International Latvian Language and Culture Summer School “Green farming skills in a traditional Latvian farmstead ”organised by the Centre for Lifelong Learning of Rezekne Academy of Technologies is aimed to introduce the participants of the Summer School to the regional diversity of the Latvian language and culture, more widely revealing the culinary heritage characteristic of Latvia and Latgale region, introducing them to traditional homestead management skills; besides, by discovering the ancestral experience and traditional farming skills.
The Summer School will take place in Rezekne (Latvia) from August 3, 2025 until August 12, 2025.
The main aim of the Summer School is to promote the regional diversity of the Latvian language and culture, the linguistic and culinary heritage of Latgale, using modern interactive methods of language and cultural familiarization, CLIL or language and content integrated learning approach.
Tasks:
- Ensure intense learning of the basics of the Latvian language, emphasizing such topics as human personality, countries and cultures, geography, transport and travel, cookery, using student-centered methods and communicative approach;
- Provide interactive classes on Latvian language variants and diversity of Latvian culture, emphasizing the uniqueness of Latgale (language, folklore, literature, culinary heritage);
- Organize excursions with practical language tasks around Rezekne (for example, orienteering game “Get to know the linguistic landscape of Rezekne!”) and the surrounding counties;
- Create a video sequence, which will then be used to promote the Latvian language, culture, Latgale's culinary heritage and Rezekne Academy of Technologies.
- Learning the Latvian language will be integrated into practical lessons, the content of which will be created and the methods used will be selected with the aim of developing green or sustainable thinking.
Why is Rezekne and RTA is suitable for organizing this summer school?
- Rezekne has a wide range of cultural and entertainment opportunities. It is called “a city in the heart of Latgale”, therefore, living during the summer school in Rezekne, participants will be able not only to get acquainted with the history, traditions and modern life of Latvia, but also, after Latvian language classes, to go on excursions to the surrounding regions, thus expanding their practical understanding of life in the regions of Latvia.
- Rezekne is an important cultural center of Latgale where historical, classical and modern cultural traditions are intertwined.
- During our Latvian language classes, the participants will be provided with a modern learning environment. The topics related to culinary heritage will be covered by experts working at the Food Processing Laboratory of Rezekne Academy of Technologies. There will be practical classes, trainings, seminars and consultations of Rezekne Academy of Technologies by representatives of catering companies and local food producers.
- Participants of the summer school will be able to get from Riga, Vilnius or Kaunas airport to Rezekne by bus or train without difficulty, because the city is well integrated into public transport routes from and to the largest cities of Latvia and Lithuania.
The target audience:
Foreign students and academic staff without prior knowledge of the Latvian language who are interested in learning the Latvian language, gaining knowledge also about Green farming skills in a traditional Latvian farmstead and developing sustainable thinking./p>
On completing the course participants will be issued a certificate of attendance - 3 ECTS
Financial aspects.
Students and academic staff of foreign higher education institutions from the following 43 countries are eligible to apply for the scholarship:
- Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, South Korea, Egypt, France, Georgia, Croatia, Estonia, Indonesia, Iceland, Italy, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Kyrgyzstan, People's Republic of China, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Peru, Poland, Slovakia, Finland, Spain, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Hungary, Uzbekistan, Germany, Vietnam, The United States of America, Namibia, Senegal, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Fiji.
Scholarship covers:
- face-to-face lectures and seminars,
- social and cultural programmes and excursions,
- materials and equipment necessary for study and work
- accommodation in student dormitories
- meals 2 times a day.
NB! Scholarship does not cover:
- the traveling costs for arrival and departure,
- visa,
- health insurance costs.
To apply for participation in the summer school and to receive a scholarship, it is necessary to fil ap an application form, until April 1, 2025
To complete the application form you will need the following documents:
- CV
- Copy of passport
- Confirmation of student status;
- Letter of motivation.
Evaluation: The selection of candidates takes place in a competitive manner, evaluating the content and motivation of the application forms. The final decision on granting scholarships will be made by the evaluation committee of the State Education Development Agency of the Republic of Latvia.The Summer School organizers will inform all participants of the results by email after 05.04.2025.
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
- For Scholarships: 01.04.2025.
- For Applicants with Tuition fee: 01.06.2025.
For other country students or those who are not selected for the scholarship tuition fee is (info will follow) Euro.
Contact person: Jelena Volkova, llc@rta.lv , +371 26481448