Nicolas Portugal

Nicolas Portugal, PhD, is an Assistant Instructional Professor of French in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at the University of Chicago. He teaches French language and culture across the curriculum, from beginning through advanced levels, with an emphasis on oral proficiency, intercultural competence, and inclusive, student-centered pedagogy. His teaching and scholarship explore how emerging technologies, including virtual reality and AI-supported conversation, can create immersive, low-stakes opportunities for students to develop confidence and prepare for meaningful interaction in French. His broader interests include curriculum design, inclusive language education, and the cultural narratives surrounding French and France in the United States. He has contributed to the redesign of the University of Chicago’s second-year French curriculum, aligning instruction and assessment with proficiency-based outcomes and real-world communication. Across his work, he brings language learning into conversation with literature, film, contemporary culture, and global engagement.