More Jersey students learning Portuguese at A-level

Jenny from Haute Vallée is studying Portuguese

More students in Jersey are learning Portuguese at A-level.

Classes around the island are taught by Camoes Instituto da Cooperacao e da Lingua, which is a Portuguese international institution.

The number of A-level Portuguese students has increased from 12 in 2019 to a record high of 28.

Teacher Rui Pires from the institute wants more Portuguese families in the island to encourage their children to study the language at a higher level.

Mr Pires said: "It gives you more points to go to university either in England or in Portugal.

"My son was here and he took the A-level and now he's in Portugal after studying medicine there and he needed the extra points to get onto that course.

"It opens more doors and I just want more Portuguese parents to know that."

About one in eleven Jersey residents considered themselves to be Portuguese or Madeiran.

Bea from Haute Vallée is studying Portuguese at A-level

Haute Vallée student Bea has studied Portuguese at GSCE level and now wants to continue her studies at A-level.

"These classes mean a lot because when you go visit your family in Madeira, you can communicate more with them and it gives me a chance to do more Portuguese qualifications.

"There's more and more Portuguese people coming to the island, half my year is Portuguese so I feel like more people learning it is better."

Fellow student Jenny said: "I'm thinking it gives you a good opportunity to study in other places after A-levels.

"Then when I go and see family back in Madeira or go shopping there - talking to people becomes much easier too."