Em novembro, minha sobrinha faz a inscrição para o curso do próximo ano.

Em novembro means in November.

In Portuguese, em is the normal preposition used with months:

• em janeiro = in January
• em maio = in May
• em novembro = in November

So Em novembro is the natural way to say in November.

Also, putting it at the beginning gives a time setting first: In November, ...

The comma is used because Em novembro is an introductory time expression placed at the start of the sentence.

So:

• Em novembro, minha sobrinha faz a inscrição...

is very natural and clear.

In everyday writing, some short introductory phrases may appear without a comma, but with this sentence, the comma is completely normal and helps readability.

Sobrinha means niece.

Related family words:

• sobrinho = nephew
• sobrinha = niece

So minha sobrinha means my niece.

In Brazilian Portuguese, both are possible:

• minha sobrinha
• a minha sobrinha

Both can mean my niece.

In Brazil, it is very common to omit the article before possessives, especially in many contexts. So minha sobrinha sounds completely natural.

You may also hear:

• a minha irmã
• o meu pai

But leaving out the article is also very common in Brazilian Portuguese.

Fazer a inscrição is a common expression meaning to register / to complete the registration / to submit an application.

Literally:

• fazer = to do / to make
• a inscrição = the registration / the enrollment / the application

So faz a inscrição is like does the registration.

Portuguese often uses verb + noun expressions where English prefers one verb. Other possible ways to express similar ideas are:

• se inscrever = to sign up / to register oneself
• se matricular = to enroll

But fazer a inscrição is very natural when talking about the act of registration itself.

These words are related, but they are not always identical.

• inscrição often refers to registration, sign-up, or application
• matrícula often refers to official enrollment, especially after being accepted

In many real situations, the exact difference depends on the institution.

For example:

• fazer a inscrição para o curso = register/apply for the course
• fazer a matrícula no curso = officially enroll in the course

So in this sentence, inscrição suggests the registration process for the course of the next year.

These are definite articles:

• a inscrição = the registration
• o curso = the course

Portuguese uses definite articles more often than English does. Even when English might say just registration, Portuguese often says a inscrição.

The gender of the noun determines the article:

• inscrição is feminine → a inscrição
• curso is masculine → o curso

Para here means for.

So:

• a inscrição para o curso = the registration for the course

This shows the purpose or destination of the registration.

Also, para o is made of:

• para
  • o = para o

because curso is masculine singular.

Do próximo ano means of next year or more naturally in English, for next year / of the following year, depending on context.

Do is a contraction:

• de
  • o = do

So:

• o curso do próximo ano = the course of next year / next year's course

Here do próximo ano modifies curso, specifying which course: the one for the next year.

In Portuguese, adjectives can come before or after the noun, but the position can affect what sounds natural or the nuance.

For time expressions, próximo ano is the normal and most natural order for next year.

• o próximo ano = next year / the following year

While ano próximo may occasionally appear in more formal or literary contexts, it is not the usual everyday way to say it here.

Yes. A very common everyday alternative is:

• Em novembro, minha sobrinha faz a inscrição para o curso do ano que vem.

Ano que vem means next year and sounds very natural in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.

Comparison:

• do próximo ano = a bit more formal or neutral
• do ano que vem = very common and conversational

Both are correct.

Portuguese often uses the present tense to talk about future events when the time is clear from context.

Here, Em novembro already tells us when it happens, so faz can naturally mean something like:

• she registers in November
• she will register in November

This is very common in both Portuguese and English in some contexts.

Examples:

• Amanhã eu viajo. = Tomorrow I travel / I’m traveling / I’ll travel.
• Na segunda, ele começa o trabalho. = On Monday, he starts / will start the job.

So faz is present in form, but future in meaning because of the time phrase.

Yes, absolutely.

• faz a inscrição = present tense with future meaning
• vai fazer a inscrição = explicit near-future form, is going to register

Both are natural.

The version with faz can sound a little more matter-of-fact or like part of a plan/schedule.
The version with vai fazer makes the future meaning more explicit.

Curso usually means course, class, or sometimes program, depending on context.

In this sentence, it most likely means an educational course or program that starts or takes place in the next year.

Examples:

• curso de inglês = English course
• curso online = online course
• curso universitário = university program/course

Yes. Portuguese allows some flexibility.

For example, these are all possible:

• Em novembro, minha sobrinha faz a inscrição para o curso do próximo ano.
• Minha sobrinha faz a inscrição para o curso do próximo ano em novembro.

Both are correct.

The version with Em novembro at the beginning emphasizes the time first.
The version with em novembro at the end sounds a bit more neutral in flow.

Yes. You could say:

• Em novembro, minha sobrinha se inscreve no curso do próximo ano.

This is also very natural.

There is a small structural difference:

• fazer a inscrição para o curso = to do the registration for the course
• se inscrever no curso = to register/sign up for the course

Notice that with inscrever-se, Portuguese usually uses em/no:

• se inscrever no curso = sign up for the course

So both versions work, but the grammar around them changes a little.

Because different verbs and expressions often require different prepositions in Portuguese.

Compare:

• fazer a inscrição para o curso
• se inscrever no curso

This is not something you can always translate word-for-word from English. It is just part of how each expression is normally used.

A good strategy is to learn the full chunk:

• fazer inscrição para
• inscrever-se em
• matricular-se em

That will help you sound natural.