International Summer School “Latvia’s Cultural Canon” has concluded
From 4 to 13 August 2024, the Daugavpils University Centre for Latvian Studies organised the International Summer School of Latvian Language and Culture “Latvian Culture Canon”. The summer school, which brings together academic staff and students from around the world every year, was held by Centre for Latvian Studies for the eighth time.
The summer school included 10 participants from Japan, Indonesia, People’s Republic of China, Spain, France, Georgia, Türkiye, Moldova and Uzbekistan.
This year's summer school programme consisted of two modules – Latvian culture learning module “Latvian Culture Canon” and “Latvian language as a foreign language” for integrated learning of Latvian language with CLIL approach.
Within the summer school, school participants acquired knowledge of the history and structure of the creation of the Latvia’s Cultural Canon in classes, in field studies, trips and excursions they became acquainted with the values of the Latvia’s Cultural Canon in fields “Literature”, “Architecture and Design”, “Landscapes”, “Music” and “Folk Traditions”, while during seminars they formed competence to characterize canonical cultural values in other countries and cultures.
On August 4, at the beginning of the summer school programme, participants arrived in Riga, where the first part of the summer school took place. Participants became acquainted with the Latvia’s Cultural Canon element “Architecture and Design”, observing the most important stops of the Cultural Canon value “Vecrīga Skyline”, as well as visiting Concert of the 37th International Organ music Festival “RĪGAS DOMS 2024”, in which the pieces composed by Latvian composer Jāzeps Vītols were played.
During the pedestrian tour in Riga, the places, events and personalities included in the Latvia’s Cultural Canon were discovered. While on a trip to Jurmala, summer school participants looked at Aspazija and Rainis' Summer House, Dzintari Concert Hall and seaside landscape.
The summer school programme was continued in Auleja Parish of Kraslava Municipality and Daugavpils City. The acquisition of the Latvian language was ensured by interactive methods, while the study of the values of the Cultural Canon used the method of case studies, field studies, individual and group work. The “Latvian language as a foreign language” module of the summer school programme ensured acquirement of speaking, reading, writing and listening skills, which were also strengthened during practice sessions, discussions, excursions and field studies.
Introducing the traditional cultural values of Latvia, as well as other important objects of local culture and history, the students took an inspirational walk around the city of Daugavpils, visited Daugavpils Fortress, Daugavpils Shot factory, engaged in a master breadmaking class at the Aglona Bread Museum, participated in a Latvian folk dance lesson, as well as tried on the elements of the folk costumes of various regions of Latvia, and while being introducing to the “Landscape” values of the Cultural Canon, participants visited the Čertoks Lake and the Vasarģelišķi View Tower.
Summer school participants also presented the values of the cultural canons of the countries they represented and discussed the benefits of the process of building a cultural canon. At the seminar “International Culture Canon”, participants discussed cultural values in the international and historical context.
At the end of the Latvian language module, participants of summer school completed the Latvian language test.
At the end of the Latvian Culture Canon module, participants presented the impressions, observations and vision of the future application and dissemination of summer school results after returning to their countries. During a meeting with the rector of Daugavpils University Arvīds Barševskis, several participants of summer school confirmed that they will continue to develop cooperation with academic staff in Latvia and Daugavpils University, as well as develop international relations in the field of cultural research.
Participants of summer school appraised the work of teachers and management team of summer school, as well as the opportunity to acquaint Latvia’s Cultural Canon values by visiting subjects in person and participating in practical masterclasses and seminars.
The Summer School project is funded by the State Education Development Agency (VIAA), providing 10 scholarships to students and academic staff of foreign higher education institutions. Funding was allocated to the Summer School programme within the VIAA Summer School projects competition.
The summer school is implemented by the Centre for Latvian Studies of Daugavpils University.
Summer School Team: Dr philol., Prof. Maija Burima (Head of the Summer School), Evita Badina, Diāna Skuķe, Sergejs Poļanskis, Ilmārs Mežaraups.
This project is financially supported by the State Education Development Agency of the Republic of Latvia.
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MORE DETAILS:
Dr. philol., prof. Maija Burima
Head of Center for Latvian Studies
Daugavpils University
E-pasts: summerschool@du.lv