Portuguese

What is it? The study of the language and culture of Portugal and Portuguese-speaking countries such as Brazil and Angola. There is no speaking or listening component, so students concentrate on honing their reading and writing skills. At A2 level, you study the literature and culture of Portuguese-speaking communities. Texts include Ines de Castro by Antonio Ferreira – a 16th-century tragedy chronicling a prince's infatuation with his wife's lady-in-waiting. Or you might investigate Portuguese music or look at life in Angola today.

Why do it? Many students have a link to a Portuguese-speaking community. Others are interested in learning more about Portuguese culture.

What skills do you need? GCSE Portuguese at grade C or above. A flair for languages is, of course, useful.

How much practical work is there? None.

Ratio of coursework to exams: 0:100

Is it hard? "It's like any language. You need to have specific vocabulary knowledge and a mastery of the grammar," says Christine Peakman, qualifications manager for languages at OCR.

Who takes it? An even number of boys and girls, mature students, and many people with a Portuguese background.

How cool is it? "It's cool," says OCR's Christine Peakman. "There's the musical and cultural connection with Brazil. And Mediterranean Portuguese is very useful if you go there on holiday."

Added value: An excuse to go to Brazil's Rio de Janeiro for the carnival, or hit the beach at Copacabana, or explore the Amazonian jungle. Or the opportunity to catch a cheap flight to Portugal's capital, Lisbon, in the name of your education and spend time surfing on the nearby Atlantic.

What subjects go with it? Other languages, especially Spanish, and business studies.

What degrees does it lead to? You can study straight Portuguese or combine it with other languages.

Will it set you up for a brilliant career? "Anyone who has a language has an advantage in the job market," says Christine Peakman. "And Portuguese is a rarer skill. It can be useful in business because of the economic importance of Brazil."

What do the students say? "It's my first language so I wanted to carry on studying it," says Diana Assuncao, 17, who is also studying for A-level psychology, AVCE health and social care, and GCSE maths at the William Morris Academy in London. "But it's a challenge at A2 – there's a lot of vocabulary to learn."

Which awarding bodies offer it? OCR.

How widely available is it around the country? It's predominantly available in London. But it is becoming more popular elsewhere.

c.rudebeck@independent.co.uk