Carried around the globe by exploration and colonialism, Portuguese is a Romance language originating on the Iberian Peninsula. Courses of study focus on grammar, syntax and vocabulary as well as native speakers’ cultures. Expert speakers often become translators or teachers, or employed for global business firms or government agencies.

Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in both South America and the Latin American region. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population, with over 193 million people.

A course is the study of a particular topic within a wider subject area and is the foundation of a qualification. A typical course includes lectures, assessments and tutorials.

Part-time learning allows one to obtain a degree or qualification even if one cannot attend school on a full-time basis. One can learn at one's own pace, gradually accumulating credits that count towards a final qualification.