Ensino do português na escola secundária em Macau

: o papel das tarefas pedagógicas na aula de PLE

Abstract

Portuguese, holding official language status in Macau and deeply connected to its history and cultural identity, maintains significant symbolic and institutional value. However, this recognition has not been proportionally reflected in its educational development. Despite language policies aimed at promoting multilingualism, the presence of Portuguese in schools remains limited and, in many cases, is relegated to a secondary role compared to English, which is widely valued as a global language and a tool for academic and professional mobility. This report examines the availability and potential of the Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) approach in the context of teaching Portuguese as a Foreign Language (PFL) in Macau. Considering the value of Portuguese in the territory and its historical and cultural relevance, the study seeks to understand how institutional, curricular, and sociocultural factors influence the adoption of communicative and learner-centered approaches. The analysis reveals that although Portuguese maintains its official status, its social use and presence in schools have been declining, generally taking a secondary position to English. In the education system, structural constraints limit the full implementation of TBLT, such as the heavy reliance on textbooks, the prevalence of traditional assessment systems, limited class time, and reduced teacher autonomy. Despite these challenges, the adapted application of TBLT has shown positive results, increased students’ motivation and participation, promoting the functional and contextualized use of the target language. The study emphasizes that to integrate this approach sustainably, it is necessary to invest in continuous teacher training, make curricula and assessment criteria more flexible, creating conditions for Portuguese teaching to develop in more communicative and meaningful environments aligned with students’ real needs.

Date of Award	19 Feb 2026
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria Filomena Capucho (Supervisor)