International Latvian language and culture summer school 2023 opened
10 students from Mexico, Uzbekistan, Poland, China, Azerbaijan, Croatia, the U.S. and Indonesia participate in this year's programme.
In total, the organizing team of the Summer School received 100 applications from 20 countries around the world for this year's scholarship contest. 10 most motivated candidates were selected. They indicated current international experience, academic interest in interdisciplinary cultural research and language studies, as well as dedication to explore new countries and interest in Latvia in their letters of application.
The main theme of the culture module of the summer school is the Latvia's Culture Canon, and a unique programme was developed for exploration of elements of cultural canon as well as for visit of Song and Dance Celebration events. As part of the summer school, participants will not only gather experience of defining the cultural canon in Latvia, but will also develop the international experience of its interpretation.
On July 7, at the beginning of summer school activities, summer school participants attended exhibition “Wear Latvia. Latvian's National Costume in the World”, participated in the opening event of the summer school in the Friends Room of National Library of Latvia, where they were presented with the summer school programme and theoretical framework, as well as tought the most important courtesy and support phrases in Latvian.
The first part of the summer school took place in Riga City. The participants took a tour of the city, visiting the Riga Central Market, walking the streets of Old Town Riga and looking at the distinguished patterns of the architecture of the Art Nuoveau in Alberta Street. Summer school participants also went to Vērmanes Garden to feel the atmosphere of Song and Dance Celebration in markets and concerts.
In order to thoroughly familiarise themselves with the values included in the Latvia's Cultural Canon in the fields “Architecture and Themes”, “Literature” and “Landscapes”, summer school participants went on a trip to Jurmala, where they looked at the Dzintaru Concert Hall, Rainis and Aspasija summer house the seacost landscape.
In order to raise awareness of the values of Latvia's traditional culture, participants were offered a unique opportunity to visit the Nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Celebration Grand Finale concert “Upward Together” – the most anticipated Latvian cultural event of the last five years.
Together with acquisition of the Latvia's Culture Canon Module, the summer school participants acquire the “Latvian language as a foreign language” module, which is also applied during practice sessions, tours and field studies.
The development of the project is financially supported by the State Education Development Agency of the Republic of Latvia by providing 10 scholarships to students and academic staff of foreign higher education institutions. Funding was allocated to Centre for Latvian Studies for summer school project competition after taking part in State summer school project contest.
PHOTOGALLERY
The summer school is implemented by the Centre for Latvian Studies of Daugavpils University Faculty of Humanities.
Summer School Team: Dr philol., Prof. Maija Burima (Head of the Summer School), Sergejs Poļanskis, Evita Badina, Žans Badins Diāna Skuķe, Ilmārs Mežaraups.
This project is financially supported by the State Education Development Agency of the Republic of Latvia.
