Portuguese language courses are set to start at Bermuda College this fall, according to Vasco Da Gama president Andrea Moniz-DeSouza.The college will initially offer beginner-level courses in the language, but Mrs Moniz-DeSouza said if the courses are well received she is confident higher level courses can be added.She said that the Club approached Bermuda College about the possibility of running courses in the language in the middle of last summer.“We had some informal sessions with the then-vice president of the College, and he seemed eager to start it up,” Mrs Moniz-DeSouza said“The president Duranda Greene came out for an information session, and from what I can tell she was quite surprised by the turn out. They then did a survey, and I guess when they got the results back the demand was there.”She said that due to past discrimination against the Island’s Portuguese community, there are a number of Portuguese Bermudians who never learned the language.“There are a number of reasons why someone would want to learn Portuguese,” she said. “For many it is a way of communicating with their family members.“I think it is important to recognise that the Portuguese have been on the Island since the 1800s, and they helped to develop the Island into what it is today.“Having these courses at the Bermuda College is one step towards acknowledging their ongoing contributions.”She also noted that while most of the world was severely impacted by the global recession, the Latin American economy remains strong. As a result, Spanish and Portuguese language skills on the Island could create new business opportunities.“It could be a real asset for Bermuda to attract these types of investment people,” she said. “It could potentially be a real benefit for business in Bermuda.”The Vasco Da Gama Club on Reid Street will be hosting an information session tonight starting at 7pm with representatives from the College there to discuss the course, its syllabus and its fees.