On April 16, 2026, the University of California, Berkeley hosted a special workshop titled “How to Incorporate Oral Skills into PLE Classes Using Digital Tools,” led by distinguished educator and researcher Ana Boléo. Held at Philosophy Hall, the event brought together a diverse group of Portuguese language instructors from across California, all committed to exploring the potential of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in language education.
The workshop was designed for teachers of Portuguese as a Foreign Language (PFL) in the United States and focused on strategies for developing oral skills in comprehension, production, and interaction. Grounded in the action-oriented approach recommended by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), the session featured examples of communicative tasks, activity guides, and digital tools that enhance the teaching and learning of oral skills. Participants were actively engaged in hands-on activities, experimenting with digital tools and collaboratively creating and sharing materials tailored to their learners.
Ana Boléo has taught Portuguese as a Foreign/Non-Native Language (PLE/PLNM) since 2004 at various public and private higher education institutions in Portugal. She is also a researcher affiliated with the Centre for English, Translation and Anglo-Portuguese Studies (CETAPS), where her work focuses on teacher education, intercultural education, and PLE/PLNM pedagogy. She holds a PhD in Education and Interculturality, as well as master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Portuguese Language and Culture (Foreign Language).
With extensive experience in program design, materials development for both general and specific purposes, and the creation of placement tests for level assessment, Ana Boléo is also an accomplished teacher trainer. She has published numerous scholarly articles and regularly participates in national and international conferences, including as a guest expert. She is the author of the textbook Por Falar Nisso, the Testes de Português series, and the 1, 2, 3… Português! series: Interdisciplinary Activities in Portuguese as a Non-Native Language (forthcoming in 2026). She has also published the children’s book A Fantástica Casa Amarela, in which she shares her personal experience of motherhood through adoption, with the aim of supporting educators, psychologists, and families throughout the pre- and post-adoption process.
This workshop was made possible through the generous support of Camões, I.P., FLAD (Luso-American Development Foundation), Porto Editora, and LIDEL. Their continued commitment to promoting Portuguese language education and pedagogical innovation plays a vital role in shaping the future of language learning in the United States. Boléo’s insights and hands-on approach empowered educators to adopt new tools that foster creativity, collaboration, and deeper learner engagement.
Attendees included:
Ana Boléo - Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa