Ponto de Encontro: Portuguese as a World Language
Ponto de EncontroAccording to Professors  Braziland Portugal:I am particularly impressed with the decision of the authors’ to incorporate both peninsular and Brazilian Portuguese… It is key to developing the student’s understanding of the global nature of the lusophone world. Furthermore, from a practical point of view, it makes a coordinator’s life much easier... The authors’ approach in this regard is perfect.— Phillip Rothwell, Rutgers University I think one of the greatest merits and challenges of Ponto de Encontro is the incorporations of both linguistic varieties, and I congratulate the authors for taking this task in a serious and successful manner. -Ana Maria Carvalho, University of California, Berkeley  Activities:I like that the activities involve working with partners and in small groups and then [are followed by] follow-ups that involve finding the general opinions of the class.  —Susan McMillen Villar, University of Minnesota The activities are varied but communicative in nature, allowing students to practice language and structures in meaningful contexts. As with the content in general, there is an abundance of practice options, which give the instructor flexibility to use those which seem most appropriate. -Jason R. Jolley,MissouriState University Vocabulary:Regarding vocabulary, I like the fact that the book goes into areas that are of great interest to students today, such as technology, the environment, social conditions and political systems, in addition to the more traditional subjects of home, family, food, health, school… The book will be more attractive than any other one on the market.  —Margo Milleret, University of New Mexico …One of the greatest strengths of this proposal is the plethora of vocabulary units. It is diverse and relevant. -Bryan Kennedy, University of Wisconsin — Milwaukee Grammar:The chapters present grammar in an intuitive sequence that will equip learners with the tools to begin using correct patterns early on in their communications. The explanations are indeed clear and accurate, without being convoluted.  —Jason R. Jolley,MissouriState University Culture:I want to compliment the authors for the option of introducing cultural texts on all the Portuguese-speaking countries around the world. This will be the first book to include this aspect. One of the reasons we have waited so long to change our textbook is hoping that Ponto de Encontro can be our next option.— Monica Rector, University of North Carolina Program Components:The features I find most attractive are the text’s excellent activities, use of the internet, the pre- during and post-reading activities, the situaações, the activity CD-ROM, the instructor’s resource manual and companion website…  -Clelia Donovan, University of California, Berkeley Each of the supplements should be greatly appreciated. These are the kinds of supplements that we have for Spanish, French and German language teaching that have been lacking for teaching Portuguese… We would be delighted with what you have promised… With this text we can FINALLY teach our beginning and intermediate Portuguese language classes like we do our Spanish language classes without so much effort on the part of the instructors who have had the responsibility of developing so much to make the classes communicative. I can’t wait for the text to be published! -Susan McMillen Villar, University of MinnesotaOverall: This course is simply outstanding: it is pedagogically sound, communicative in approach, while giving appropriate levels of grammatical explanation and developing sound writing skills… It is long overdo and represents a landmark in Portuguese language courses… This text will be adopted by Rutgers University as soon as it becomes available.  -Phillip Rothwell, Rutgers University Ponto de Encontrois a text that I wished I had had at the very beginning of this semester for my beginning and intermediate classes because it is a text that is written well, takes into account the reality of students learning Portuguese in the U.S. and gives the teacher the option of teaching the variations of the language that are most requested… I would definitely recommend this text to anyone. It is the epitome of context-sensitive language learning with an outreach to the reality of the student’s world, as well as to the world communities.  —Virginia da Luz Vieira, San Jose State University This multifaceted introduction to Portuguese provides everything we have been waiting for: contextualized activities that allow communication to take place in the classroom, well-thought steps for the gradual development of all four skills, glimpses into all Portuguese-speaking cultures and traditions, and a very welcome incorporation of the 5 C’s suggested by the National Standards. Teachers and students alike will find the authors’ selection and presentation of topics interesting, richly illustrated and well organized. I also commend the authors’ successful efforts in exposing the students to the Portuguese-speaking world’s different cultures and dialects, instead of favoring one over another. Teachers of Portuguese will welcome these much-needed updated textbook and supplements for bringing the latest of L2 pedagogy into the study of the Portuguese language. -Ana Maria Carvalho, University of California, Berkeley It [Ponto de Encontro] is presented as the most complete and conscientiously compiled Portuguese second language program that I have seen. Parabéns!!! —Richard Sansone, ValenciaCommunity College At this point, and after years of teaching Portuguese, this is the most appealing book to teach with… or to learn with. It’s fun. — Nelson Lopez, SUNY-Delhi …This proposal is light-years above and beyond any currently published Portuguese texts. I feel that the text indeed covers the authors’ goals of addressing grammar, communication, culture, writing and reading and am very happy to see all the skills addressed.  —Timothy McGovern, University of California,  Santa Barbara