Ask a Professor About Research Supervision in Portuguese — Practice

Introduce your topic in a few lines

Orientador or orientadora is a research or academic supervisor. Start with your program and a one-sentence topic, then name the question you hope to explore. An early idea can be provisional; label it as an initial question rather than a finished project.

Mention how you learned about the professor's work and refer to one publication or topic accurately.

Ask whether the research is a possible fit

Use teria disponibilidade (would you have availability) to ask about supervision without assuming the professor can take on another student. You can also ask whether the topic fits an existing research group.

Supervision depends on the program, department, and professor's workload. Ask for guidance on the process instead of treating one reply as an admission decision.

Offer a brief proposal and ask about next steps

Offer to send a one-page outline, CV, or writing sample if appropriate. Ask which document would help the professor assess fit and whether a short meeting is possible.

Keep the first email concise. If there is no response, follow the institution's process and allow a reasonable interval before one polite follow-up.

Remember: Present one focused research question, ask about fit and availability, and confirm the program's formal steps.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. I'm developing a research proposal about bilingual education.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Estou desenvolvendo uma proposta de pesquisa sobre educação bilíngue.

2. I read your article about language policies and became interested in the topic.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Li seu artigo sobre políticas linguísticas e me interessei pelo tema.

3. Would you be available to discuss possible supervision?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Você teria disponibilidade para conversar sobre uma possível orientação?

4. Does this topic connect with any research group in the department?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Esse tema se relaciona com algum grupo de pesquisa do departamento?

5. May I send a one-page summary of the proposal?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Posso enviar um resumo de uma página da proposta?

6. Is there a program procedure I should follow first?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Há algum procedimento do programa que devo seguir primeiro?

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Present one focused research question, ask about fit and availability, and confirm the program's formal steps.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Ask a Professor About Research Supervision in Portuguese lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.