Students and staff

For Latvian diaspora

For Latvian diaspora

In 2023 “Summer School of Latvian Language and Culture” for diaspora youth will take place in live in Riga.

Summer school of Latvian Language and Culture for diaspora youth (aged 18–35) with no or little to good prior knowledge of Latvian.

The University of Latvia in collaboration with the Latvian Language Agency and the Ministry of Education and Science organizes summer school for diaspora youth for the 6th time. The summer school is funded by the budget programme “State Language Policy and Administration” administered by the Ministry of Education and Science.

Summer school program offers:

  • intensive Latvian language course in the amount of 64 academic hours (grammar basics: improvement of reading, writing and speaking skills). The course includes topics such as human personality, experience, knowledge and skills, getting to know and staying in Latvia, versatile and unique Riga, getting to know the city and orientate in it, everyday life and holidays of Latvian residents, Latvian traditional and modern culture, Latvian news in the media, world successes stories of Latvia and Latvians;
  • lecture on Latvian folklore: traditions and customs. During the lecture, the participants of the summer school will be able to familiarize themselves with Latvian folk songs, as well as try to sing and dance them together.

         The attendees, having successfully completed the course, are awarded 4 credits (6 ECTS).

Cultural program (for a separate fee):

  • lecture on Latvian history and politics, which will give the participants of the summer school the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the history of modern Latvia and the political situation in Latvia;
  • lecture on Latvian culture and art, during which the participants of the summer school will be able to get acquainted with the historical development of Latvian visual art and architecture, as well as the most notable personalities;
  • excursion around Riga, also visiting several city museums (e.g. Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation or Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, the Rainis and Aspazija House in Riga or the Krišjānis Barons Museum, The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia);
  • one-day trip and tour around Cēsis (Cēsis castle ruins, old town);
  • one-day trip and tour around Kuldīga (Venta Rapid, old town).

In the summer school, the language of communication during the Latvian classes, lectures and excursions is the English language.