Welcome! Bem-vindo!
I’m Mrs. Shanna Lubold and I am so excited to be teaching you Portuguese at St. Michael’s School! In our lessons we will grow to have a greater appreciation for the traditions of the Portuguese culture. We will also develop a deeper understanding of the ins-and-outs of this wonderful language so that we can better see their beauty in and of themselves and as part of God’s Creation.
As the daughter of Azorean immigrants, my life has been surrounded by the beauty of our cultural traditions and its ties into our faith. My parents were both born and raised in Capelas, São Miguel island in the Azores, and emigrated to America for a better life, landing them in Fall River and here at St. Michael Parish.
Our classroom time will include a complete submersion into all aspects of Portugal: Language, culture, history, geography and faith traditions. Students will be expected to complete a number of culture based assignments to help them deepen their appreciation for these facets.
Topics that will be covered in Portuguese Class include:
Portuguese history and culture, including sports, food, and customs,
History and culture of Lusophone countries around the world,
Luso-Catholic traditions and events,
Learning about our Portuguese Saint of the Month,
Prayers in Portuguese,
Common Portuguese phrases, vocabulary, grammar and syntax.
“I am happier than you are, I have the hidden Jesus within my heart.”
Why study Portuguese language and culture?
One of the many beautiful things about our Catholic faith is the long-standing sense of tradition that unites the 2,000 year history of the Church. That tradition is expressed in a multitude of ways throughout the world and throughout history. The Portuguese culture is one of the many beautiful ways that the Catholic faith has been passed down from generation to generation. In studying the Portuguese culture the students at Saint Michael’s School will grow to appreciate and know the culture that brought many of their families to the United States and that many of their families passed down through the ages. This will in turn give them the tools necessary to keep those traditions alive and to pass them on to future generations just like their ancestors did for them.
2015 visit to my parents homeland - São Miguel, Açores.
