Summer school “Phenomenology of the Border Area: Eastern Latvia” opened
On August 11, 2022, Daugavpils University (DU) International Summer School “Phenomenology of the Border Area: Eastern Latvia” was opened.
Latvian Language and Culture Summer School is organized by DU Centre for Latvian Studies (LSC) for the sixth year. As usual, this year, a unique and topical programme was developed for the participants of the summer school, ensuring its implementation in hybrid form. Using CLIL methodology, the participants of the summer school learn the integrated Latvian language and border area phenomenology course. With the knowledge of the Latvian language, the school participants will have an understanding of cultural history, socioeconomic and political issues in the border area, while presenting their projection in Eastern Latvia as an example of a bright border phenomenon. The funding needed for the implementation of the summer school was received by participating in the State education development agency (SEDA) competition.
This year's summer school is held for 10 days and includes participants from Ukraine, Mexico, Italy, South Korea, China, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Turkey.
At the summer school, almost 50 applicants submitted their proposals, from whom ten most suitable candidates were selected, with the most prominent motivation letters. They were awarded a Latvian State scholarship.
At the opening of the summer school, participants were offered a lecture on Latgale, Daugavpils City, Daugavpils University and the concept of border area phenomenology. The content of the lesson also integrated the Latvian language's welcome vocabulary and courtesy phrases. At the opening of the summer school, participants told about themselves and their motivation for participating in the summer school. Participants of the summer school told that the programme had been chosen to improve their knowledge of the European border area in Latvia and to gain practical experience in interdisciplinary research of the border phenomenon by linking new knowledge with their own ideas on the theme of the summer school.
The summer school program consists of two modules: border area phenomenology and Latvian language acquisition and usage practices. The phenomenology of border area is acquired through the presentation of its practical manifestations in Eastern Latvia. The acquisition of Latvian language skills will be aligned with the study of border phenomenology as a transferable competency.
The learning process is implemented in hybrid form. The activities and field studies are conducted both on-site and in a remote format. Participants have access to a specially designed website of the e-study platform MOODLE, which includes recordings of the classes, digital learning resources and support materials.
The aim of this year’s schools is to create an idea of border area phenomenology, its projection in Eastern Latvia, research tools, do field studies in the border area of Eastern Latvia, using the Latvian language communicative competence at basic level.
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, Diāna Skuķe, Ilmārs Mežaraups.
This project is financially supported by the State Education Development Agency of the Republic of Latvia.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Dr. philol., Prof. Maija Burima
DU Faculty of Humanities
Head of Centre for Latvian Studies
Email: summerschool@du.lv