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Lingua Portuguesa Professional Development Program

The Lingua Portuguesa Professional Development Program is open to the following individuals:

1) Secondary and community college Spanish* language instructors interested in incorporating Portuguese language and culture into their school and district curricula.

2) Spanish-speaking professionals looking to expand the reach of their services to Portuguese-speaking communities (e.g. medicine, hospitality, law, counseling).

This competitive program brings together a cohort of up to ten language instructors and professionals to study Portuguese language and culture, with a focus on language pedagogy, for seven months. The objective of the program is to a) expand the offering of Portuguese language courses in secondary and community college education and b) broaden the accessibility of professional services within Portuguese-speaking communities.

2023-24 Program

Extended deadline: September 25, 2023

Eligibility

Applicants must be 1) secondary education or community college Spanish* language instructors or 2) Spanish-speaking professionals (e.g. medicine, hospitality, law, counseling).

*Instructors of other romance languages may be considered.

Scope of Program

This year's program commences with a two-day, in-person intensive workshop on Stanford campus on November 18 and 19, 2023, followed by weekly real-time virtual classes from late November to early June. Weekly virtual classes alternate between language instruction and small-group conversation practice sessions with Portuguese speakers. See schedule below.

2023-24 Program Schedule (subject to change)

Continuing Education Units

Participants are eligible to receive 4 quarter units (40 hours of instruction) through Stanford Continuing Studies.

Program Fee

$900 per academic year*

Program fee includes     

  • weekly virtual classes.
  • 4 continuing education units through Stanford Continuing Studies.
  • 2 nights lodging near Stanford university for the 2-day, in-person intensive orientation workshop for teachers traveling to Stanford University from beyond the Bay Area.

Upon acceptance to the program, participants will be expected to submit a non-refundable program fee deposit of $300 by October 15, 2023.  The program fee balance will be due October 31, 2023. Payments may be made by credit card or check.

*Applicants with financial need and working in less-funded school districts are eligible to apply for supplemental financial aid. Funding is made available through the U.S. Department of Education Title VI Grant. Funding is limited. See Financial Aid Application below.

Application Process

Application deadline: September 25, 2023

A complete application is comprised of an online application form and a letter of recommendation:

Online application

  • Note: Google account sign-in is required to submit the application form.
  • Applicant profile information
  • Resume (upload)
  • A 300-500 word statement of interest (type in electronic form or upload)
    Applicant: The statement of interest should address why you are interested in the program, what makes you a good candidate, and how you plan to synthesize the knowledge and experience gained from this program to maximize the benefits to your classroom/school/district or clients/patients/professional community.

    Apply Here​

Letter of recommendation

  • Letter of recommendation should be written by a person in the position to evaluate the applicant, such as a principal, chair, advisor, or supervisor.
  • Letters for educators should address the applicant’s ability to integrate observations, data collected, and readings into lessons; develop curriculum materials; train other teachers in the school district or at workshops and conferences; contribute to the group learning experience; and/or engage with students.
  • Letters for professionals should address the applicant's ability to integrate observations, data collected, and readings from professional development programs into their professional services and interactions with clients; engagement with professional development within their professional community; and/or contribute to the group learning experience.
  • Letters must include letterhead and a signature and be uploaded at the link provided.

    Upload Letter of Recommendation Here

Financial Aid Application (optional)

Financial aid application deadline: September 25, 2023

The online financial aid application form requires the following information:

  • Statement of Financial Need (type or paste into form): Explain why you are requesting financial assistance. Include information such as the professional development funding available through your school or district, what portion of the institute you are paying out of pocket, additional funding sources you have pursued (e.g. school or district funding, grant funding, local organizations near your work such as Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, Garden Clubs, etc.), and any special circumstances, extraordinary expenses, or additional information pertinent to why you are applying for financial assistance. (Maximum 1500 characters)
  • Budget (upload): Estimated total expenses and proposed costs to be covered by this award. Must indicate amount of financial assistance being provided by applicant's school/district/institution or other source, even if the amount is $0.

Applications will be reviewed by a review committee appointed by the Center for Latin American Studies at Stanford University. All qualified applicants will be considered in accordance with Stanford University's Nondiscrimination Policy.

Apply for Financial Aid Here (Optional)

Participant Withdrawal Policy

If, for any reason, an accepted participant chooses to withdraw from the program, the participant must notify the Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) by email to clasoutreach [at] stanford.edu (clasoutreach[at]stanford[dot]edu). The program deposit is non-refundable. However, the participant may elect to use the cost of the deposit toward the fees of another CLAS educator program or workshop within a year. Program fees, exclusive of deposit, are refundable if CLAS receives the participant's written notification prior to the withdrawal deadline of November 5, 2023. If the participant withdraws from the program after the withdrawal deadline, there are no refunds.

Program Cancellation Policy

If the program is canceled by CLAS for any reason, CLAS will be in touch with the participants directly regarding full refunds.

Questions?

Please contact Molly Aufdermauer, CLAS Public Engagement Coordinator, at clasoutreach [at] stanford.edu or 650-721-5530.

CLAS is a U.S. Department of Education National Resource Center (NRC). Supported by the U.S. Department of Education under the auspices of Title VI, Section 602(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, NRCs serve to strengthen access to and training in the major languages of their respective regions, and to broaden area studies training across all disciplines.