Why Portuguese?
Portuguese is one of the main romance languages, and its study opens a door to the vibrant world of Portuguese and Brazilian literary and cultural productions in music, cinema, the arts, and architecture. The knowledge of Portuguese has become more and more valuable for many careers in both the private and the public sectors. It is a proven plus for speakers of Spanish and other romance languages in international and Latin American studies, business, and in fields such as law, banking, civil service, and the natural and social sciences. The rising Portuguese-speaking immigrant groups in the United States have made Portuguese increasingly important for business and in medical areas in New England, Florida, California, and Georgia, where there are large Portuguese, Cape Verdean, and Brazilian communities.
But that’s not all…
What does Brazil mean today?
Today, Brazil’s economy is on the rise. Blessed with abundant natural resources, Brazil has become the most powerful country in South America in economic terms and thus is leading the other countries of South America.
With large and growing agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil’s economy ranks highest among all South American countries and has also acquired a strong position in the global economy. Brazil's economy has been undergoing continuous growth and development from 2004, which has led to a rise in employment and real wages.
The present GDP is $1.6 trillion and the real growth rate of GDP is 3.7%. The rate of unemployment is 9.6% and inflation is 3%. Major industries are textiles, shoes, chemicals, aircraft, steel, motor vehicles, etc. Agricultural products include coffee, wheat, rice, sugarcane, among others.
Today and in the decades to come, a professional who speaks Portuguese and is familiar with the Brazilian culture will be allowed access to a myriad of new work and investment opportunities and will, therefore, better utilize all the knowledge and skills acquired throughout his/her academic life.