Maria Teresa Segarra Costaguta Mattos is a Lecturer in Portuguese at the University of Michigan's Department of Portuguese, affiliated with the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACS). She holds degrees from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) and the University of Coimbra (Portugal). With over 25 years of language teaching experience starting at age 14, she has taught Portuguese in Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, and currently at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on Portuguese language pedagogy, Lusophone cultural studies, and multicontinental literary connections. She emphasizes the global significance of Portuguese as a bridge to 250+ million speakers across Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia. Her work explores teaching methodologies for diverse contexts and the socio-economic benefits of Portuguese proficiency in global trade and cultural understanding. Recent publications analyze intersections of literature and pedagogy, motivational factors in foreign language learners, and post-apartheid racial dynamics in South African literature. Her teaching philosophy integrates cultural immersion with technical language mastery, reflecting her transnational academic background.













