UMass Boston

Portuguese as a foreign and second language; Portuguese for heritage speakers; Portuguese for Spanish speakers. All levels of Portuguese Language and Literature. Lusophone Cinema and Literatures, differentiated instruction in Lusophone languages and literatures, student-centered learning in a multicultural environment, bilingual and bicultural proficiency, cooperative learning.

M.A. in Portuguese Literature, Portuguese Catholic University, Portugal, 2017
Post-Graduation in Portuguese Post-Colonial Studies, University of Bologna, 2015
B.A. in Education, Major: Portuguese & German, University of Minho-Gualtar Campus, Portugal, 1999

JOSÉ DA CUNHA RODRIGUES was born in Portugal. He completed a B.A. in Education, Major in Portuguese & German at University of Minho, Portugal, in 1999. He taught all levels Portuguese in several schools, also English and German as foreign languages before moving to the United States to work as a visiting Lecturer at the Romance Languages and Literatures Department of Boston College (in 2012), and later (since 2015) as the Director of the Center for Portuguese Language (Camões, Institute for Cooperation and Language, I.P., Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs) at the Latin American and Iberian Studies of the University of Massachusetts Boston. In his MA’s thesis he explores the writings and thought of José Tolentino de Mendonça with regard to the mystical tradition in postmodern culture, how the author places the mystical perspective in daily life – the nature and origins of the mystical, where it is revealed or hidden, and how to apply it in the present day. The book A Mística do Instante serves as the beacon for the development of his thesis, along with other essays and poetic works of this author. He also worked as part-time instructor of Elementary Spanish I and II, and Elementary Spanish Practicum I and II at Boston College, supervised by Dr. Debbie Rush and Dr. Silvana Falconi (Coordinators of Elementary Spanish Courses). In 2014 he worked as part-time instructor of Survey of Brazilian, Portuguese and Lusophone African Cinema at the World Languages Department/Saab & Pedroso Center for Portuguese Culture and Research of UMass Lowell. In 2013 he also collaborated as Portuguese Language Lecturer at Harvard University Extension School, supervised by Dr. Clémence Joüet-Pastré from the Romance Languages and Literature Department (Portuguese E-1B). In 2014 as Portuguese Language and Culture Teacher at the Portuguese School of Cambridge and Somerville (Cambridge Rindge and Latin School). Some of his articles have been published in renowned Portuguese journals and magazines such as Zen Energy, Correio do Minho. He published the book À Luz da Kabbalah (Guerra&Paz, 2008), prefaced by Valter Hugo Mãe (José Saramago Literary prize). In 2009 he participated weekly in a daily TV show for Porto Canal, Portuguese channel, co-hosted by a panel of moderators who discussed a variety of political, social, entertainment, and other topics. He worked as editor in chief for Valores magazine (2006-2007). José Cunha Rodrigues has served as Director of the Camões Center for Portuguese Language at the University of Massachusetts Boston since 2015. Established in 2009, the Center is a joint venture between the Latin American & Iberian Studies Department and the Camões, Institute for Cooperation and Language of the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As Director, he provides resources, pedagogical materials, and programming to students of the Portuguese language and to the broader Lusophone community. Reading, sports and watching films/documentaries are some of the activities he enjoys in his free time.