Jacksonville, AL – As originally reported by Brett Buckner of JSU’s Media Department, since the fall of 2023, Jacksonville State University (Jax State) has been offering online Portuguese language classes (LAS 101) through a collaborative partnership with the Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies (CLACX) at Vanderbilt University, the University of Alabama, and Tuskegee University. This initiative, federally funded through the Title VI grant, provides students with the chance to learn Portuguese—one of the world’s most widely spoken languages—remotely.
“It’s an incredibly unique opportunity for our students,” said Dr. Lance Ingwersen, associate professor of Latin American History at Jax State. Ingwersen, a Vanderbilt alumnus, first learned about the program while attending a global studies conference and successfully advocated for Jax State’s inclusion in the grant proposal.
Portuguese is the sixth most spoken native language in the world, with over 264 million native speakers. Recognizing its global importance, the U.S. Department of State has designated Portuguese as a critical language, offering programs such as the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to help U.S. citizens develop proficiency in strategic languages. Ingwersen emphasized the career advantages of learning Portuguese, noting that students who achieve an intermediate level could qualify for such fellowships, opening doors to future study and global engagement.
The course is taught remotely by a Portuguese instructor from the University of Alabama, with students from Jax State and Tuskegee University attending together. While the course is virtual, there have been opportunities for students to meet their instructor and classmates in person.
Among the participants is Samantha Schmick, a 22-year-old senior majoring in Spanish with a minor in Latin American studies. Schmick’s interest in Portuguese stemmed from her love of Spanish and her desire to deepen her understanding of Latin American history and culture.
“I believe that culture is deeply interwoven with language, so understanding language helps me get an even deeper understanding,” Schmick said. “I have had an amazing time learning about the variety of cultures within Portuguese-speaking communities, and I might not have learned about them at all if not for my exposure in this course.”
Although the course is delivered via Zoom, Schmick was initially hesitant about how effective virtual learning would be for a language course. However, she credits Dr. Jared Hendrickson, the University of Alabama professor teaching the course, for making it an engaging and interactive experience.
“He encourages us to interact out loud over Zoom, so it is essentially the same as an in-person class,” she said. “We’re encouraged to ask questions, make mistakes, and overall be curious to connect with the language on a deeper level.”
Schmick, now in her second semester of Portuguese, hopes to use her language skills in the medical field as an interpreter. She encourages other students—especially those with an interest in languages or a background in Spanish—to take advantage of this opportunity.
“I feel like it has definitely widened my perspective and granted me new opportunities,” she said.
Jax State will continue offering Beginner Portuguese (LAS 101) in Fall 2025, providing students with a valuable skill in an increasingly interconnected world.
