our Instagram palate with a calmer moment to simply admire one of the...
05/21/2026

After so many vibrant posts, today we will cleanse our Instagram palate with a calmer moment to simply admire one of the most recognizable artistic traditions of the Lusophone world: Portuguese tiles, or azulejos.

Found throughout Portugal on churches, train stations, palaces, homes, and city streets, azulejos are much more than decoration. These ceramic tiles tell stories, preserve historical moments, and transform everyday spaces into works of art.

Influenced by Islamic artistic traditions and later adapted into uniquely Portuguese styles, azulejos became an essential part of Portuguese visual culture. Their intricate patterns and iconic blue-and-white designs continue to capture the attention of visitors from around the world.

Sometimes, it is worth slowing down and appreciating the beauty found in the details.

Today we highlight Alberto Santos-Dumont, one of the great pioneers of aviation and a figure of enormous importance in B...
05/19/2026

Today we highlight Alberto Santos-Dumont, one of the great pioneers of aviation and a figure of enormous importance in Brazil. Living in Paris during the early 20th century, Santos-Dumont became internationally known for his experiments with balloons, airships, and airplanes.

In 1906, his aircraft 14-bis achieved one of the first publicly witnessed powered flights in history, making him a celebrated name in aviation.

To start off our last week of classes, we bring a more contemplative post featuring one of the most iconic landmarks in ...
05/18/2026

To start off our last week of classes, we bring a more contemplative post featuring one of the most iconic landmarks in the Lusophone world: Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.

Standing at the top of Corcovado Mountain, the statue overlooks the city with open arms and has become one of the most recognizable symbols of Brazil. Inaugurated in 1931, Christ the Redeemer attracts millions of visitors from around the world every year. In 2007, it was elected one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, further solidifying its place as a global cultural landmark.

As we approach the end of the quarter, perhaps this is also a good reminder to take a moment, breathe, and appreciate how far we have come together.

As we continue exploring Modernism and artistic innovation in the Lusophone world, today we turn to Paula Rego, one of t...
05/15/2026

As we continue exploring Modernism and artistic innovation in the Lusophone world, today we turn to Paula Rego, one of the most influential Portuguese artists of the contemporary era.

At the beginning of her career, Paula Rego was strongly influenced by Surrealism, developing works filled with symbolism, imagination, and psychological depth. Over time, she continuously experimented with different media, techniques, and visual styles, building a body of work that is both deeply personal and socially engaged.

Her paintings often explore themes such as gender, power, family, memory, and social inequality, drawing inspiration from literature, fairy tales, and Portuguese culture. Works such as The Dance and her famous Abortion Series reveal her commitment to storytelling and emotional intensity.

Through her bold artistic language and fearless approach to difficult subjects, Paula Rego became one of the defining artistic voices of the Portuguese-speaking world.

As we continue our series on Modernism in the Lusophone world, today we highlight Anita Malfatti, one of the pioneers of...
05/14/2026

As we continue our series on Modernism in the Lusophone world, today we highlight Anita Malfatti, one of the pioneers of modern art in Brazil.

At a time when Brazilian art was still strongly tied to academic traditions, Anita introduced bold colors, expressive forms, and new artistic influences inspired by European and American avant-garde movements. Her work challenged conventions and helped open the door for Modernism in Brazil.

Her 1917 exhibition became a landmark moment in Brazilian cultural history. Although it received harsh criticism at the time, it sparked important debates about art, identity, and innovation that would later culminate in the famous Week of Modern Art of 1922.

Works such as A Boba and O Homem Amarelo continue to stand as symbols of experimentation and artistic transformation.

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